I have been looking for a simple morning offering to do with our children for about a year now. It’s been the biggest piece of our attempt at liturgical living more fully we’ve been missing. But the kids just aren’t quite old enough for the traditional ones (too complicated and long), and I haven’t wanted to wait until they’re older to start the practice, because I firmly believe that habits are easier to start sooner rather than later.
This past week though, the perfect one came back into my mind. It’s easy to remember, and the kids have taken to it quickly. We use it in the morning before we being working in the classroom.
It goes like this:
Thank you dear Lord,
For this precious new day.
Please guide us in love,
As we grow, work, and play.
I’m not sure where it comes from, but I’ll share how I came across it. Many, many years ago I worked at a daycare center for low-income families. I loved it there. When I was leaving, my coworkers gave me this prayer framed with all of our children’s fingerprints on the back. I have long lost the frame, but the prayer has stuck with me, and I love it.
