Family Prayer Time - Who's Missing Tonight?

A reflection on Empty Nesting and Family Prayers - As we have prayed the Rosary with the children since they were tiny, our family prayers each evening have evolved.....when they were little, a Decade of the Rosary and some simple nighttime prayers, perfect for their limited attention span.  They said their prayers, so cute - just like when they learned the ABCs and the words all ran together.  As they got older and could handle 5 Decades, we rotated the Mysteries of the Rosary throughout the week.  (for my non-Catholic friends, these are meditations on various aspects of the Life of Christ.)  Over time, we fell into a certain order and certain roles of prompting for our ending prayers - our little family routine.  Once the older children started College and moved out on their own, new roles were picked up by those still present each night.  The younger children would be absent sometimes for many days - sleepovers, retreats, camps - and we would stumble through the ending prayers, waiting for prompts we normally received from those absent; smiling when we realized we were waiting for a voice not present that night.  It would sometimes throw me off so that I would forget the words for a moment.  It took awhile for me to realize I wasn't forgetting my prayers; I just forgot how to pray them out loud without the children.  "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a child over, placed it in their midst...." Matt 18:1-2.  A child goes off to College, we adjust, then adjust again when they are home.  There is an order - Youngest to Oldest Child, then Mom, then Dad.......  Friends are present and they assume roles in the nighttime prayers when they are here - we gently relinguish our roles to friends, then they leave and we adjust again.  It never ceases to amaze me how these young people joyfully join in prayer with one another.  It creates such a peaceful presence in our Home, a gift of the grace pouring out through group prayer and the Holy Souls of these young people.  "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt 18:20.  We teach them about Heaven, Jesus, how to fold their little hands in prayer, how to say the words, and they grow strong in their Faith.  Then, they teach us how to REALLY pray - amazing transition and growth.  They are missed at every moment.  As Husband and Wife, we now pray together, alone, always feeling the presence of our children, including them in every prayer uttered from our lips.

On this 4th of July 2011 - the Anniversary of our Independence, let's remember and be truly grateful for the freedom we enjoy here in the USA - freedom to pray as we wish, where we wish, and with whom we wish.  Our Parish has enjoyed a visiting Priest from Pakistan these past few weeks - they do not enjoy such freedom.  Please pray for our Brothers and Sisters around the globe.