Covering our Children and our Household

I've always been told by all my female elders, "Baby, no matters what you do, always pray."  Recently, over the past year or so to be more exact, many of my female elders and cohorts have told me, "Cover your children before they leave your house and as they enter the house again." 

My best friend tells me that she ritually has prayer and bible study with her children when they wake up (before preparing for school and leaving the house) as well as when they come home from school.  She says that this prepares them for all the things they may come against during the day and it helps them diffuse from things that may have caused confusion for them while they were away from their home base.  Isn't this a charge on parenthood and motherhood especially?  To cover our children and protect and prepare them mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. 

Children, no matter what age, can recite passages.  Most children nowadays can recite entire songs heard on the radio or at school.  I'd like to share some that I have given unto my children (some of which have been shared with me by friends and family): Psalm 91, Psalm 23, and Psalm 27. 

I stay prayed up and I desire for my children to follow my example.  As I was recently reminded ever so vividly during a visit to a local bible college, "Children model what they see, not what they hear."  My hope is that my children will be able to abide in the Creator just as they've seen me abide- no matter the circumstance, no matter the obstacle, no matter who is looking or not looking.  I pray that their moral character will speak more loudly than what praise I could ever give them throughout their lives. 

My hope for us mothers and families of African origin is that we never lose our sense of oneness and connection to the Creator, our Source.  It is what has always been our strength and vitality. 

God Bless, Yabo, and Ashe'