A couple days ago, my sister walked up the stairs, went into the kitchen and said to my mom, “Mommy, my nose hurts. Pray for it.” My mom thought she heard wrong and asked, “What?” “Pray for my nose,” Julie replied. My mom prayed for my 2-yr-old sister, and she walked away and never again complained about the ‘pain.’
We were all surprised by the story. None of us had ever taught her how to pray. Maybe a Sunday schoolteacher taught her, but we really aren’t sure. She’s never done that before. Whenever she gets hurt we kiss her and say, “It’s healed!” (It’s a Brazilian thing). But, as far as we know, nobody has taught her to pray for healing.
A couple years ago, when I was in Atlanta, GA, visiting my dad and family, my other little sister, Kimberly (then only 2, but now a super-energetic 4 yr old), walked up to us and said, “Jesus told me to give Him all my heart.” We all said, “Good.” But then I asked, “What do you mean?” I was looking more for “how did you hear this? how did you become so prophetic?” But Kimberly understood something else. She walked up to window, put her body against the window and spread out her arms, as if she was on a cross. I was astonished. I didn’t know what to say.
What is God doing in these children? Perhaps, like Mary, I’m just supposed to keep these things in my heart and ponder them. I pray whenever I remember, but I often forget. I always try to imitate Jesus. I ask Julie all the time, “Who’s beautiful?” “I am,” she answers. “Who’s strong?” “I am.” I want to lay a really good Song-of-Song-type foundation in them. Father, Your kingdom come into these kids. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
