Thursday, April 10, 2008

the faith of my boy

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My son is a spiritual giant at six years old. He keeps me on the straight and narrow. He has started asking deep and thoughtful questions and has a simple solution to his problems: prayer.

The other week his friend had given him a folder and it became one of those favored items – you know the ones. He draws a lot and he was putting his drawings in the folder. When the folder disappeared he enlisted me on his search high and low. We looked for about 30 minutes and then I got a phone call. I told him I was going to take a break from searching while I talked to my sister. Not five minutes later he showed up with the folder in hand and said, “I found it because I prayed. Then my legs just led me there!” I asked him to tell me more and he said that after he had said his prayer, he decided to follow his legs. He started walking and then “they wanted to turn this way, then they wanted to walk over here…” Sure enough, his “legs led him” straight to where the folder was sitting in a pile of papers on the shelf.

The simplicity of this hits me over and over again. While at first I doubted that his legs would drive him as an answer to prayer, as I contemplated it, I started to see his innocence and simple unquestioning faith. He hasn’t started doubting himself yet. He hasn’t started questioning if this is indeed an answer to prayer or his own mind. He understands that God answers spirit to spirit and he is willing to listen in ways that don’t make sense to those of us who have made a lot of messes by questioning anything and everything.

Last night he said to me, “I know what the ‘still small voice’ sounds like.” I said, “Oh, you do? What does it sound like?” He told me that he’d heard it, that it’s not as small as he thought it would be and it will say things like, “don’t do that.” He said that he will look around or ask me if I said something to him, but come to find out that there isn’t anyone around him, and he knows it is the Holy Ghost.

Question this if you may, but I have learned through talking to many people that the Holy Spirit does indeed speak to each person who will listen, and He speaks to them in a way that they will understand it individually. There are as many ways to get answers to prayer as there are personalities. So maybe my boy needs a loud voice, not so still and small. Maybe he needs a little pull physically to guide him to his answers. I think it’s beautiful and simple. I hope that someday my legs will lead me where I need to go because I asked God to guide me. I pray that someday I can become like my innocent boy and stop questioning if that was my mind or a still small voice of guidance.

11 comments:

the wrath of khandrea said...

that's awesome. i bet one day when he's a teenager and everything in life makes no sense at all, he'll read that and have a little glimpse back at how things work.

calibosmom said...

"And a little child shall lead them"- I love these first lessons of a child-this is something that he will never forget-even if he strays. Can I please order the loud version of the Holy Ghost?

Veronica said...

Hi,
Wow, thats an amazing story, what an interesting post to read on my first visit here. Im off to look around an see where your other stories lead.

bye

Abby said...

I love how simple and true it all is. Why do we make it so complicated?

Anonymous said...

There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this post. I love the part about how he doesn't doubt himself yet. He will need this simple and strong faith in the years to come - what a good mom you are for your encouragement and gentle leading.

LC

Kara said...

I just love you guys!

Emma Jo said...

What a sweet sweet boy!

Mama Coons said...

What a sweet story! I believe he will always follow the Spirit. He won't forget that he can receive help at any time and he will continue to ask and receive.

Wendy said...

That's sweet. I hope he always remembers that experience because that will help him in the future when he may doubt. I had a similar experience when I was 10 when I couldn't find my shoe. I prayed and then found it right away. I know that was God showing a little ten year old the blessings of faith and prayer. I'll always remember that.

Kathleen said...

i read this when you first posted it...couldn't comment with a wiggly baby in my arms!
what wise words...

nessie said...

Hi Brittany

I found your blog - don't even ask me how, I was just surfing and here I am :) You have an amazing blog, and I really love reading about your life... This post really touched me. Thanks for sharing.