Praying Over Legos

Yesterday I was in the other room attempting, unsuccessfully, both to read and to ignore the noise of strife that was coming from the other room. I hoped for a minute that maybe if I ignored the girls, they would settle their differences by themselves in a godly, albeit childish, manner. That did not happen. Somehow the noise has a way of finding Mom, and in short order I had a crying child at my elbow. 

Elisabeth had made, in the builder's own words, a little "rickety" Lego house for Emily.  (The above photos do not show this house.) It was actually only a model slum home, a sample of what little sisters should build when the competition has taken all the good pieces for herself.    But Emily didn't care that it was a rickety slum home.  She was thrilled to have something designed by her, ahem, generous older sister. ...We all know how well Legos stay together in the hands of a five-year-old, right? So you know what happened next.  The rickety house fell apart, in a zillion maybe twenty pieces.  (The good ones were all taken, remember?) The horrified new homeowner insisted that the builder rebuild the slum house, but the builder had not guaranteed her work and was not interested in doing any more building.  Thus an emotional verbal brawl ensued, and was shortly moved to Mom's courtroom.

For the time being I ignored Elisabeth, the defendant and cheap contractor, and concentrated instead on Emily, the plaintiff.  I asked her if she had asked Jesus to help her rebuild the house.  No, she hadn't. (Big pouty face.)  She complained that the Legos never stay together when she tries to build something.  I asked her if she had asked Jesus to help her keep the pieces together.  No, she had not done that, either.  I asked her if she remembered this verse: "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."  Yes, she remembered that one.  I asked her if God keeps his word.  Yes.  Did she think maybe she  should pray and ask Jesus to keep the pieces together while she rebuilt the house?   She agreed, "Will you pray with me, Mom?"

So that is how I came to be praying over Legos yesterday.  I thank the Lord for honoring my prayers on behalf of my little girl, who was then successful in her efforts.  Emily is learning more and more to run to the Lord with her troubles, and she is realizing that God is very real.

Now if I could just learn to practice the things I am trying to teach her... isn't that just the hardest thing about parenting??