Car Prayers

We have a prayer ritual that I have grown to love, and my daughter asks for with a not-yet-awake voice. When I drive the 12 minutes from our home to her kindergarden, right after we pass our favorite white marble statue of the two sisters (princesses) with their arms draped around one another, and just before we pass the music university, we start. The prayer begins with giving thanks for the blessing of the beauty of the day in front of us- today it was the intense golden leaves as we drove alongside the forest, sometimes it is the rain, and sometimes it is the sun. We then ask God to wrap his arms around our little one and guide her through each part of her day - from circle time to snack, from learning Jolly Phonics sounds to music, from lunch, recess to art, PE, to library. And we ask that she is strong on her own, that she stands up for herself with other kids, that she takes deep breaths when she needs to feel calm, that her love shines through her to others, and that she goes to the quiet place inside if she feels frustrated or needs peace. I usually thank God for blessing me with the honor of being her mother, the fun and thrill of sharing each day with her. By this time, we are rounding the corner at Waterloo Platz and driving down the tree-lined alley to her school.

She jumps out of the car and pushes her arms through the straps of her pink book-bag with her name and a monkey face on the back. We walk together across the school yard to greet her friends, and we have the gracious feeling of being more closely connected to one another and to God.