Skip to main content

Susanna’s Shabbat Prayer





Deuteronomy 4:9  “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—
 

Our family is steeped in the Jewish roots of Christianity and Friday evenings bring a form of a “Shabbat” service unique to us.    The experience is not about Jewish performance.  It’s about thankfulness, surrender, God’s promise to heal us and it’s about family.  Jesus always shows up and joins us.  How can He not in the breaking of the bread in the midst of us?”

Finally, last Friday evening at sunset comprised our whole family together under one roof!   Our plan was to celebrate Susanna’s fourth birthday.  But before feasting and opening presents, we all agreed to a Shabbat prayer time.  Seated around the dining room table, Susanna shouted “I will pray!”  We usually let her lead when we say grace, but this time her mom instructed her to listen to Papa because he was going to say special prayers with bread and wine.  She was attentive as we shared the loaf and listened to each one of us asking the Lord for a double portion of healing, direction, and favor, etc.  It appeared to be over for us but not for Susanna! “Now can I pray?” She asked.   Her mom asked us to stay seated and let Susanna lead us in one more prayer.   It turned out to be the prayer of the night!  With a big smile on her face she folded her hands reverently and thanked God for her mom, then Paul, her auntie, Uncle Mark, Papa, and Me whom she calls Groggy.  You could have heard a pin drop…silence…humility of adults seeing a child’s love from her sincere heart.   I saw big smiles on every face and I wanted to cry.  Papa was in a fender bender the day before and I suggested we pray for his healing.  My daughter nudged Susanna to pray for her Papa nice and loud so everyone could hear.  With a big voice she shouted each word….JESUS, HEAL PAPA’S NECK.  AMEN.    He told me the next day, all soreness was gone and it stopped creaking.  Jesus showed up!  He always does. 

I’m linking this post to Tell Me A Story hosted by Hazel who encourages us to share our true stories!

Comments

  1. caryjoOctober 9, 2012 at 12:03 PM

    WHAT A BLESSING!!! Touched my heart. Would so have desired to see my dear ones also reach out so "dearly"...

    You are blessed ...and, obviously, a blessing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. FloydOctober 9, 2012 at 1:29 PM

    He indeed shows up! What an awesome tradition you've began in your family... Those occasions are the best things we get in this life... I'm sure your entire family already knows that...

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Debbie PetrasOctober 9, 2012 at 2:24 PM

    Out of the mouth of babes! What a blessing this little one brought to the Shabbat prayers. I love that.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  4. DeniseOctober 9, 2012 at 5:17 PM

    Beyond precious.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mevely317October 9, 2012 at 6:28 PM

    I love your family traditions, Mary ... but love Susanna's prayer the best!

    ReplyDelete
  6. http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/October 9, 2012 at 8:46 PM

    No wonder Jesus loves the little children. Their hearts are so simple, and sometimes they 'get it' far better and quicker than we do. What a precious time!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just Be RealOctober 10, 2012 at 9:21 AM

    Ooooo this was good. My step-father was Jewish, so I was around a lot of the tradition as well. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kathleen October 10, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    What a great way to weave the old & new together. I love the beauty, power & glory of the O.T., and am always blessed when I remember it's powerful connection to our N.T. promises.

    How sweet that God would honor Susannah as He did; and to heal Papa as well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AndreaOctober 11, 2012 at 6:43 AM

    Beautiful....Thank you so much for sharing your heritage with us:) Love how our little ones learn so easily and gently....You, my friend are a blessing in all our lives!

    Hugs,
    andrea

    ReplyDelete
  10. a joyful noiseOctober 13, 2012 at 4:03 PM

    And Jesus shows up - no surprise to you all! A little child's faith can move those mountains of pain and stiffness. Thank you for sharing at "Tell me a Story."

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm Going as Abigail This Year

I vote for more purses, toothbrushes, cups, storybooks, and Halloween costumes that feature Abigail of the Old Testament.  She is a heroin worthy to emulate, in my opinion, even more than Cinderella. Once upon a time, there was a kind woman by the name of Abigail who lived with a surly man who liked to drink a lot and have parties.  One time, King David and his army were very hungry and entered the surly man’s homestead and asked if they could come to his barbecue.  The king had a right to ask because he and his men protected the homestead’s boundary lines.  The surly man said “No.  Get off my property.”  The King had a temper and became offended. Surly drunk + spiteful King = War In the meantime, Abigail heard about the situation and spent hours baking cinnamon rolls for the King and his army.  She dismounted from her horse and presented the King with her peace offering.  She bowed low and greeted the King and asked his forgi...
39 comments
Read more

The Architect

I don’t recall any other year feeling so intimate with our Lord regarding my one word as in 2015.  God’s GRACE laced my ordinary days and each night, before falling asleep I would recall grace, so apparent, in the events of the day! Memories also surfaced of grace in my past and I knew I had to write about them.  I felt compelled to share the grace that blanketed my personal life.  Thank you for reading my stories over this past year.  Your comments support and encourage me. I received my new word, “Creator,” and felt perplexed as every year wondering what my one word would unveil.   What does God want me to learn about His name, Creator?   I wonder if I should join my girlfriend, Peggy, more often when she leads nature hikes in the mountains of Sedona.  Does God want me to appreciate and to praise Him for the beauty of His creation all year? I think it’s more than that.  A Scripture verse springs up in my min...
34 comments
Read more

The Venomous Intruder

It’s the middle of rattlesnake season here on the ranch.  The local news anchor confirmed it.   I’ve seen two already.    While driving along our dirt road yesterday, I mistook a virulent enemy for a branch. I backed up the car, looked again and noticed the branch shifted revealing a rattle at its end. At one of our road association meetings in the barn, Shelby stood up and shouted, “ BOB !” to my next door neighbor.  He’s our vice president and the one all eyes were on as he gave a presentation in the middle of the room.  I sensed fear in the way she yelled his name.  I learned after the meeting that Shelby called out to him like that because she saw a rattler slither in the barn door where she and I sat.  Bob yielded to the interruption and quietly dispatched the enemy.  Ten minutes later, this tough guy was back to center stage falling right back in step with the business at hand.   Bob is my new best friend. ...
42 comments
Read more