Author creates illustrated prayer book for children
“A Touch of Prayer”
Author Linda Tiger
“Come my child,
hop into bed.
Snuggle close,
Lay down your head.
Be quiet now,
It’s time to pray.
Shut your eyes,
I’ll draw and say Our Father …”
When Linda Tiger’s children were little, she wanted to end their day in a calm, reassuring manner. After she tucked them into bed and dimmed the lights, she would kneel beside each of them and verbally recite the Lord’s Prayer using her finger to draw symbols of the sections of the prayer on their backs.
“This bedtime sharing became a ritual Touch of Prayer,” says Tiger. “Now as adults this is a favorite memory of my children.”
With the encouragement of family and friends, Tiger has authored and published a book for children titled, “A Touch of Prayer,” a delightfully illustrated rendition of the Lord’s Prayer.
A retired physical therapist, Tiger combined her experiences of interaction with special needs children and infant and child massage, with her passion of Christian teaching to children.
The symbols used to represent each segment of the Lord’s Prayer were inspired as Tiger prayed with her children. The time it takes to begin drawing and to complete each symbol is combined with the rhythm of the words of the prayer according to Tiger.
“Although the symbols were my inspiration, as you pray with your child, you may be inspired to use other symbols.”
A longtime Coeur d’Alene resident, Tiger’s family roots go back many years. Her father was stationed at Farragut in World War II. Her mother, Betty Robinson Davidson, lived in Coeur d’Alene and worked for dentist Forrest Schini.
The book is dedicated to her mother who Tiger says, “lovingly tucked me tightly into bed every night, rubbed my back or my feet, and taught me to pray the Lord’s Prayer.”
Tiger met 1st Lt. Bill Tiger, originally from Kellogg but whose family lived in Coeur d’Alene, while he was stationed at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, Calif. They married in 1965.
In 2004, her son, Jeff, suggested that Tiger compose a book regarding the way she wrote the Lord’s Prayer on his back and his sister’s back when they were growing up.
For Tiger, this was the beginning of something she knew nothing about. She contacted her husband’s fraternity brother, John Fox, son of the late Dr. E.R.W Fox, who was in the publishing business.
“I am immensely grateful for all his expertise and encouragement,” says Tiger.
The most difficult step for Tiger was finding and hiring an illustrator – a process that took almost two years.
“I gave this challenge to God in prayer, and he answered loud and clear,” says Tiger.
Tiger hired Tricia Gray, a Coeur d’Alene native and Boston University graduate to create the book’s precious illustrations. Gray, a fine arts and graphic design major, owns peachydesign.com, and has been drawing all her life.
“Tricia was an answer to prayer and is an amazing young woman and artist,” says Tiger.
Tiger has received many compliments about the book including notes from The Vatican, The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and the Queen of England’s Lady-In-Waiting.
Local Post Falls’ editor and author, Sheila Wood, says that we all take our children to Sunday school, and teach them about God, but symbolizing the Lord’s Prayer through touch brings God’s love to a child in a special way.
“The beauty of Linda’s book is that God’s love is demonstrated through a mother’s touch.”
Another reader writes this affectionate note to Tiger, “Affirming loving touch is such a gift to children and combining it with scripture helps to seal God’s word in their hearts. I’m sure your children have benefited more that you’ll ever know this side of heaven, from your loving touches.”
Tiger says she has always been fascinated by circumstances that appear to be random, but have had substantial influence on her life. She feels strongly that “A Touch of Prayer” was a succession of coincidental circumstances, and refers to the book as a gift of God.