Yesterday i arrived home from work, mid-migraine, in lousy shape to say the least. i needed to take meds and get myself into bed for awhile. i had called home before leaving work and let Brian know that i wasn’t feeling well, and that i would be picking up subs (least smelly dinner option, also didn’t involve anything being cooked in my house – two important criteria for a migraine). he and Josh had meds and water waiting for me, and were being very quiet so that i could feel better faster.
i got myself into bed – and Josh came in to check on me after awhile. here is the conversation that followed:
Josh: Mommy, how is your headache feeling?
Me: (pain subsiding but now feeling very nauseous) well, i’m still not feeling too great
Josh: well Mommy, you should pray to Jesus and ask Him to make your headache go away
Me: (feeling somewhat chastised as i have not even CONSIDERED praying about it) you’re right Josh, i will do that. would you pray for me too?
Josh: i will! right now! in my room!
and with that, he marched off to his room and closed the door, and prayed. he was very happy that my headache eventually subsided. i’m very thankful that our little boy is really sensitive in situations involving sickness or injury… and even more thankful that the things we practice and teach about God and Jesus are clearly sinking in.
however… i feel, as i’ve already said, somewhat chastised at the fact that it took my 5 year old to remind me that the most important thing i could do in ANY situation was something i totally did not even consider initially. how often in life do i get frustrated and spin my wheels for awhile before i finally slink back to God in prayer asking for help… when the very FIRST thing i could be doing is immediately asking God for guidance, help, healing, whatever the situation needs. i know that Josh understands this on his own level – not long ago when i was visiting his classroom, the teacher was mentioning a friend who was away, sick with the flu. the kids were talking about making a card for him and Josh raised his hand and suggested that they should also pray for him! i was really thankful that his teacher responded by saying that she thought that was also a very good idea, and thanked Josh for being so thoughtful.
my son’s words and actions last night are a good reminder to me that rather than searching for answers inside myself (which, let’s face it, never really works terribly well), i need to head to my heavenly Father and ask Him for whatever it is that i am in need of.
Kerry Davey Cirillo
This brings up an interesting thought that I have been considering a lot lately… When my children were Josh's age they were just like that. As they get older you can watch the transition from that childhood state of almost total "go to God" for everything into our more adult world of "I can do it without Him" – even though if we were ASKED, we would never SAY that, it is just what our actions often say in our busy lives, right? Anyway – one of the things I decided is that as the kids get older we start leaving it up to them to do their devotions, read Scripture and pray rather than taking the VERY active role we do when they are young – reading the Bible, talking and praying with them.
Just stuff I've been thinking about lately…
Penny
so sweet and how lovely to see the growth of empathy and faith in Josh.
lynnbarker
what a good job mommy and daddy are doing! I so wish that I had Jesus in my life when my children were small. Josh has always struck me as a very sensitive child…has the gifts of mercy and people-helping??
Krista
Kerry, i just read an article about that very thing within the last week or so – about how as kids get older it is better to not force them, but to leave it up to them… which is obviously going to be easier if we've set a good example for them earlier and all along the way, i think.
joannmski
What a sweet little guy. I'm glad your headache went away, those migraines are miserable.