Let the Joy Come Out All Day
I backed out of the driveway, taking them to school with a smattering of mismatched mittens and library books.
“Who is going to pray for our day today?”
“I will!”
“No! I will!”
“Guys, you both can.”
“Okay, but I’m going first.”
“No, I’m going first!”
“Tyler, you can go first.”
“Dear God, thank you for our food, and help us to have a really bad day. Amen.”
“Why would you pray for a bad day?”
“Tucker told me to.”
“No, I didn’t!”
“That doesn’t really sound like something Tucker would ask you to do. And, you’re in charge of yourself anyway.”
“Can I try again?”
“Yes.”
“But it’s my turn now. He already prayed.” A strong point. Plus, the commute to school lasts roughly three and a half minutes.
“Tyler, let’s let Tucker pray now. Then you can pray again.”
“Dear Jesus. Please let us have a really great day, and thank you for my mommy and my brother and my daddy and the snow, and please die on the cross again and again. Amen.”
Mental note: When time allows, teach boys that the crucifixion was a one-time gig.
“Tyler, do you have anything else to add?”
“Yes. Dear God. Thank you for today. And please let the joy come out all day long.”
Now that is a great thing to add. And this explains a lot about my sweet celebration of a second born, if this is his morning prayer.
I prayed next, closing the morning commute with prayers on behalf of the many teachers who need heaps of patience and wisdom to make a day like today come together with any positive outcomes. I thanked God for smart boys and good friends and healthy lunches and good choices. Amen.
“Thanks for praying, guys. I like when we start the day that way.”
“We should always start the day that way, Mommy.”
“And I should always go first.”
“No! I will!”
Aaaaaannd…. commute complete.
Seatbelt off, and out goes the tall one, running to catch up with his friends.
Blessings on your head, buddy.
Christine O says:
Tricia, if God blesses me with children of my own, I hope I am as a good a Mom as you are. 🙂
Elisabeth says:
I can see all of that playing out. It makes me smile 🙂
terry says:
dear tricia..what an example those dear boys are becoming to me..just like their mother…
alas though, the older son is becoming taller already..they grow so fast..i am so glad that you spend all of this time with them, teaching the good things of the lord!
each of them wanting to be first brings back a sweet memory to me.. my friend, linda had ms so bad that it had affected her speech, i taught her john 3:16..she could say it just perfect..every time i visited her in the nursing home, i would say, “what is your verse linda?” and so she would quote it…well one day when i went to visit her, i asked “what is your verse?”…and before linda could get a word out, the lady who was in the next bed said the verse, “for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”…oh my ticia,, did linda ever get mad!..she said to pamela, “that is MY verse!”…tricia, i just had to laugh!..and your two boys brought back this sweet memory!..how i love those two darlings and how i love you!…love terry
tricialottwilliford says:
That’s a beautiful story, Terry. 🙂
Becky Johnson says:
I love this!! Could be a title someday for a future book… “Let the joy come out all day” 🙂 Tuck it away in your title files! Kids this age give us the best writing material ever. You have two little goldmines right there:)
Patty Kline says:
Sweet, sweet, sweet. I love your boys! I think I need to start praying, “And please let the joy come out all day long”, too.
tricialottwilliford says:
They teach me every day. 🙂