a childlike faith.....
I shared with you last Wednesday that Brasen and I had made a trip to OKC for a checkup- just FYI, His work is continuing in our son and Brasen's labs were great!
This wasn't just an average trip to OKC for he and I this time around...
I have a dear and beautiful friend whose daughter has been in a struggle with her health for a little while now. My friend is a healer- a doctor- so it is terribly hard for her to watch her daughter (who is also a mother of several beautiful children) undergo such a battle with her health. Last Wednesday, Brasen and I had the opportunity to stop by the hospital in OKC and visit this beautiful human being (whom we had never met before). So I asked my friend if it would be okay and, after talking with the family she gave me the "okay" to drop by.
On the way there I explained to Brasen that we would be making a pit stop on our way home to visit a new friend and of course, being the people person he is, he loved the idea. As we drove the turnpike miles to the city we talked about why we would be stopping. In his little mind he was confused why we would go visit someone whom we didn't know. I was able to remind him and tell him about how many of you (some of you not even knowing us personally at the time) had made the drive to OKC to stand by us, hold our hands and pray over him. When I told him about the beautiful moments of prayer that had occurred over his little body he closed his Nintendo DS (I know, don't choke on your food:0) and looked out the window.
Brasen is the kind of kid that you can tell when he is working things out in his head. Sometimes I think that it is the Holy Spirit talking to his little childlike spirit and he is sitting taking it all in. After a few minutes of silence (I wanted to give him as much time as he needed because in a weird way I knew something was stirring inside of him) he flipped open his DS and opened the DVD player in the car and the silence ended- ELF was playing right along side MarioLand and my senses became over loaded!! He worked it out in his head and decided it was time to get on with it but he didn't include me in what he was thinking. I try not to pry so I let it go- for that moment.
During his appointment he told his doctor (who isn't a christian) that he was going to meet a new friend and pray with her "just like people prayed for me when I was here!" His doctor smiled and said "that's nice" and went on about his business. Brasen didn't let that stifle his excitement though. (and then he [Brasen] announced to the receptionist in a lobby full of children that santa was, indeed, dead but that mom and dad give presents like Saint Nicholas did hundreds of years ago- I got some dirty looks from some momma's that day!!!!!!!)
So, we drove to the other hospital and the whole way I was telling him how important it was for him to stay right by me, not to run around, not to act crazy, etc.. When we walked in the room I looked at his face to make sure he wasn't afraid and to my surprise there was no fear in his body. In fact, he walked over to the other side of the hospital bed and had a conversation with the beautiful woman we were there to visit. When we were leaving we prayed over her, encouraged her (in reality- let's be honest- she was the one encouraging us) and hugged a few necks. When we reaching the parking lot Brasen said "mom, when you prayed she cried." I told him that sometimes people cry because they are happy or sad or when God is speaking to them even. He said, "mom, I hope it was okay but I prayed for her in my head when you were praying for her." Yes, needless to say, proud mommy moment. I didn't know if he would even understand the whole concept of what we were doing but, once again, I totally underestimated the power of God.
We got in the car and started our trip back to Tulsa. As we entered into the Jenks area Brasen said "mom, I want to pray for her again." I, in my foolish mommy voice, said, "that's great honey. We probably won't go back to OKC to pray for her but we can pray for her tonight before bed." Thinking I had worked that out beautifully his voice said, "but mom, I think we need to pray for her now." SHAME ON ME!!!!!! Of course we can pray for her right now- good grief, Kim, why didn't you think of that! So, I looked in my mirror, made eye contact with my precious little 8 year old boy and said, "okay, son." Out of his mouth came the most pure, simple, sincere and beautiful prayer I may have ever heard.
This was his prayer... " Lord, I just thank you for this day. I pray that that girl will have the gift to stand up on her legs, the gift to open her mouth and eat and the gift to close her eye. Amen."And then he said to me, "mom, you know, Jesus hears our prayers." Talk about a true "come-to-Jesus" moment in a car. Brasen knew what this woman was struggling with- probably more than I did. There is no doubt in my head or in my soul that Brasen has had moments with my savior that I have yet to experience. He knows that my God has heard the prayers of each of you that have been raised to heaven on his behalf. He has had moments when, I believe, Jesus himself has quieted his scared soul and told him that all will be well.
We returned home and Brasen did not talk about any part of the day we had experienced. He was not boastful about visiting and praying. He simply became a kid again and got into trouble for whacking Elijah on the head with a light saber.
Late that night, as I sat thinking about the day, I was humbled that God would trust me with not one child, but three. I was also at a loss for words. Brian and I talk to our children about God. We read bible stories to them at night before we go to bed. We pray before meals and when they are sick- you know, the regular stuff. However, we fail them miserably sometimes (it seems) by missing the mark and leaving out so much stuff. Thankfully, you don't enter into heaven and immediately a bible drill or pop quiz on the books of the bible in order from first to last.
Children are precious and priceless gifts from God. He speaks to them and he uses them to speak to us.
Isaiah 9:6 says
" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
This wasn't just an average trip to OKC for he and I this time around...
