Priorities

I was just over at Steph's site, and I loved what she posted today from Erma Bombeck. It reminded me of something I experienced just last night.

We are dedicating Caden at our church this weekend, and we're celebrating Cody's birthday a little early since all of our family and friends from church will be together. I am hosting a big party at our house and I've been running non-stop this week in an effort to get everything done. My "to do" list is still a mile long, but slowly I've been crossing things off (anyone else a list-maker?).

But yesterday, Cody woke up with a slight fever, cold, and cough that landed us in the doctor's office. Of course, it's viral, nothing they can do for him, but he was still feeling pretty miserable as his fever rose and his cough worsened. Although I didn't say it aloud, I was thinking, "Oh Lord, I have so much to get done....I don't NEED this today!"

In honor of Caden's dedication, Jerry and I are singing the special music at our church this weekend and our rehearsal with the band was last night. It should have been a no-brainer. Son is sick, stay home and take care of him. But I was wrestling with the decision. It didn't take long for the Lord to make it clear....I felt in my spirit He was saying, "My precious daughter, remember your priorities."

It's so easy to get caught up in the seemingly important things. (Haven't I posted about this before? Clearly, I'm a slow learner!) But the reason I blog about it today is because my little boy and I had such a precious time together last night after Caden went to bed...just the two of us. We were curled up on the couch, spending time with each other and the Lord. We talked about heaven (he innocently asked me, out of the blue, "Mommy, when are you going to die?"), about Jesus being our shepherd, and about God having a plan for each of our lives. We went through his book, "God's Little Boy," talking about the character of a godly boy, reading the verses for each attribute, and then praying together. I have been praying that he would be more comfortable praying aloud...this is something he's been slow to warm up to...but last night, he did it! He prayed this prayer, by himself, from his book:

"Dear God above, for this I pray

to be a godly man someday.

Make me a man who loves you true,

A man of wisdom who pleases you.

Amen."

I don't need to tell you how my heart was blessed, hearing my little one praying aloud, eyes closed, hands folded. It was precious.

Needless to say, I'm so thankful I didn't go to rehearsal. I wouldn't have traded that moment with him for the world.