Day Twenty-Two: A Comedy of Prayers

Sincere prayer is what God desires from us. As believers, we may be tempted to pray hurried, half-hearted prayers simply because someone asked us to pray. Are we truly thinking about what we're saying? About Whom we're addressing? Our petitioning can turn into a comedy of errors, or worse yet, a comedy of prayers. Listen to your word use the next time you pray. Check your heart. An honest one is accepted by God, no matter what the style, however, as we grow in prayer, we can model the effective pray-ers in God's Word, especially Jesus. 

Watch this video of a comedian who is a Christian. He makes fun of how believers pray without thinking of what they're actually saying. Please view with a humourous spirit as laughter is indeed the best medicine :)  (Proverbs 17:22) 

Leaf-Blower Laughter

She packs her cheeks with large grapes and resembles a pre-hibernation chipmunk. I've seen her do it with marshmallows too and it's belly-laughing entertainment for my husband's side of the family. Today, she trumped her cheeky tricks and brought the leaf blower she received as a Mother's Day gift and blew us all away... literally :)

Queen-of-all-cheeky-lady, Leanne (you do invent good times around here).

She coached us to also open our eyes for a flappier look but in the end, she was the only one able to accomplish this feat so frightfully.

Oliver couldn't resist the dry-mouthed fun.

 I couldn't stop laughing whilst that tornadic wind nearly knocked the breath out of me. 

 Braden, having a blast!

 Leanne attempted to get Kevin to relax a little more and let the flesh flow, but it only resulted in a wide-cheeked silent opera singer.

 Rob's face was perfectly loose and supple--just right for the task.

Kim raised her hand in surrender after she received a large, gusty blast.

 My husband drove his face into the wind and I'm not sure his bottom lip will ever be able to

sip through a straw again.

Leanne, proudly displaying her tool of joy and cause of all the leaf-blowin' laughter. Happy Mother's Day to my hysterical sister-in-law and dear friend.
 

To all moms out there who are celebrating the amazing occupation that includes small people (and big), God bless you. And, to the women who love on kiddos who aren't their own, you mean the world to us.

A Couple Of Requests

I pick up the teaspoon and stir the orange pekoe slowly as I listen to little voices drifting in from the living room. I hold the spoon still for a moment, as I realize my husband is doing bedtime prayers with my two middle girls. Molly's voice is soft and she sounds thoughtful but I can only make out a few words; some are about Christmas. She ends with, "And, I'm going to cancel the iPod Touch."

Well, phew! I suppose I can cross that off my list, lol!

Next is Emily, and again, I can only catch bits and pieces. She's thanking God, with fervor, for the coconut I just bought her at the grocery store. She had asked for it for a few weeks and I finally said yes. She was so excited to try something new but being bedtime, we told her she must wait until tomorrow. Then, attached to her gratitude for the tropical delicacy, she adds, "I'm sorry that's it's really not big enough to share with my family."

I peek around the corner and catch my husband's contorted expression. He stops her in her tracks, "Hey! I think you can share your coconut with us."

Emily closes her eyes and continues, with all seriousness, "And, please, help me to get up before seven so Daddy doesn't eat my coconut before he goes to work. Amen."

Who is raising these children anyway? :)
I will be sad when their prayers become less amusing, lol!

Gratitude:

1044. innocent prayer and the faith that God will do it!

1045. developmentally delayed simplicity in answering questions from my story (at Friendship Club)

1046. Reese Peanut Butter Cups (have I mentioned that one before?)

1047. pre-teens and their antics during Christmas play practice

1048. a very patient drama teacher (you rock, Lisa)

1049. knowing that God is breaking generational strongholds

1050. all the new babies in our church (I want to keep them all :)

1051. my in-laws, who faithfully run Friendship Club, with passion

1052. a "word of knowledge" that blew me away (God cares enough to tell someone else about a negative belief I needed to deal with)

1053. Adventures In Odyssey
1054. clothes and cool toys that are constantly passed to Oliver by his cousin (thanks, Braden!)

