"....and for me,...Clara, RIGHT HERE!"

My "not quite 3" year old is really starting to figure out how to pray. It amazes me, she is old enough now to formulate her own thoughts and put them into the sweetest prayers to Jesus that I have ever heard. I absolutely LOVE to listen to her as she prays so earnestly and with such innocence and child-like faith. Recently, as Matt and I were going through our normal "before-bed" routine with the kids, she began to pray. She prayed for Mommy and Daddy, for "Baby-Man", and then she said, "and for me, (slight pause) Clara, RIGHT HERE!" (spoken very enthusiastically as she firmly pointed to herself). It was such an adorable reminder to me of how prayer really should be.

Prayer doesn't have to be all flowery and full of empty words. In fact, let's just forget all that stuff. God wants us to talk to Him like He's our best friend and we are having a ♥ to ♥ chat. Many times, we try to complicate things that are very simple. I think Clara said it best. As if to say: "You know God, Clara, the one you created and who talked to you earlier today, your precious little baby girl, yah, that's me, I am right here and I am back to have another visit with You!". So simple, so to the point, and so much faith that she can talk to God just like she talks to her daddy and that everything will be alright.

Also, I am so glad that, although Clara very willingly identified herself, the Lord knows us by name and every hair upon our head. He is our Heavenly Father and loves us beyond measure. I cannot even begin to fathom His love for me. I possess the love of a mother for her children. Love that makes my heart turn to mush when I receive that slobbery kiss or that amazing "work of art". Love that makes those little baby coos and smiles make the whole day 110% better. Love that allows me to clean up the stinky diapers, or bed accidents, or throw up. Love that gives and gives and gives to my kids, whether it's providing them with food, clothing, education, toys, or most importantly taking TIME to just be with them and be a kid again. Love that gives and wants to give more and more wonderful experiences and opportunities to them. Why?? Because they're MY KIDS and I LOVE THEM!! How much more does our Heavenly Father love us and want to hear from us in prayer?!?!? WOW!! It's Incredible to think about!

Whenever I stop and think about how much I love my kids and/or how much God loves me, I am reminded of these wonderful words of Jesus in Matthew 7:9-11:

"Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?"

"Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?"

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Good "Food 4 Thought", huh?!? ;)