Last week I, and several other bloggers posted about how our children’s faith is impacting our own.
One of my readers sent me this precious story about her own granddaughter…
I wanted to share a story about my 4 year old granddaughter, Miriam.
A few days ago while riding in the car Miriam said, “God am I thirsty.”
I tried to explain that we don’t use God’s name that way… That it is okay to use God’s name when we are talking to a friend about God or when we are talking to God. I wasn’t exactly sure how much she would understand.
Her response was that she was talking to God in her chest. (huh?)
Her 7 year old sister, Kaydance, said “Don’t be silly, God is in the air around us not in your chest.”
Miriam replied “He is too in my chest, God is in my heart and my heart is in my chest and when I bow my head I talk to God in my chest.”
My first thought was “Wow who knew He was that close, just 4 short inches.” Then I thought what incredible reasoning skills for a 4 year-old. Then I thought I will never again see prayer in the same way – speaking directly to God in my chest.
I remember reciting as a child, “We close our eyes and bow our heads and thank You for our daily bread. Amen,” I never gave much consideration to why we close our eyes and bow our heads. I always thought about talking to God – somewhere up there.
This has profoundly affected my prayer life. I’ve been a Christian for 40 years, but have never felt as close to God in prayer as I do now that I literally think of Him as being in my chest when I talk to Him. I think there are times when we all feel like our prayers aren’t getting through, or that God is a great distance away – but He really is there right in our chest.
Thank you, Valerie, for sharing allowing me to share your story. And thank you, Miriam, for your amazing perspective.
I think it just might change my prayer life, too.
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