dear Jesus

how precious it is to watch the faith of a mustard seed sprout into a little seedling and break through the soil of the heart of a toddler.

yesterday, while i was sitting on the couch with my son noah (3), we heard the thunder roll in the distance. he immediately snuggled up closer to me as we watched some silly episode of veggie tales. a few seconds later he heard the trash truck in the front driveway, and wanted to go look out the window and see, but was scared because of the thunder. i asked him if he remembered what he was supposed to do when he was afraid. i then reminded him he could pray and ask Jesus to help him not be afraid. so right then and there, without further guidance, he kneeled at the side of the couch, folded his hands, bowed his little head, and said," dear Jesus, fank you. pease help me so not be fraid. amen." he then jumped up as if freed from the chains of his fear and ran to go look out the front window.

three things struck me about his little prayer. after i picked my jaw up off the floor and wiped the tears from my beeming eyes, i realized this was the first time he had prayed of his own initiative without just repeating me. it was so genuine and it was his own prayer.

second, the simplicity of it. he said what needed to be said, and then had the faith to do what needed to be done.

third, he stopped to say thank you first. how many times do i?

and all this coming from a little boy who refuses to pull up his own underwear