Friday, December 13, 2013

Dearest God,

"Grandma, how can you remember to pray before you go to bed each night?"  My eight-year-old Stella asked me.  I paused.  "I think of God as my most favorite person in the world and I wouldn't want to miss saying goodnight."  I responded.

The conversation continued when Stella asked me more about prayer.  "How do you know if God answers your prayers?"  I thought for a moment.  "When I pray I know sometimes I will have to wait for an answer so I look and watch.  Sometimes it comes when I think about God.  Sometimes it comes when I suddenly feel better or I am no longer afraid.  Sometimes it comes when I help somebody else.  Sometimes it comes through other people."  "Has God ever answered a prayer for you through me?"  She looked straight at me with those warm hazel eyes.  "Oh yes, sweetheart.  There have been many times when your great big smile made me feel better.  Your smile is like a star shining on a dark night.  You are a star light to me when I feel down."  Her smile spread across her freckled face and I pulled her close to me in a big bear hug.

What a privilege to have my granddaughter ask me such an important question.  What an opportunity to talk about you and my understanding of your living presence in the world.  Those moments in my kitchen are sacred moments because I felt your presence filling the room.  I knew you were there as Stella and I talked together and I felt oh so very blessed.

Thank you
Loving Father
for precious encounters
with loved ones.
Thank you
for Stella,
for her curiosity,
for her love,
and her
great big smile.
I see you
through her.

Love always, Andrea