Page CXVI, Be Thou My Vision

Page CXVI
Be Thou My Vision


Friday, August 24, 2007

Little prayers

Last night there were considerable threats in weather including a tornado watch, hail, and severe thunderstorms. This type of thing is somewhat typical for our area of the country, so some of the time you take these things in stride. Last night a few friends and I were out looking at the looming and ominous clouds that I can honestly say I have seen none a sky like it. (If I had the camera with me I would have taken some photos of it.) We stood contemplating how long it would take for the tornado sirens to start, and creating anticipation about seeing a tornado. We were all very lighthearted until the violent rain and hail started, cops started herding wandering people of the street and into houses, and one by one each of our wives called. Amie called me and told us to go to the first level, and get under the stairwell, but I informed her that there were 4 grown men. We resorted to crowding in the first level stairwell where I met our neighbors who just moved in. One of us jumped outside quick and grabbed a piece of hail which we all leered at it.

I said all this realizing fully well that I'm setting myself up for a very anticlimactic ending, but it does serve some purpose. In the search for a safer environment for ourselves, we had to wake the kids and bring them downstairs. Noah was totally out of it, because it had been a busy day and he didn't get a nap. He pretty much stayed with his head on my shoulder drifting between dreams and reality. We chatted with the neighbors, the sirens faded, and so did any anticipation of seeing a tornado.

The night went on, the kids went to bed, and we attempted to have a game night. After everyone had left, Noah woke up and so did Frencesca. She was hungry and Noah was stressed. I'm not sure what about, but he was definitely over tired. We ended up putting him to bed a bunch of times, because he kept wandering out. About the second time I put him in bed, I was laying next to him whispering, "Noah calm down. You're alright. Just shut your eyes." As I was saying this I noticed he shut his eyes and said:

mnnn mama. mmnnm dada. mnnm caca. mmnn nana. mmmnnm sssasa...
Which I quickly realized he was praying, like we always do before bed, which usually goes like this:
Dear God. Thank you for mama. Thank you for dada. Thank you for Frencesca. Thank you for nana. Thank you for Sarah...
And on we go, until I end the prayer with, "and Jesus name" and Noah chimes right in:
Amen.
I really think these times are what being a parent is all about for me, and there is something entirely humbling about listening to children pray. The complexity in such simple words, yet expressed with the logic that only children know. Such great wisdom is expressed by Jesus as he keys us in on this childlike trait when He says:
But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2010:14-15;&version=50;">Mark 10:14-15

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