Archive for the ‘Children’ Category

Aliyonna is a 1^st grade student I tutor.  I’m helping her learn phonics and reading comprehension.  But about a week ago Aliyonna taught me an important lesson about God’s reading comprehension.

Aliyonna is a very smart and cute six-year old girl!  She does not like for me to explain or offer too much help.  Recently she interrupted my instructions with a precocious “talk to the hand” motion, and with her missing-toothed, deeply dimpled-smile she said “I got dis!”  Wanting to be sure, I overruled her gesture and said, “But do you know how to…” but Aliyonna would have none of my doubts.  She then patted herself on the chest and sang emphatically “I GOT DIS!!”

After one or two minutes passed, curiosity moved me to look over Aliyonna’s shoulder as she read and worked through her comprehension exercises.  Without breaking her downward gaze, she raised her left hand as if to stop me from seeing her at work.  Then she returned the same hand to her chest, patting in time with her whispered mantra:  “I got dis!”  A few moments later (and more subtly), I tilted my head slightly and strained my peripheral vision to glance at Aliyonna.  Sensing my slight gaze, she returned my subtle gesture with her own:  without looking at me, she reached over with her little hand as if to comfort me, and patting my hand three times I could feel her thinking “I got dis!”

I had to turn my head for a moment so Aliyonna wouldn’t see my teary eyes.  I think God may have spoken to me that afternoon through a precocious little child at Bradham Public Library.

Sometimes I pretend my prayers are tutoring sessions for God.  I’m convinced He needs to learn to read my life a little better—maybe His comprehension is not so good.  At times I authoritatively lean over His shoulder to give Him instructions about the work I have for Him.   Other times I give Him the hard look of impatience, doubt, stress, and simply want to spy on what He’s doing. Sometimes I mask my shame with a subtle, religious nod in His direction.  Then He touches me with the hand of a child and whispers to my soul “I got dis!”

Aliyonna is my angel unawares.  And I’m a Prodigal Pastor taking one more step toward home as my soul whispers back, “…and I got You!”

Has God ever spoken to you through a child?