Joy Jar and Trouble Tree

During a lovely visit to the home of my sister-in-law, Sarah, last weekend, I was struck yet again by what the words "domestic church" really mean.

She shared with me an idea she had for praying each night with her very visual 6 year old daughter. One night when they came to prayer, Sarah brought a pencil, a long sheet of paper, a jar, lots of little sheets of paper and a wooden cross. She introduced them to her daughter as something they were going to do each night.

"This is our Joy Jar and our Trouble Tree. As we close our day each night, let's write down all of the things we are thankful for today. What was great that happened?"

They brainstormed for a while, and wrote down some lovely events of the day, and people they love, and other joys that came to mind. Then Sarah rolled up the paper and set it slightly aside.

"Now, we can think of things for our Trouble Tree. Were there hard things today? Was there anything sad or painful?" Then they talked about those things, writing each one on the small slips of paper Sarah had brought.

Bringing forward the Cross, Sarah asked, "Do you know what this is? Yes, a Cross. You know, sometimes when people talk about the Cross, they talk about it as a tree. I wonder why?" Her daughter said, "Because it is made of wood?" "Do you know what happened on this Tree?" Her daughter did, indeed: "Jesus died, but He rose again!"

"He rose again. This is our Trouble Tree. We are going to take all of these troubles we've written down and take them to the Trouble Tree. Jesus then takes our troubles and look what happens..." (Then she ripped up all of the troubles). "...He takes them from us and they are gone."

Her daughter thought about this. "But what if the same ones come back tomorrow?"

"Yes," Sarah nodded. "I wonder where we could take our troubles if they come back?"

"To the Trouble Tree!"

"But our joys, we will roll up and place here in our Joy Jar. These are gifts we are given from God that never go away. They keep growing and growing and growing."

Then two finished their prayers and kissed goodnight. It is now becoming a treasured tradition in their home. I was so struck by the beauty of how simply and easily a parent can lay a foundation of prayer and trust for their children that I just had to share it with you. I will definitely put this story in my Joy Jar when I go to prayer tonight.