Discovering God: A Toddler's Story

We've been saying bed time prayers with Emma

for some time now. I wanted to share a sweet story

with you about our prayer time this week.

Usually it's just she and I because Eric works

most nights, but he's been home some lately.

The other night, as we got ready to pray, he said

"Remember, God listens when we talk to him."

As he said this, he pointed toward the ceiling

indicating God was up in heaven.

Well, clearly, Emma doesn't get the concept of

heaven. Instead, she apparently took this to mean

that God was actually up on the ceiling.

Coincidentally, Eric's shadow was cast above

Emma in the corner of her room.

With her hands folded sweetly as Eric and I

recited "Now I lay me down to sleep..."

I peeked at her and noticed her looking

over her shoulder at Eric's shadow.

We said "Amen." She said "Aaaaaaaameeeen."

Then without missing a beat, she looks back

to Eric's shadow, waves, and whispers,

"Nigh nigh, Gawd."

Be still my heart.

"Truly I say to you, unless you turn and

become like children, you will never enter

the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles

himself like this child is the greatest in

the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:3-4