Toddler talk can make you feel much ‘bewah’

“God has chosen prayer as his channel of blessing. He has spread a table for us with every kind of wisdom, grace and strength because he knows exactly what we need. But the only way we can get it is to pull up to the table and taste and see that the Lord is good. Pulling up to that table is called the prayer of faith.”

? JIM CYMBALA

I don’t think I have ever spent time with my granddaughter Mary without learning something interesting or being reminded of something I’ve forgotten. Mary is not yet 2 years old, but she is a persuasive and adorable little teacher.

Recently, thanks to Mary’s encouragement, I learned that waffles taste quite good with peanut butter on them. She has also showed me that you can be happily entertained with a plastic shovel in the sand or by blowing bubbles in the backyard.

I have also been reminded that simple things are pleasurable and satisfying. Swinging on a swing set or sliding down a slide are fun things to do. Cuddling a toddler while rocking in the rocking chair and singing to her feels like a little taste of heaven. Being with brown-eyed Mary has helped me to be fully present in the moment and to let go of stress.

Mary has also reminded me about other important things in life, such as how to pray. She showed me that the best time to pray is the moment we are aware that there is someone who needs prayer.

I recently talked by phone to my daughter Kelly, Mary’s mother, and told her about a tragic car accident that involved family friends. When Kelly spoke, I heard sorrow and concern in her voice, but I also heard Mary in the background repeatedly asking: “What happen mommy, what happen?” Kelly told me later that when she hung up, Mary looked at her with furrowed brow and obvious concern and repeated the same question, to which Kelly answered: “A little boy got hurt and we need to pray for him and his family.”

Soon after that, Kelly learned that some friends took their little daughter Natalie to the hospital because she was very sick, and I assume that Mary saw her parents praying for the girl. I assume this because of what I saw Mary do soon after that when I visited them.

I played with Mary while Kelly took baby Aubrey to the doctor for her bad cough. When I told Mary where her mother and sister were, Mary listened, stopped what she was doing, folded her hands and said: “Dear God, help little boy feel better, help Natalie feel better, help Aubrey feel better.” When Mary says the word “better,” she says it as though it is spelled “bewah.” At dinner, as Kelly was about to say grace, Mary jumped in with the same prayer from earlier ? and also said thank you for the food.

It was totally natural for Mary to climb up into her seat at the table for dinner, and it was just as natural for her to pray sincerely. I know that God answered Mary’s sweet prayers, and I know that he would be pleased to see the same trusting prayers of faith from me.

And you can quote me on that.