A Siren's Sound for Prayer

by Melissa J | More from this Blogger

12 Feb 2007 02:07 AM

Inspired by my aunt, I too decided to use the sound of sirens as a teaching opportunity for my children.

Young children seem to have a natural curiosity for a siren noise. Add the racing by of a police car, fire engine or ambulance, and with many children, it has their undivided attention. Rather than having scenes like this for pure spectating, why not turn it into an opportunity to instill some values in your children?

Early on, our children were told emergency vehicles sounded their sirens when they needed roads cleared to quickly reach the scene of a serious event. My children understand police officers help to enforce laws to keep others safe, fire fighters not only put out fires but help or rescue people, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are the ones who try to help people who are hurt and get them to the hospital safely.

When a siren sounds we know it's our cue to pray because someone may be in a crisis situation. As an ambulance speeds by I will often hear my five year old say, "Mommy! Something happened; we need to pray!" And I do so out loud so I can be an example to my kids.

"Dear Jesus, please be with the person or people that are hurt or in trouble and intervene in the situation. I pray if the person is hurt, You will help them, and if someone is in trouble, you will help keep them safe. Amen."

My hope in doing this is my children will have a better awareness of their world around them. I want to raise compassionate children who understand, even if they can't physically help someone, they can always pray.

The other day there was an explosion of our electric company's transformer. There was no power for the street lights but in the distance we could see the flashing of lights. I had not thought to pray-but my son did. I thought he'd forgotten to do this. I'm sure there have been opportunities to pray where we have unintentionally forgotten. It warmed my heart to know he remembered to think about those who might be in need.

Please visit this related blog:

Preparing Your Child For an Emergency

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QueenAngie Central Illinois, USA (60086) 13 Feb 2007 08:19 PM

As our sons were growing up, we did the same thing.... upon hearing a siren, we would pray for those individuals involved.

One time we came upon a major wreck coming back from my parents' home. Several ambulances were on the 4 lane highway. It looked very serious, traffic was detoured off the highway. All 4 of us prayed for those individuals in the wreckage and for the emergency personnel. It is one of those sights, a person never forgets.

About a week later, one of those teenagers involved in the wreck became my patient at the hospital on the Plastic Surgical Unit. He was not the driver, and it was a car from the opposite direction that was in error. He did not remember the details of the wreck, and I chose not to share them either.

The one thing that was important to the teenager's mother, and what I did share, was that as passerbyers going by the emergency vehicles, we were all praying for those people.... including her son.

Amazing how things turn out.

Glad you have brought up this topic.