A Child’s Prayer

You never can tell which experiences will have the biggest impact on your child's life.   Apparently, whale watching is a biggie for Jared.  A few weeks after the experience, he started letting me know he was not a fan of boats, and could we please not plan on going on another boat.  Ever.   It began to keep him up at night, and then he began dreaming of it.   Poor guy.  We have talked extensively and on numerous occasions about boats and the water.  It seems it is the instability of the boat that causes him stress.  He has taken to asking if he might sleep in my bed, or can’t fall asleep for hours after bedtime.  Last week I had him start sleeping with a pillow that smelled like me for comfort.   Tonight I was sitting relaxing watching a show, and he meandered in and handed me a teeny stack of papers stapled together.  They read, “Mom, I ned too toc too you.”   He climbed up in my lap and we had another discussion about boats.  Did he ever have to go on a boat again?  No, not if he didn’t want to I told him.  Even if he didn’t go, would I go ahead on a boat without him?  Yes, I told him I would.  That I liked boats.    Later, in the kitchen I could see him sort of circling the area, seeming hesitant but needing more communication. 
JR- “um, mom?”
M-“Yes?”
JR-“so, if Jesus helped someone…  can they talk about it?”
M-“You mean are they allowed to talk about it if He helped them?  Of course, yes.”
(relief, and entering the kitchen fully now)
M- “Did he help you?”
JR- “ Yes, I was really scared the other night to go to sleep, and I said a prayer that Jesus would help me.  And mom, He did!”
I know this is a long story to get to such a simple ending, but my tiny person has always been close to his Father in Heaven.  His prayers from the time he could give them, have been detailed and heartfelt.  He is never one to be a repeater, he has always know to whom he is speaking while in prayer.  So when he told me that Jesus helped him.  I knew how very real that answered prayer was.