{"id":636,"date":"2022-01-16T04:26:31","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T04:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petrys.space\/sermons\/?post_type=devotionals&p=636"},"modified":"2022-01-16T04:26:31","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T04:26:31","slug":"habits-of-settling","status":"publish","type":"devotionals","link":"https:\/\/petrys.space\/sermons\/devotionals\/habits-of-settling\/","title":{"rendered":"Habits of Settling"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Forming Children<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Main Idea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bedtime is a moment, for parent and child, to acknowledge that at the end of the day, God loves us. No matter our failures, we can rest in grace. Bedtime liturgies use habitual prayers to find words (and actions) that incorporate the truths of the gospel into our routines \u2013 especially at the moments of the day when we are tired and the most likely to need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Bedtime Blessing of Gospel Love<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Said perhaps with a hand on your child\u2019s face or head.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Do you see my eyes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Can you see that I see your eyes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Do you know that I love you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>. Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Do you know that I love you no matter what bad things you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Do you know that I love you no matter what good things you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Who else loves you like that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: God does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Even more than me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Rest in that love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Tickle Blessing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, and with lots of squirming:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Dear Lord, may this child find much joy and laughter, all of his\/her days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Uncontrollable laughter, until they can barely breathe.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Bouncy Blessing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While bouncing the bed around the child, and trying to get as much giggling and flopping as possible.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Dear Lord, may this child bounce from blessing to blessing, all of his\/her days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Bouncing and laughing<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Squeeze Blessing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During a really big, really tight hug:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Dear Lord, may this child feel your love wrap around them, all of his\/her days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong>: Struggles to break free, and hopefully laughs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent<\/strong>: Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

In the story of God, coming to the end of ourselves isn\u2019t a sign of failure, it\u2019s the beginning of grace.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Blessing for the Body of a Child While Lying in Bed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As prayer progresses, move hands to touch each part of the body:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus, bless their feet, <\/strong>may they bring good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bless their legs, <\/strong>may they carry on in times of suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bless their backs, <\/strong>may they be strong enough to bear the burdens of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bless their arms, <\/strong>to hold the lonely, and their hands<\/strong> to do good work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bless their necks, <\/strong>may they turn their heads toward the poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bless their ears <\/strong>to discern truth, their eyes<\/strong> to see beauty, and their mouths<\/strong> to speak encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bless their minds<\/strong>, may they grow wise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, bless their hearts, <\/strong>may they grow to love you \u2013 and all that you have made \u2013 in the right order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Short Blessing for Littles When You Are Frustrated<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Parent: <\/strong>God loves you. Jesus died for you. And the Holy Spirit is with you. Goodnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pause for a deep breath, and a gentle touch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent: <\/strong>So I too will love you. I too will sacrifice for you. And I too will never leave you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Nightly Parent\u2019s Prayer:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prayed just before the parent goes to bed, either beside the sleeping child\u2019s bed, or if they sleep lightly, then with an open palm head toward or against the sleeping child\u2019s door:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLord help me. May I be parented by your grace, and in turn give them the same. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Note on Adapting:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As kids get older, a tickle blessing might be more embarrassing than endearing. Still pray for your older kids before they go to bed, though adapt by reaching up to put a hand on his\/her head and looking him\/her in the eye. Intentional words still matter.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

We Always Need the Reminder of Grace: <\/strong>God\u2019s love inspires our action, but our action does not inspire God\u2019s love. Our family habits will not change God\u2019s love for us, but God\u2019s love should change our family habits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-636","devotionals","type-devotionals","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petrys.space\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/devotionals\/636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petrys.space\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/devotionals"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petrys.space\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/devotionals"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petrys.space\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}