One of the most powerful examples parents can set for their children is to let them witness them as reverent people who pray and who actively relates to the spiritual worlds. We live in dark times and often one can feel there is little or nothing one can do: yet no matter what, God—by whatever name we call Him—is there, listening to us. And if we take the time to ‘go into our inner room’, into the quiet peace of our hearts, we can develop, over time, the eyes to see and the ears to hear and open ourselves to His guidance.

By saying a blessing before we eat; by making our day of rest a special day; by letting our children see us pray and be included in our prayers as they grow; by teaching them to pray; we empower our children not through exhortations or moralizing, but by living example, to develop their own relationship to God. Thus the crippling spiritual alienation so many young people feel can be alleviated or avoided.

An important part of this is being mindful of one’s Guardian Angel, the ever-present, ever-patient companion through our life. Though we may not acknowledge him or be aware of him, he is always there. Years ago there was a rather hokey movie starring Nicholas Cage about angels. Its premise was ridiculous but there were several wonderful moments in the film where one could perhaps discern that through the silliness, some truth shone forth. One such scene was in a huge public building (maybe a library) where, since the movie was from the point of view of the angels, we could see people walking about, doing their various tasks, each with an angel walking beside or behind her. An even more powerful scene occurred in a robbery: here was the armed robber and here was the terrified shop keeper. And next to each, witnessing and sorrowing for the pain and fear, was each man’s angel.

Angels do not interfere. They, not being free, have respect for our freedom. As human beings, as free beings, that freedom means we can choose to do great things. It also means we can choose to do great harm. Our angel’s task is to accompany us as we stumble and grope our way through our life, making poor choices and good choices. Our angel is always there, no matter what. Even if we reject him or deny his reality, yet he is there, waiting for us to acknowledge his presence and accept his comfort.

A child who grows up knowing that she has a Guardian Angel to whom she can always—always—turn, grows up with a sense of security beyond mere earthly reassurance.

Small children have a naturally strong connection to the spiritual worlds from which they only recently arrived here on earth. Some see beings, some hear them. Prayers and verses said with and for them speak to their souls with a resonating familiarity. Unless meddling adults or unfortunate circumstances have ripped them from that sense of Oneness (precocious intellectualism, screens, and self awareness all contribute to this) they can move into the next phase of childhood preserving something of that connection.

Eventually, as a rightful progression of development takes its course, many children will reject and ‘forget’ their angel. If this happens, then it is even more important that a child experiences the assurance of his parents’ spiritual surety, again not by what they say, but by what they do. Often a child’s rebellion fades and a new and freer relationship to the spiritual worlds develops—this is how it should be.

Some of you might find the following two verses written by Adam Bittleston, a Christian Community priest (the church inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner), helpful:

Every pain endured

Every word I speak

Every wish and fear

Every sense of joy

My angel shares with me.

May your gentle warmth, angel,

Live afresh

Ever with new strength

From Christ who goes Himself

As angel through the world.

The above verse could be appropriate for older children—perhaps from about 12 upwards. They themselves are becoming aware of the pain in the world and the anguish that they might feel. Having a verse to say, reaching out to their angel, could be of inestimable help to them.

You could recite the following verse over your little one before she goes to sleep. From about the age of 6 or 7, she can be encouraged to say the words with you:

May you grow in joy

Before the wonders of the world

In grief over the pain of others,

Beginning to hear

the call to help and heal

According to the gentle light

Of the angel who guards you.

Posted on March 24, 2025 in Family Life and Parenting, Religion and Spirituality