Tuesday, February 12, 2013

What's that word again?

January 30, 2013

                During our family prayer this evening, AJ was desperately trying to remember a specific word, and it was one of those words whose synonyms don’t carry the same weight as the word itself.  While he was racking his brain trying franticly to recall the word, he kept repeating, “What is that word?  What.  Is that, word?  WHAT IS THAT WORD?!”  All the while, with his head turned to the ceiling and his face scrunched in deep concentration.  This was the first time Samuel had ever witnessed this strange spectacle during a prayer, and he was very confused.  Gently, he tried to assure his Daddy that it was okay, and he was making an effort to cue AJ what to say next.  But Daddy was so focused on figuring out that one word, he was oblivious to Samuel.  Instead, AJ used a whole slough of words, in a patchy attempt to convey the same meaning he could have said with one.
After our family hugs and kisses AJ took Samuel to his room to tuck him into bed, but before bed we help him say his personal prayers.
Reverently, Samuel started, with his head bowed into his folded arms, “Hem Fadder (Heavenly Father), love you.  Bless the … mumble, mumble, mumble.”
Confused at his unusual behavior, AJ said, “Samuel, I can’t hear what you are saying Buddy.  Sit up big and talk loud; so I can hear, okay.”
To which Samuel adjusted himself slightly and started again, “Bless the … mumble-y mumble mumbling.”
Starting to get a little impatient with Samuel’s disrespect during a prayer AJ said, “Son.  You need to sit up big and talk clearly to show respect to Heavenly Father and Jesus during your prayer.  Start again, okay.”
“Hem Fadder,” Samuel began again, “Bless the …”  Then he lifted his little head to the sky, with his eyes scrunched tight and his lips pierced, in mock concentration and said, “Whas suh say? Whas suh say? (What to say? What to say?)”
At this point, AJ quickly wrapped up Samuel’s prayer, tucked him into bed, and ran out of the kid's room so Samuel couldn't hear his laughing.  What an observant boy we have.

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