Prayer mobile

(It's supposed to be mobile like a mobile over a crib, but Emma pronounces it Prayermobile - as in bookmobile or automobile.)

Last year I wrote about Emma's lack luster prayer life. Well, I finally decided I wasn't seeing enough growth and that I needed to do something pro-active and constructive about it. God inspired me with the following project:

Prayer mobile

Step 1) Dig out all the old project and gift scraps of paper you can find. Empty the Trader Joe's oatmeal that nobody likes (not even you if you're being honest) to use the canister and compile some basic crafting supplies - glue, scissors, tape, clothespins, yarn, twine etc. Use something pointy (like a meat thermometer) to poke 4 holes towards the bottom of the oatmeal canister and 2 towards the top.

Step 2) Look up Revelation 5:8 with your kiddo. Read and discuss about perfume and incense and heaven. Type and print and cut out the verse.

Step 3) Cover the oatmeal cannister with paper of choice. When glue has dried, affix the verse.

Step 4) Go to the mall and ask for a perfume sample. (Look how lovely our Lily Pulitzer sample matched! Serendipity) This step is unnecessary if you have perfume at home, but since I own none and use very few things with a scent, this was necessary. Plus it's fun for little girls to have their OWN perfume.

Step 5) Discuss the four aspects of prayer with your kiddo: confession, praise, requests, and thanksgiving. Make a small placard representing each aspect of prayer. Thread the yarn through the poked holes, tie on the clothes and clip in the placards .

Step 6) Incorporate the prayermobile into your prayer times with your little one. I intended to be writing something to clip to each aspect card, but that hasn't happened yet since we've been out of town and had guests for the last 2 weeks. Then when you pray again later, you can remove the old cards and store them inside the oatmeal canister.


I haven't used this as systematically as I had hoped yet, but it has already been SO beneficial. It helped me realize that Emma was SHY and embarrassed about praying and that modeling our prayers weren't enough. She also needs some direct instruction of how to pray and what to pray for and about. This silly little craft has given us a platform for expanding our expectations of her without making the situation a simple obedience, response, discipline issue.

We have a long, long way to go as we teach her about prayer, but this is a fantastic and effective start and I intend to keep using it.