Dearest Joy,
Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough to teach you the things that are important. I mean, I know you love watching Pingu and Sesame Street and other shows on TV, but that takes time away from my teaching you. I want to be sure you know that I know my Redeemer lives. He loves me. He loves you. I have had some really tough times in my life, and yet through those times, I have never been alone. Whenever I've remembered that I should pray for help and support, I have received it. I have countless stories I could tell of little miracles in my life and of various people answering my prayers without knowing that was exactly what they were doing.
I know it's hard for you to learn how to be still and quiet when you should be. I appreciate the effort you put forth to do so during prayers, especially around other people at church. One of these days soon, you will want to be saying your own prayers, and I will be happy to help you do that.
Just today, I warmed up some leftovers in the microwave for lunch, not thinking you'd want more than a bite here and there because you'd recently eaten. But when you followed me to the kitchen table to eat and climbed up on a chair by me, I was reminded that I needed to say a blessing on the food to show my thankfulness for it. So I did, and you obliged by folding your arms. And this time, you even closed your eyes tight, which I saw before I closed my own to start the prayer. Then I started eating, giving you a small bite here & there between my bites. But I guess I wasn't fast enough for you, so you figured maybe you needed to pray first before eating. You folded your little arms, bowed your head, closed your eyes, whispered, and then cheerfully called out, "AMEN!" to let me know you were ready to eat.
Then I got a text from Daddy and had to share this story with him before I forgot, because it is so precious. As I was doing so, you repeated the process two more times. Praying helped you get what you wanted the first time, so you were confident that it would help again!
At times like this, I think that I must be doing something right, because you are learning of the power of prayer. You are learning gratitude and humbleness and to turn to God.
I am so proud of you.
I love you.
Mom
