This morning as we were eating breakfast, Ava was talking about sitting or staying or sleeping, I couldn't figure out which. I kept telling her I didn't understand and she would look up at me with those big baby blues of hers and ever so slowly try and tell me again what she wanted. I finally got it - "Say a prayer."
Over the past several years, since Allison has been able to talk, we've asked her to say the prayer at dinner time. Then, about 8 months ago, Ava started joining in or saying grace after Allison was done. Sometimes, she even reminds us that we didn't say it, and gets our attention so SHE can say it. This morning was one of those mornings. Don and I were preoccupied with thoughts of what we had to get done today - if you forgot, Christmas is only 9 days away and although we bought our tree last Saturday, it's STILL NOT DECORATED!!! (Neither is the rest of our house for that matter.) But Ava, in the innocence and with the pure love of a child, put God first (as it should be) and reminded us to pray before we ate. "Dear God, thank you for this food. Amen." Her prayer is simple, but never ceases to fill my heart with JOY, Peace, and Hope. This weekend, may you put God first in all that you do, and may your heart be filled with JOY, Peace, and Hope.
