A few weeks ago I started saying a prayer each night after Cub had climbed into bed and the light had been turned off. I left a silence after I had thanked God for whatever I wanted to thank her for that day and I let Cub know that the silence before I said "Amen" was a time that if he wanted to say something he could. He's not yet taken me up on that offer.
Fast forward to yesterday. Cub had his last day of church camp. He'd been there each day this past week. The kids were divided up into groups based on their ages. Cub was in the youngest group, this being the first year he was old enough to attend church camp, seeing as he's starting Kindergarten next month (gulp!).
Each age group put together a prayer to be read at the closing service on the last day of camp. It was obvious that each child had gotten to add something to the prayer that they were thankful for. The first line of Cub's group prayer was "Thank you for food." The next line was "Thank you for Legos." Yup. That one. That was the one I knew he had contributed. My Lego-loving son. When he's not talking about Star Wars, he's talking about Lego. He prefers to talk about his Star Wars Legos.
Tonight after I turned off the light and started singing to lull him to sleep I got through a few songs and then he reminded me I hadn't given him a kiss good-night yet and I hadn't said the prayer. Wow! Really? I had skipped it a couple of nights here and there to see if he noticed or cared and until tonight, nothing. Great! Get your face over here and let me kiss you good-night! I did and then I asked him about the closing group prayer at church camp yesterday. Had each child gotten to contribute what they wanted to say thank you for? Yes, he told me. And then, fully knowing the answer to the question I was about to pose, I asked, "Which line did you add?" "Thank you for food.", was his response. Whaaaa???? You could have knocked me over with a feather. Seriously? Yes, he told me. Not the one about Legos? No, that was another boy. Wow! Cool! This from my kid who usually tells me he hates Jesus to get out of going to church. Mind you, it doesn't work, but still, he tries. I tell him Jesus loves him anyway.
And THEN! He told me that he wants to start saying thank you for the food before we eat. Excuse me? Who ARE you and what did you do with my son??? Should we start start saying grace before dinner again, like we do every so often? Yes, that would be a good thing, he says. To thank God for the food. Um. Ok. I like that idea, I say. How about we take turns, I'll say it sometimes, you can say it sometimes and Daddy can say it sometimes, ok? That sounds like a plan, he says.
And then that was it. The end of that conversation. But, I smiled and felt a warm glow as I sang the rest of my songs, rubbed his back and lulled him to sleep, thankful for this wonderful child who wants to thank God for the food. During my prayer he whispered "And for Puppy." I thanked God for Puppy, who is Cub's best friend and stuffed dalmatian.
Somehow I don't think I'll have a fight on my hands tomorrow morning to go to church. And I doubt it has anything to do with the fact that his favorite friend is going to be there and he hasn't seen her in several weeks. And I doubt it has anything to do with the plans we've already made to go to Starbuck's for croissants for breakfast before church. But, if these come into his decision-making process not to make it a difficult time for me, I'm good with that. As long as he goes. And I know he'll thank God for the food.
My journey tonight has been one of prayer, thanking God for my son.