I have a dear and beautiful friend whose daughter has been in a struggle with her health for a little while now. My friend is a healer- a doctor- so it is terribly hard for her to watch her daughter (who is also a mother of several beautiful children) undergo such a battle with her health. Last Wednesday, Brasen and I had the opportunity to stop by the hospital in OKC and visit this beautiful human being (whom we had never met before). So I asked my friend if it would be okay and, after talking with the family she gave me the "okay" to drop by.
On the way there I explained to Brasen that we would be making a pit stop on our way home to visit a new friend and of course, being the people person he is, he loved the idea. As we drove the turnpike miles to the city we talked about why we would be stopping. In his little mind he was confused why we would go visit someone whom we didn't know. I was able to remind him and tell him about how many of you (some of you not even knowing us personally at the time) had made the drive to OKC to stand by us, hold our hands and pray over him. When I told him about the beautiful moments of prayer that had occurred over his little body he closed his Nintendo DS (I know, don't choke on your food:0) and looked out the window.
Brasen is the kind of kid that you can tell when he is working things out in his head. Sometimes I think that it is the Holy Spirit talking to his little childlike spirit and he is sitting taking it all in. After a few minutes of silence (I wanted to give him as much time as he needed because in a weird way I knew something was stirring inside of him) he flipped open his DS and opened the DVD player in the car and the silence ended- ELF was playing right along side MarioLand and my senses became over loaded!! He worked it out in his head and decided it was time to get on with it but he didn't include me in what he was thinking. I try not to pry so I let it go- for that moment.
During his appointment he told his doctor (who isn't a christian) that he was going to meet a new friend and pray with her "just like people prayed for me when I was here!" His doctor smiled and said "that's nice" and went on about his business. Brasen didn't let that stifle his excitement though. (and then he [Brasen] announced to the receptionist in a lobby full of children that santa was, indeed, dead but that mom and dad give presents like Saint Nicholas did hundreds of years ago- I got some dirty looks from some momma's that day!!!!!!!)
So, we drove to the other hospital and the whole way I was telling him how important it was for him to stay right by me, not to run around, not to act crazy, etc.. When we walked in the room I looked at his face to make sure he wasn't afraid and to my surprise there was no fear in his body. In fact, he walked over to the other side of the hospital bed and had a conversation with the beautiful woman we were there to visit. When we were leaving we prayed over her, encouraged her (in reality- let's be honest- she was the one encouraging us) and hugged a few necks. When we reaching the parking lot Brasen said "mom, when you prayed she cried." I told him that sometimes people cry because they are happy or sad or when God is speaking to them even. He said, "mom, I hope it was okay but I prayed for her in my head when you were praying for her." Yes, needless to say, proud mommy moment. I didn't know if he would even understand the whole concept of what we were doing but, once again, I totally underestimated the power of God.
We got in the car and started our trip back to Tulsa. As we entered into the Jenks area Brasen said "mom, I want to pray for her again." I, in my foolish mommy voice, said, "that's great honey. We probably won't go back to OKC to pray for her but we can pray for her tonight before bed." Thinking I had worked that out beautifully his voice said, "but mom, I think we need to pray for her now." SHAME ON ME!!!!!! Of course we can pray for her right now- good grief, Kim, why didn't you think of that! So, I looked in my mirror, made eye contact with my precious little 8 year old boy and said, "okay, son." Out of his mouth came the most pure, simple, sincere and beautiful prayer I may have ever heard.
This was his prayer... " Lord, I just thank you for this day. I pray that that girl will have the gift to stand up on her legs, the gift to open her mouth and eat and the gift to close her eye. Amen."And then he said to me, "mom, you know, Jesus hears our prayers." Talk about a true "come-to-Jesus" moment in a car. Brasen knew what this woman was struggling with- probably more than I did. There is no doubt in my head or in my soul that Brasen has had moments with my savior that I have yet to experience. He knows that my God has heard the prayers of each of you that have been raised to heaven on his behalf. He has had moments when, I believe, Jesus himself has quieted his scared soul and told him that all will be well.
We returned home and Brasen did not talk about any part of the day we had experienced. He was not boastful about visiting and praying. He simply became a kid again and got into trouble for whacking Elijah on the head with a light saber.
Late that night, as I sat thinking about the day, I was humbled that God would trust me with not one child, but three. I was also at a loss for words. Brian and I talk to our children about God. We read bible stories to them at night before we go to bed. We pray before meals and when they are sick- you know, the regular stuff. However, we fail them miserably sometimes (it seems) by missing the mark and leaving out so much stuff. Thankfully, you don't enter into heaven and immediately a bible drill or pop quiz on the books of the bible in order from first to last.
Children are precious and priceless gifts from God. He speaks to them and he uses them to speak to us.
Isaiah 9:6 says
" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Beautiful words foreshadowing what would come. But what is even more beautiful- this child that the book of Isaiah was talking about later said,
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them." (Mark 10:14-16)
A gift of a child was given to us so very long ago. That child went on to change the coarse of our eternity. Although none of my children were born to die on a cross for my sins there is no doubt that God gave them to me to continually show me that He is at work all around me and in every aspect of my life. There is no doubt that with their faith and endurance (that far outweigh mine sometimes) they can change the world by furthering His kingdom. May I come to Him each day with a childlike faith- eyes wide open and ready to experience all that He has for me... without any doubt or hesitation.
As Ronnie Baker, a good pastor friend of mine and Brian's, has recently said "This changes everything."
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