If you recall, I once had a post involving family prayer. It is ALWAYS a big deal to discover who will actually end up saying it, regardless of who's turn it may be.
Even though the youngest is 14, our family still argues about it. You'd think that by now we'd just grow up and say the prayer already. But no. Tonight, with only five of us there, we had a hard time determining who's turn it should really be. I had said it last night. If Julia were living at home, her turn would be tonight. But she isn't living at home and we've always debated whether or not that puts her in the rotation. So the arguement began - Julia or Spencer.
Julia explained that she doesn't enjoy saying prayers out loud. "Just say it in your head," my dad said.
And then it all came back to me. Just say it in your head. This used to be an option for us when family prayer time came around. I'm sure it was Whitney who came up with it. She probably thought it was the smartest idea ever. Just close your eyes, be quiet for a minute, and then shout AMEN! and everyone would be happy. And me, being the little sister who believed anything she said (example, carry two plates at the buffet and people will think you are skinny), I am sure I thought she was actually praying.
I can remember Whitney doing this almost every night it was her turn. Should I be concerned that we may have missed praying as a family all those nights?
Tonight, after we laughed about all this, my mom said it is no longer an option for us. There were a few pretend, sarcastic groans. But, part of me wonders, were they really pretend? Or do some of us wish that praying in our heads for family prayer was still an option?
