A lesson in prayer from a 3 yr old

Callie is so good at remembering to pray for people who are sick or in need. Over a month ago, my parents neighbor (Bill) had a brain aneurysm. They explained it to her that he was bleeding in his brain and was in the hospital so the doctors could fix it. For the next couple days she would tell people about "Bill bleeding in his head" and would pray for him, or ask someone else to, every time we prayed (whether it was at lunch, dinner or at bedtime). A few days later our nephew Taylor had a slight dirt biking accident and hurt his leg. As soon as we told her, she asked to pray for him that night. So literally every night at dinner (which is really the only time the girls are comfortable praying out loud), Callie says "Dear God, thank you for this food, thank you for Biww and Taywor". At first, I thought maybe she would want to pray that they get better, heal, etc. but she always just thanked God for them. Then, I realized how appropriate that is. God doesn't promise us any amount of days in this life, He knows His plans and how they will follow out. All we know is that we should be thankful for each day we have. And although Callie maybe does not realize what she is exactly praying, I think it's neat how she knows just to be thankful that they are here for today and that when we pray, we don't always need to 'ask' for something or someone but to be praising God just because.

Then the other day Madeleine got sick and went to the hospital with bacterial pneumonia. I told Callie that night at dinner, in case she wanted to pray for her too. That night her prayer was this, "Dear God, thank you for this food, thank for Biww (l's are w's right now), Taywor, and Ms. Madeweine - Grammy, Katie Sue's grammy. Amen" Joe & I were grinning ear to ear as we watched Callie praying for those she knew who were sick and in need, and as she sat there explaining to God her relation to them. So cute that she felt the need to explain to God that Madeleine is Katie Sue's grammy and not her's. In the midst of this wonderful 3 yr old stage ;), she is such a sweet spirit and so sensitive to many many things! And it has been almost a month now that she continues EVERY day to pray for Bill & Taylor, and now Ms. Madeleine too. I'm thinking we could all learn a lesson or two from Callie's faithful prayers :)

We'll save the fact that she does not want to go to heaven for another time...she is not ready to leave here and be away from everyone she knows :)

Our short time here

It was about 4 months ago I went to a memorial service for an 8 month old baby girl. This upcoming Saturday is another one for a 23 yr old young lady...and all of this to remind me of who our dad really is, especially when we have children of our own. That gal that passed away this week was due to a tragic accident - one minute she was counselor to a bunch of campers, next thing she takes a fall and her life is over...BUT, just her temporary life on earth is over, the rest of her life has just begun! This gal served our God more than most people I know - I remember her in junior high (I worked with the youth group she was in at the time)and her faith and boldness in Christ only grew from there. A bubbly, passionate, fun loving, sweet spirited young girl who greeted everyone with a smile. If ever there a young girl who beamed with the love of Christ, it was her - there was no getting around it! (http://www.ilasting.com/nadyneqirreh.php) So, as sad as it is for her family & friends to see her go, she is in the one place she knew she was meant for! I can guarantee she was welcomed into heaven with a "Well done my good faithful servant!" How well do I spend my time here like she did? It is a very challenging place to find myself in - do I take every opportunity I'm given to share the love that is in my life? And, how well do I share it with my own children, who God has entrusted me to raise FOR HIM?

This week I have heard the song, "Blessings" by Laura Story multiple times. It brings me tears each time. So I decided to look up the lyrics since I was not completely sure of each word. Wow - a powerful song to say the least. Reading it brings on the tears ever more so. I want to share the words as it brings much thought and conviction to how we respond to the good, the bad and the ugly; how God is really in control and can bring purpose to every event. We may not always know reasoning behind a tragic event, but He does. And, He sees what happens days, weeks, and even years after these events. Our faith is in Him, not in knowing the "why's" of this life.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace. Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, for prosperity. We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering. All the while You hear each spoken need. Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops. What if Your healing comes through tears?What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You're near? What if trials of this life Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear. We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near. We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love. As if every promise from Your Word is not enough. And all the while You hear each desperate plea, And long that we'd have faith to believe.

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win, We know that pain reminds this heart That this is not, this is not our home. It's not our home

What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life, The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are Your mercies in disguise?