Talking With God Author Reads From Book That Helps Children And Families Learn A New Way To Pray
Kathleen Finley was surprised when her 5-year-old son came home from kindergarten and announced he wanted to act out Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday.
The family obliged, and - while learning that a plastic toy hammer works fine for pretending to hammer nails, and a hand towel is a good stand-in for Veronica’s shroud - Finley discovered children have the desire and need for prayer.
They just want to do it their way.
“He was teaching me that prayer was something important to him,” said Finley. “My own kids have helped me learn how children pray.”
Finley, a teacher in Gonzaga University’s religious studies department, has taken that knowledge and written a book of prayers called “Dear God: Prayers for Families with Children.” She’ll be discussing the topic during a book signing at the Children’s Corner Bookstore in downtown Spokane’s skywalk at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Finley said most people tend to separate God and prayer from their lives with physical boundaries. Generally, spirituality is confined to church. Instead, prayer belongs in everyday locations, on everyday occasions.
When children are involved, that can mean a short blessing over a new tricycle, a prayer upon finding a bug or a celebration over losing a tooth.
Finley’s prayers are simple, meaningful and direct. You won’t find any hallowed-be-thy-names in her book. Instead, a conversational “Dear God” begins nearly every prayer. In the “Finding a Bug” prayer, the greeting is, “Wow, God. I just found something very special … “
The book, illustrated by Finley’s 14-year-old son, covers everything from birthdays to religious holidays to planting a garden. It’s meant to be an idea-starter, something families can use and tailor to their own needs.
“The prayers are focused on what’s happening in the home, what’s happening in children’s lives,” Finley said. “It’s at home where we first find a sense of God - not just words about him but a real sense of being loved for who were are.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Staff illustration by A. Heitner
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Christmas Prayer It’s finally here! Dear God, the day we’ve been waiting and preparing for is here, the birthday of you son, Jesus. Today we rejoice with the animals and the shepherds, and the angels, and the stars; With the Magi and all the world, For you gave us the greatest gift of all: You gave us Jesus, He showed us the way to live and the way to love; He is you show-and-tell Help us remember as we open our gifts and eat our special foods the it’s Jesus we celebrate today. Amen. -from “Dear God: Prayers for Families with Children”