Answered Prayers

All week, Em has been insatiable in her appetite for Bible stories.   When I find her curled up with a book, most times its one of our bible story books.  On Thursday, she asked me to read the Nativity story and we finished half of the new testament before we quit reading.  Today, she asked me to read again and opened right where we left off, to hear the continuation.  So cool to watch this unfold in her!

Tonight, after bedtime prayers, Roo was asking more tough spiritual questions.  I asked her, as I usually do, if she would like to invite Jesus to be in her heart.  And this time she said yes!  Then, she spent another half hour working up the courage.  I asked her if she wanted some help with the words and she said yes.  After I articulated a simple invitation, Em repeated it verbatim, eyes shining!  She is SO excited about her newfound power!  Then, Roo, finally, said she'd like to ask Jesus in, but wanted to do it quietly, in her head.  I felt like I should stress the importance of doing this out loud, but offered her my ear, if she wanted to whisper it.  Roo jumped at this and quickly leaned over and used her own words, not mine, to pray.  And, being Roo, she came right back with a post script prayer.  It was a little joke for Jesus.

I think it counts

The girls have been full of faith-related questions lately. Each question is more challenging. The theology is deep and simplifying it for a 5yo without dumbing down the core content is excruciating. Within it all, my heart has been burdened to pray with more frequency and more fervency for a declaration and a dedication of my girls' hearts.

Tonight, Em smashed her finger in the closet door. There was no blood, no apparent damage, other than some torn skin. It was epic. The Snow White bandaid stemmed the tears only temporarily. It was bedtime. Tired emotions whipped the tornados of drama into a frenzy. J and I calmly prayed over the girls and the injured finger, answered some questions and said good night. As the door closed, the tears began afresh. I stood and listened, prepared to go in and lay in calm once again.

Instead I heard Roo worry over Em's hurt and tell her not to worry... that Mama was praying for angels to watch over them. Then, I heard Em call out "Jesus! I need you!" She did this twice.

I think this counts. It's not the perfect prayer of surrender, of salvation. Instead, it's what we're all brought to... the moment that we realize there is nothing within our power to change our current circumstances. And the circumstances are intolerable. We cry out for help, it's the 911 to heaven. Help, Papa!

I'm so incredibly grateful to have been there, on the other side of that door.

It counts.