Introducing the Shema: Morning prayer with a toddler
In our involvement with the Neocatechumenal Way we have been introduced to the revered Shema, the most important message revealed by God to Moses and the Jewish people. "Shema Israel, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Ehad" means: Listen Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. (Dt 6:4).
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Dt 6:4-9)
Therefore, as parents we are to transmit our faith to our children, teaching them first and foremost that the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. As members of the Catholic Church we are able to reach into our Mother Church's treasures for help on this journey. In our case the Divine Office, or the Liturgy of the Hours, which allows the Church to pray at all hours of the day, sanctifying the day with prayer. We have chosen to pray Sunday morning prayers, or Lauds, with our toddler, Lucia, who is about to be 2 years old next month, and Clemence, who is just over 2 months. We hope to continue this commitment as we desire to instill in their hearts the Shema. The earlier we begin the easier it will be for them to grow their desire for Truth and Love of our God.
So, as we've been praying a shorter, toddler-friendly version of Lauds we are already amazed of what our toddler has captured. On Sunday we tell her we are going to pray and to bring Jesus, she immediately goes towards our storage table while smiling and repeating "Jesu Jesu" and grabs our small crucifix and brings it to the table. Then, without us saying anything she runs with joy to grab the black covered book for the liturgy and also puts it on the table. Last of all, she brings a small candle and I put flowers, creating a mini altar. I take out my guitar to play some of the psalms. Sometimes I just take out my guitar and she thinks its time to pray! When it's the week for Psalm 150 we sing it, with the chorus repeating Alleluyah. Lucia loves it because it's so lively and we clap that she has gotten used to saying Alleluyah throughout the day sometimes. It is beautiful to see praise coming from the mouth of babes.
Of course, it's not always such a dream. Most of the time we're either rushing or trying to get her attention. We use her Christian books to depict the life of Jesus and to give her a short description of what Jesus did for us. Although we have no idea what her brain processes and if she'll really remember any of it, at the very least we are training her to give time to God and that Sunday is the day to rest in the Lord.
I know this small prayer time with the kids is a good investment because I have lived it with my parents. I remember the teenage years were the worst for my brothers and me. We didn't to pray, let alone sit down with our parents for an hour and talk about our week, but it always allowed us to end prayer with peace and joy. I hope that growing up my daughters will have the Shema like a tattoo on their hearts, always putting God above all of their projects, and taking peace and comfort that He is in control.
Mother Mary, pray with us on our journey as parents to guide our children to your son Jesus Christ.
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Dt 6:4-9)
Therefore, as parents we are to transmit our faith to our children, teaching them first and foremost that the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. As members of the Catholic Church we are able to reach into our Mother Church's treasures for help on this journey. In our case the Divine Office, or the Liturgy of the Hours, which allows the Church to pray at all hours of the day, sanctifying the day with prayer. We have chosen to pray Sunday morning prayers, or Lauds, with our toddler, Lucia, who is about to be 2 years old next month, and Clemence, who is just over 2 months. We hope to continue this commitment as we desire to instill in their hearts the Shema. The earlier we begin the easier it will be for them to grow their desire for Truth and Love of our God.
So, as we've been praying a shorter, toddler-friendly version of Lauds we are already amazed of what our toddler has captured. On Sunday we tell her we are going to pray and to bring Jesus, she immediately goes towards our storage table while smiling and repeating "Jesu Jesu" and grabs our small crucifix and brings it to the table. Then, without us saying anything she runs with joy to grab the black covered book for the liturgy and also puts it on the table. Last of all, she brings a small candle and I put flowers, creating a mini altar. I take out my guitar to play some of the psalms. Sometimes I just take out my guitar and she thinks its time to pray! When it's the week for Psalm 150 we sing it, with the chorus repeating Alleluyah. Lucia loves it because it's so lively and we clap that she has gotten used to saying Alleluyah throughout the day sometimes. It is beautiful to see praise coming from the mouth of babes.
Of course, it's not always such a dream. Most of the time we're either rushing or trying to get her attention. We use her Christian books to depict the life of Jesus and to give her a short description of what Jesus did for us. Although we have no idea what her brain processes and if she'll really remember any of it, at the very least we are training her to give time to God and that Sunday is the day to rest in the Lord.
I know this small prayer time with the kids is a good investment because I have lived it with my parents. I remember the teenage years were the worst for my brothers and me. We didn't to pray, let alone sit down with our parents for an hour and talk about our week, but it always allowed us to end prayer with peace and joy. I hope that growing up my daughters will have the Shema like a tattoo on their hearts, always putting God above all of their projects, and taking peace and comfort that He is in control.
Mother Mary, pray with us on our journey as parents to guide our children to your son Jesus Christ.
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