Oversimplified Prayers

When I was expecting our first child, Ken and I spent a weekend caring for our friends' three-year-old twins and two-year-old.  I thought, "This will be a good opportunity for Ken to practice his soon-to-be-employed 'Daddy' skills."

Saturday morning, I made breakfast, and we all sat at the table, ready to eat.  Ken said, "Let's pray."  He folded his fingers at his chest and leaned forward earnestly, with his eyes crinkled shut.  "Deeeeaaaaar JESus," he began, quite loudly in a babyish voice, with great expression.  "Thaaaaank you foooor this deLIcious foood that YOU have proVIDed."  When I opened my eyes to peak, I almost burst out laughing.  All three kids were staring at him with puzzled expressions and their mouths hanging open.  They looked as if they wondered, "Does this guy think that Jesus is hard of hearing, or that He's just learning English or something?" 

Of course, Ken doesn't always pray this way.  He was trying to adapt his prayer for the sake of our young friends.  Apparently, he simplified it a little too much.   

Though I now have twelve years experience in parenting, I still struggle with trying to make this faith of mine child friendly.  I certainly don't want to adapt God and give my kids an unbiblical view of Him, but I wrestle with wanting to simplify God.  I want to protect my kids from troubling questions like, 'Why did God make sin?' or 'Why does God create people that he knows will reject Him and will be punished in hell?'  But then, these very questions have drawn ME closer to God and caused me to bow to His glory, which is exactly what I want for my children.

I think a key in making my faith 'child friendly' is to not adapt my prayers in their presence.  I want my kids to overhear the way I speak to my Father--to hear the respect in my voice and the adoration in my words.  If I pray as if Jesus can't hear me or that he's not able to comprehend my struggles, I know I have simplified too much.