1055. art ideas from the talented Miss Tanya--thank you, Friend!xo

Yes, Oliver is drying his art with his helicopter propeller :)

 

Unexpected Pleasures

Raking leaves into a pile.

Crispy, paper-thin bits of nature that bring pure joy.

I tell them to start a leaf fight with each other.

They gather arms-full.

But wait, where are they going?

oh dear.

Hey!

I pass the camera to Emily and brush off the leaf confetti.

That's it... I'm so gonna get that boy!

(Emily would rather take pics anyway)

Don't even think about it!

Ha! You're all mine to do with you as I please!

You must now be buried in leaves for tricking Mommy!

He doesn't really mind :)

Big sisters join in the fun.

Leaf wrestle!

Has anyone seen Meghan?

Crazy-haired raker.

Everyone goes at it.

Interesting shot... each girl went down for an arm-full but the photo looks like another matter, doesn't it?

Gratitude:

1034. trees emptying of their goodness for us

1035. sibling play

1036. surprisingly warm days in November

1037. Christmas play rehearsals

1038. making chili for the first time and it turning out deliciously

1039. school bazaars and the baked goods there (and I will try not to buy too many--but it's for a good cause, right?)

1040. honest and forth-right people who make me laugh

1041. how God loves our questions, even our admitting we're angry with Him (He can deal with it and will reveal His truth!)

1042. Women Of Faith conference!!! Such a blast again!

1043. unexpected pleasure of my two little ones deciding together, in a split second, to turn on me and bury me in leaves--so hilarious :)



Two Compassionate Hearts

I'm hanging wet clothes over the rail of the deck when I spot the neighbour's cat in pursuit of something. I peer over the edge waiting for him to emerge from the bushes he's scampered under. Suddenly, the black and gray striped tabby proudly prances across my lawn with a chipmunk wriggling in his mouth. I close my eyes for a moment and announce to anyone listening through the open screen door, "Oh dear, Tiger's got himself a chipmunk."

Four curious children come running, slamming the patio door behind them and their eyes search wildly around the yard for Tiger. I can't look but I point in the direction I saw him heading. My children gasp as they catch the head-held-high, slowly marching feline before he slips through the hedge and disappears toward his own home. Before I can say another word, the two youngest have sped through the house to the back door and out into the yard. I call after them but they're gone. I'm still reeling from the sick feeling I get whenever I see animal carnage and I stand at my kitchen sink and swallow hard. Ick.

Just then, Oliver shows up behind me, excitedly declaring that he's saved the "chick-munk"! I whip around to find my boy actually holding that poor animal up to me! I scream and shoo him out as quickly as I can, my hand on his back, pushing him toward the back door. He's bewildered and just keeps saying, "Why, Mommy?" I'm ordering him to take that thing outside right now and don't touch dead animals! and Meghan and Molly are backing up, wide-eyed at the whole thing. I return to the kitchen and lean over the counter, catching my breath, wondering if this is par for the course for mothers of boys.

Somehow I am missing where Emily might be in all of the commotion, and as it turns out, she's not privy to the information I have just given her brother. No sooner am I catching my breath when my six year-old daughter enters the scene offering up the same small sacrifice! I'm now shrieking for it to be put outside, once and for all. But Emily turns and cries that it's not dead yet! She's explaining that his little legs are moving and that he keeps falling over. What? Had she been setting him down, trying to make him walk? I shudder and spin her around and out the door. We take the poor creature, lying on his back, four legs in the air, eyes bulging, to a hidden spot we know other chipmunks dash into when startled. I shudder again and usher my two children in to the house to wash up.

Their two big sisters have witnessed the whole thing and are now laughing like crazy as I instruct the animal rescue team to scrub their hands hard with soap and when they're done, to do it again. Emily is whimpering something about it being her job to save God's creatures. I'm still not cool with them picking up the teeth-torn bodies of small animals but when I look into their desperate little faces, I'm beginning to understand their passion. My mind files back to my own animal rescue days as a child. To where did my fearless abandon disappear?

