"And a Child Shall Talk For Them" - That Should Really Be In There.

Oh, please let it be in here. Please let it be in here.

Yesterday I rushed to my Bible, wiped away far too much dust from its cover, and began to search. Child, child, humble, forgiveness...these were the words I looked up in the Glossary.

Yep, that's me.
Local theology student.
35 year old Believer.
And still using the old Glossary.
Classy, no?

And as I flipped through the pages I did so with a desperation that I hadn't felt in some time. Oh, it just has to be in here. I really want to see it with my own eyes.

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Moments before I had laid Remi down for her afternoon nap. And what an afternoon it had been.

There had been the moment at swim lessons when her teacher told her to float and she had screamed, "I don't want to float. I hate floating! I want to go off that diving board!" "No, Remi." "Yyyeessssss!!!!" It was a lovely moment - I wish I had a picture.

Oh, and then there was the moment we went to a friends house and she promptly when right up the stairs into her daughters room and broke something. The daughter cried so much we eventually had to leave.

And who could forget the moment in the early morning when I was getting ready for a house showing and she bloodied her brother's lip all over my clean, white carpet.

And that was all before noon.

But yesterday, when I laid her down, she asked to say her prayers like she does every afternoon before naptime and every evening before bedtime. So, she says "now I lay me down to sleep..." twice. Big deal! There are most days she accomplishes more with that prayer than I do with my measly little prayer which on most occasions goes something like this..."Hey, this is Melissa. Remember me? The last time we spoke I was begging you to let the highway patrol only issue me a warning. Well, anyway - it's me. How are you? Good? Wonderful. Listen, I really need...."

So yesterday as she lay there we repeated the prayer that we both have memorized now...
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Bless mommy and daddy and Rocco and Remi.
Bless Bonga and Grandma and Poppie and Noni.

She opened her eyes only halfway and whispered,
"You tell God I sorry for beez a bad girl."
"Remi, why don't you tell God you're sorry?"
"Okay....God fohhgive me for beez a bad girl with mommy. I yelled at my teacher - but I didn't hit or kick her and I hurt my friends feelings - but I didn't hit or kick her and then I pushed Rocco and then he started bleeding and I love him very much. And I'm sorry."

And that was it.

No fireworks went off.

Somewhere in Rome the Pope did not fall to his knees.

But forgiveness was sought.
And forgiveness was granted.

And that was all it took.

Beautiful, really. The thought that simple words can do more to attract the heart (and attention) of God than all the lingo and cliche's we can come up with. Which is really good for me since, like Winnie the Pooh, I beez a girl of very simple words and very little brain.

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And so I went for my Bible. And in looking I came across all of these (forgive me for using The Message, but sometimes I likah the simple talk):

Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble. (Psalms 8:2)

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. (Matthew 11:25 NLT)

For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. (Matthew 18:2-5)

The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. (Mark 10:13-16)

And there it was, right before me, in black and white...become simple and elemental again, like this child...the simplicity of a child...toddlers shout songs that drown out enemy talk.

All of the things that I had forgotten to do, Remi was doing.

I forgot to pray - she did it several times a day.

I forgot to ask forgiveness - she did so at the drop of a hat.

I forgot to get down off my high horse - she doesn't even know what a high horse is (though if she did she would surely beg for a brown one and name him Rocco. She tends to name all animals Rocco.)

And it was that reminder that made me shut my Bible yesterday, wipe away the dust and lay on my bed, eyes open to the heavens, and say, "Hi. It's me. I'm sorry..."