Happy New Year to you too!

My response to the wonderful family anecdote you shared is “Out of the mouth of babes…”

I also wonder about the respondent who signed on as “Proud Christian”. Though I would hope this doesn’t reignite anything, I feel compelled to observe that I do not see anything to be particularly proud of in that response. The response shows a deficit of tolerance and respect for others, joy, understanding of how kids’ perceive the world and a sense of humor.

Your children’s dinnertime prayer reminds me of some of the unexpectedly humorous (and occasionaly profound) things that kids unwittingly said about God, family and the world on Art Linkletter’s TV show that was so popular in the 50s and 60s – yes, I’m old enough to remember watching as a kid myself. Linkletter’s books, like “Kids Say the Darndest Things”, are full of similar witticisms from kids who had no idea they were being funny. Their comments were innocent expressions of how they see the world.

Though I don’t know you or your wife, Marc, it seems to me that you are wonderful parents. You encourage and engage your kids in the rituals of family and spiritual life. They are active participants, not merely spectators. You respect and value their contributions and recognize when they indeed say and do things that are unselfconscously humorous and insightful. Bravo to you and your family.

Best for the New Year,
SUE

As we have begun the transition to having our own children say grace, we recognized the beautiful humor of the moment as each child (9) realizing that Mom has requested that he be a bit more reverent than simply saying “grace” is now a bit self conscious as any 9 year old will be and the direct, simple and beautiful way a 6 year old can get to the point with her “help…everyone”. This is after all the most basic or prayers.

It is funny and beautiful and emerges from the precise developmental level of each child (not to mention their personalities) both of which are true gifts from God himself.

It is simply a gift of humor and beauty that childhood presents.

Thanks for sharing this.

I’m sure your household is filled with prayer on a regular basis. And not that prayer should be a joke ever, but we were given humor by God! I would argue that the “grace” given by your children was not a mockery of Jesus Christ at all, but the innocent joy of childhood that Jesus embraced. The story you told is oh so resonate of my family dinner table growing up. We’d pray (rather Dad would pray) and soon following that my little brother would be spitting out his drink across the table due to laughter caused by something else my Dad said. It was a nightly ritual. I have extremely fond memories of dinner with my family which I think is a rarety these days. Good for you for encouraging a fun social time as a family.

I also think, it is your family. None of us have the right to judge what happens in your house, positive or negative.

Merry Christmas!

How delightful to hear about a family that enjoys meals together, and includes a time of thanking the Lord, using many variations on a theme.

What joy it must give our Lord to see a family whose entire existence is centered around Him, eating and laughing and sharing. Building memories for future generations.