Create a Prayer Journal
One of the most intriguing stories we tell in Sunday School is called “The Part that Hasn’t Been Written Yet.” Well, actually we don’t often tell it, because engagement with this story can only be initiated by a child. The “story” is a beautiful journal, kept in the classroom on an ornate metal stand, always available, waiting for a young person to ask what it is. When they do, they are informed that this part of the story, the story that begins at the beginning and is still happening today, will be written by them. They are invited to write, or draw, whatever they’re inspired to write or draw, whenever they’re inspired to do it.
During Holy Week, you can offer the same invitation to the young people in your family, with a handmade journal all their own!
It’s incredibly simple, and each person in your family can make their own. For the cover, you can use card stock, or postcards, or greeting cards with the halves separated – find something with a picture or design that speaks to you, or decorate it however you’d like. The pages can be lined paper (for those who’ll be mostly writing in the journal) or unlined paper (for those who are likely to draw instead). Cut the paper slightly smaller than the cover, then put your journal together, punch holes along one edge, and tie ribbon or yarn through each of the holes. That’s it! You did it!
Now comes the invitation: let your kids know they can write or draw in their journal whenever they feel inspired. They can put prayers in it, or thoughts about God, or questions they have, or reflections on what they hear in church or Sunday School. There’s no need to designate a time when everyone will write in their journal; sometimes we have something to write, and sometimes we don’t, and that’s okay. But perhaps you’ll pull out your own when you feel called to add to it, and sit in a conspicuous place while you do. You might even share some of the things you’ve written – but only if you’d like to – extending the invitation to your young people as well. Sometimes we feel like sharing our prayers with people other than God, and sometimes we don’t, and that’s okay.
We invite you to share pictures of your prayer journals with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram – but only if you’d like to! We also wanted to make sure to share the link to the palm leaf craft that was deemed too challenging to be part of today’s Family Time. If you’re feeling ambitious, give it a go!
