Morning Prayer

My girls do not like getting out of bed. No one in our household has ever been an earlier riser, (except no.1 son, who knew he had to lie still in Mum's bed until 8 - 0 - 0 was on the clock.)

I go into the girls' bedroom and kiss them on the head. When they stir they get a cuddle. I lift them out of bed. The youngest puts her little arms around my neck, the oldest feigns sleep, and I carry them to chairs in the lounge room. They bury their heads down in the cushions and put their tails in the air. I do have a photo...

I've been reading "7 times the sun," a Steiner inspired book about developing everyday rituals with your kids. There are various short rhyming verses included to say as part of a morning ritual, but to me only welcoming the sun seemed to be lacking in depth, and any true meaning. I've been half heartedly keeping my ears open for a little verse that better expressed a thankfulness to God. I couldn't work out either just when to say this verse without making it all a bit contrived. How could I make it a natural part of the morning?

This morning the girls were snuggled into their chairs, one either side of our little prayer corner book shelf. I stood in between them and started my morning prayers. I looked down and wondered. Then I read aloud, "Arising from sleep, I thank you, O Most Holy Trinity, that for the sake of Your great kindness and longsuffering, you have not had indignation against my, for I am slothful and sinful...You have shown your customary love for mankind, and raised me up as I lay in heedlessness, that I might sing my morning hymn and glorify your sovereignty..."

I did wonder if I should translate into kiddie language, but mostly I left it.

I finished the rest of the prayers silently as the girls slowly started talking.

This evening as I put them to bed (the second time. The first time I was cross at them for not putting away their game like I had asked. I thought I should go back and do it gently) they asked, "Can you say one of those prayers like we said this morning?"

It was another moment to be stuck on the fridge, this time for me, to remember that, "Yay, I did something right. I did something that impacted on them. I have helped them want to pray."

We finished our thankyou prayers, and our please help prayers, and I tried to recite the little blessing for the mother of God, "Truly it is right to bless you, ever blessed and most pure Mother of our God. More honourable than the cherubim, and more glorious than the seraphim, in purity you gave birth to God the Word; True Mother of God, we magnify you.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

God bless you.