Prayers with the Kids

We have morning prayers together in the mornings before the girls go to Seminary. We use to do scripture reading at this time also but it became a battle to get them up at 5:00am so they could get ready for the day and then have scriptures before they left home at 6:00am to get to Seminary. I gave up the battle and settled for Prayers together and then they get scriptures when they get to Seminary. I really enjoy the prayers. It is nice to watch the girls prayers change over the years. They are getting stronger and more thoughtful. They pray for all our family members not here and our extended family as well. They pray for each other. I bear my testimony that prayer brings people closer together. I see it in what they say and how they say it.
Prayer is an important part of our relationship with Heavenly Father. It is our way to talk to Him and receive answers back from Him. It is our way of expressing our feelings and concerns. Don't rush through your prayers, take the time to listen to what your family members are praying about and then in your private prayers, remember those things and join your prayers with your children, or spouse. Maybe they are praying for a test or for a game or for a friend and their needs and maybe they are just expressing their Love. Far too often we join in the prayer at the moment and then don't mention it again but if the things are important enough to our children to mention then they deserve our time and attention as well. It will bring you closer to your family to pray for them and it will bring you closer to your Heavenly Father just by praying.