Nurturing virtue: prayer book (printable)

Again I am sharing a particular project, rather than a week in review. Praying together is an important part of our family life, in the mornings it is how the boys and I start our learning time together, and in the evenings our whole family prays together before the boys go to bed. I wanted to make the boys their own personal prayer books, filled with the prayers that they have memorized. Actually we have made many different prayers books in the past together that have been well used and loved, but I felt it was time to make them something new and special. As they learn more prayers off by heart, we will continue to add them to the book.

This is what the completed prayer book looks like.

For Rylan's, I had him write his own name on the cover. But he has not seen the rest of the book, I am going to wrap them and give them to the boys as gifts during our next circle time.

If you would like to download the prayer book that I have put together, you can do so here. PLEASE NOTE, however, that some of the images I used in my boy's personal copies were photographs that have been shared with me personally, but I could not include them for general downloading for copyright reasons, so there are a few blank pages for which you would need to include some of your own images to go next to the corresponding prayer. Below are some samples of the pages and images that are included in the download. The pages are size 8"x8".

A prayer for children

O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden. Let Thy rain fall upon them; let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost beauty. Thou art the Giver. Thou art the Compassionate.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Where my thoughts are

I haven’t been posting regularly because we are so busy right now, my sister-in-laws leave tomorrow, and we are trying to make the most of those last precious moments. It is so hard being far from family…but I also feel like writing about my life right now seems somewhat trivial in the face of all the suffering of the people in Haiti. I turned on the news last night and saw images of children injured and suffering, and alone…and my heart just aches. Seeing children suffer has always upset me, but since becoming a mother it has become almost unbearable for me. My thoughts and prayers are with those trying to recover from the earthquake, and those facing the loss of their loved ones:

O Thou the Merciful One! O my Lord! Make Thy protection my armory, Thy preservation my shield, humbleness before the door of Thy Oneness my guard, and Thy custody and defense my fortress and my abode…guard me from every sickness, trial, difficulty and ordeal.

Verily, Thou art the Protector, the Guardian, the Preserver, the Sufficer, and verily, Thou art the Merciful of the Most Merciful!

-‘Abdu'l-Bahá

A prayer for a sick friend

Sarah, hoping you're better soon, we miss you guys!

Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

- Bahá'u'lláh

A prayer for the tender years

I say this prayer most everyday for my boys, and now I am sharing it with all of you for your sweet, little ones:

O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness.
Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving.
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Wishing you all a blessed weekend.