Precious prayer

Last night at Mission Friends, we were talking about our missionaries who live in Florida and what we can do to help them. As a segway, I said we can all pray for them, and then I asked the six 5-year-olds, "Would any of you like to pray?"

I was not surprised when Austin*, who was sitting beside me, piped up and said, "I will! I will!"

Austin, by the way, is a super sweet little kid who's a bit on the hyper-active side but really does have a heart of gold. He always comes over to me and says, "I have to tell you something!" This happened five times BEFORE we started the lesson. But if I ever need anything done, he is the best little helper to have.

"Okay," I said. "Everyone, let's bow our heads and close our eyes. Austin, you can pray now."

This was, without a doubt, the sweetest prayer from a kid I've ever heard.

"Dear God," Austin said, taking his position as speaking to the Lord very seriously and speaking like a preacher at a revival -- passionate and dedicated. "We just -- we just want to talk about you. We just want to. Talk. To. You. Please. You made everything in the WORLD...and the trees. You made it all. In God's name, amen."

Precious. He was fully sincere, fully innocent, fully talking to God.

All of my kids are so adorable, though...There's Collin*, who can tell me the Bible verse from LAST week AND this week and who knows so many stories of the Bible and will happily tell me...Carrie*, my sweet little girl who is so well-behaved and is probably the best big sister in the world...Taylor*, with his big grin and easy-going disposition...and Hannah*, who always makes me feel great because she absolutely hates to leave Mission Friends.

Precious.

*Names changed. Obviously.