I saddle back to the kitchen and chalk this one up for our family memories and hope I can demonstrate a more compassionate reaction next time (praying there are not too many more "next times" :)

Gratitude:

813. the innocence of small people

814. completing a few loads of laundry

815. the release of a stronghold, PTL!

816. creepy little silkworms we've been studying--amazing

817. for voting friends who are taking it more seriously than me, LOL! (love you)

818. a neighbour who is just as spontaneous as I am :)

819. that the only show he watches is 19 Kids And Counting (unbelievable change!)

820. Pillsbury cookie dough

821. peanut butter chocolate ice cream

822. York peppermint patties

823. arrowroot baby cookies

824. bedtime and treat time for Mommy :)

The Good Life

My twelve year old daughter has taken it upon herself to dress me. Not that I concede very often, but her desire to make me cool is strong. Her favourite thing is hair and makeup but my wardrobe, in her opinion, leaves much to be reckoned with.

She recently said, "Mommy, you're not quite there but you're heading toward the good life."

I asked her what she meant by that and she went on to explain, "As women get older, they've seen a lot of fashion trends come and go. When they're about 60 or so, they choose which style suits them and they aren't judged for it because of their age."

Hmmm... what exactly do you think she's getting at?

Using Her Talents

This is what happens when my Molly Magoo plays with my phone while I'm shopping (she's sitting beneath a rack of clothing). I found this a few days later.

I must say, I'm quite proud of her talents.

Singing Family

We were asked to sing as a family at our Christmas Eve service and my husband said, yes. I was quite uncomfortable at the prospect, but we sang Amy Grant's, Breath Of Heaven. And though the song is quite serious, somehow managed to be humorous entertainment.

Our son took the opportunity to make his loud singing debut, amongst other hilarious antics, which could not be predicted when we practiced at home together. When we returned to our seats (me sighing relief), people were laughing and wiping tears from their eyes. Our friend had taken these photos and someone had video-taped. What I had prayed would touch hearts on this hallowed night, brought joy in a way I could not have understood. Thankfully, it's all done now :)

Thoughts Of A Prince

He slides one leg into his hockey pyjama bottoms and stops. He looks up at me thoughtfully and asks, "Mommy, are there balls in this world?" It seems an odd question, coming from my ball-loving boy.

"Of course there are, Oliver." My memory tracks through all the possible playground places with ball pits that he might have in mind.

"Which way do we go to get to them? If I drive in a car, you'll have to show me how to get there." He slides the other leg in.

"I'm not sure what you are thinking about," I probe, pulling his shirt over his head. "You'll have to help me imagine it."

"Mommy," he croons, "I need to go to a ball if I'm a prince!"

Oh, that kind of ball! Why ever did I not imagine that kind of ball? He's nearly four, after all!

I need to hear more of this tiny boy's desire but I begin to search my mind's files for fairy tales or movies or anything that might give me a clue as to where this is coming from. Nothing. I can't figure it out. So I ask, "Why do you want to go to a ball? What will you do there?"

He smooths his "hockey guy" on the front of his pyjama top. "Pictures," he states, matter-of-factly.

"Pictures?"

"Yeah, you know, pictures of marrying."

Ah, wedding photos. Wow. I'm taken off guard but I smile. "Who are you going to marry, my boy?"

He grins and pokes his finger into my arm, "I'm going to marry you!"

Emily enters the scene and catches onto the discourse quickly. Immediately, she shares her two cents, "You can't marry Mommy, she's already married to daddy." A few seconds passes and my two little ones stare blankly at each other. She finishes, "But you can marry me."

He sighs, "Oh, okay, I'll marry you."

Oliver turns back to me, all jammied, and shrugs. "Mommy, you can just drop us off at the ball then."

My days of chauffeuring have begun :)