The prayer of a child.

So Nickolas is in prime time football loving mode. He is the spitting image of his daddy. If there were enough football teams to be televised for 24 hrs. a day my son would never sleep. At first his eyes could only focus on a mesh of colors and players. Now he is watching the ball, every tackle, and every player getting slammed into the ground.
"Wow mommy do you think that hurt?"
"Oh buddy I could not even imagine how bad that felt."
Every now and then you witness the tragic event of the player getting knocked out on the ground and not getting back up.
"Mommy is he going to heaven?"
Now I have to think very carefully about how to answer this. I don't want to respond too quickly and say "No." Of course I hope this young man goes to heaven but I pray that it isn't his time yet to be called into God's kingdom. So after a little bit of hesitation I just tell Nickolas that I can't answer that. Only God knows if he is going to wake up, get up, go to the doctor, or go to Heaven yet we can help God by praying to him. Since it was bed time we went to bed and immediately played for our football player in the red helmet.
"Dear Jesus. Please take care of the football player in the red helmet. May you keep him happy, healthy, and safe. May he play football in heaven if you let him."
It was too cute for my own ears. Nickolas woke up the next morning and immediately asked about the football player. It was nice to tell him that his prayers helped and that the football player would be playing again next week. Nickolas just jumped up and down screaming, "Oh yeah. Oh yeah." While I would like to think it was because he was extremely happy about the recovery of this player I have a sneaking suspicion that it was about just getting to watch more football next week.
This week our darling little Jocie has been very sick. Just like Nickolas' eyes are becoming more fixed on each play of the game he is also becoming more observant of individual people. He knew that Jocie was not in her typical devilish mood and you could see real concern in his eyes. After a day of her laying on the couch all day with no movement and no words Nickolas ran straight to me and asked if I would lay with him in his bed.
"Okay bud. You ready for a nap or something?"
"No just come on please."
We jumped in the bed and he wraps those arms around me and whispers in my ear.
"Let's pray for Jocie."
"Okay", I respond back in the same whisper.
"Dear Jesus please take care of Jocie. Keep her happy, healthy, and safe but please don't let her go to Heaven yet."
Tear...
I want my children to become prayer warriors even at a young age. I know a time will come when a prayer won't be answered and a heart will be broken. I am ready to deal with that when it happens but for right now I want them to see every action as an answered prayer from God. I hope that you also are prayer warriors. That you lift every hope and desire to God and give Him the chance to deliver the miracles in your life that He so lovingly has for you. We are teachers for our children and they become what they witness. God bless to all of my faithful followers and friends.
2 Corinthians 9:13-15
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves,
men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you,
because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!