Tender toward

 It has struck me deeply lately how much I learn from my children. Our "baby," Aliya, is no exception. Just a little over a week ago, on January 26, Aliya asked Jesus to be the boss of her life. Just she and mom were driving to SW Minnesota for Grandma Great's wedding when she said, "Mom, maybe Grandma will have a baby." That led to a conversation about it's not likely that a 76-year old woman has a baby, but nothing is impossible for God to do. Sarah and Abraham had a baby at 100! She then says, "Yea, that's why I made Jesus the boss of my life." My mommy ears perk up...back the train up, "You already did?" "Yes, in my head." "Well, sometimes, you say a special prayer and ask God." We talked through the ABCs: Admit that we are not perfect and sin; Believe that Jesus died on the cross because we sin and three days later was alive; and Commit our lives to Him (make Him the boss is the lingo we use.) After all that theology, yes, she wanted to pray. We did it right then and there...on I-90.
Since then, it has been so humbling to watch such a small heart tender toward God and absorbing who He is. On the way to Community Bible Study this morning, she says, "I'm gonna tell everybody that God is the boss of my life!" as she names several people. "Mom, you're not the boss of my life. God is." She has an insatiable appetite for memorizing scripture as part of our preschool and is so quick to pray. She often talks about Jesus coming down on a cloud to take us to Heaven with Him. Yesterday, she expressed concern about what her sisters might be doing in Heaven (she's convinced that mom and her will be gardeners together in Heaven) and maybe by going to school they'll find out what they're good at. She's asked me, what it means to serve God. She'll say, "I just noticed in that song they're talking about worshiping God." She has begun to attempt grasping the idea of Jesus and God are the same, but have different jobs and talks about it from time to time. (I don't think any of us understand the Trinity fully.) And last night, while driving home after bringing Madison to Derrick's office so that they might enjoy a Timberwolves game together, she said, "Mom, I just feel like we should pray for Madi and Daddy," and so we did.
I love how she injects God into her day. He's in a time slot of her day, only thinking of Him while we read the Bible or go to church, it's throughout: while driving, reading a book, a conversation over lunch... May I never cease to thank God for my little goldenheads that teach me how to be holy.