The kids and I have been praying for Baby Riley—a little guy in our church who was born with his esophagus separated from his stomach and who has been living at CMH for weeks now with more weeks and surgery to go. I've tried to include them in the process of praying for Riley and his mama, because I think they can relate to the idea of babies being sick and I think it involves them in the overall process of intercessory prayer. (Obviously, intercessory not being a word that I've used with the kids. J )
A couple of weeks ago (I know, I'm late), Sam was praying for baby Riley and he said, "… and help Baby Riley to grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God." For those of you who don't know, that's the verse that I have prayed over Sam since he was born. It's from I Samuel 2:26, and describes young Samuel, who had been a gift to his mother Hannah that she returned to God's work, and the same passage is echoed in Luke 2:52 about Jesus, but adds the word "and man" to the end. So, I am guilty of praying either version, partially because I like that Jesus was favored by God AND by man.
But here, in the middle of our car ride to the babysitter, a very routine event, Sam used the exact wording of the verse that I pray for him. At the time, I couldn't even remember the last time I'd spoken those words aloud over Sam, but obviously, he's heard them. And to quote them word for word—not to win a sticker at Awana or because it was in a song—meant such a great deal to me. That seed has been planted in his heart that God plans for him to grow in wisdom and stature. We talked about it later that night and he said he thought it was really important for Riley to grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God too.
I wrote Riley's mama and told her about the event. It must be a promise if it comes from God through a heart so pure and sweet as Sam's.
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