So I’ve started praying with Mallory at night before she goes to bed. Usually our bedtime ritual is bath, pj’s, a book and then she crawls in bed and I sing “You Are My Sunshine” to her a couple times. Sometimes she sings with me, some times she just listens. The other night though I started praying with her… mainly with me praying and her just repeating. Last night though, when I asked her if she wanted me to sing “Sunshine” she said, “no”, that she wanted to “pray to Jesus”. Talk about grabbing at a dad’s heart.

So we prayed, and when she’s praying I normally just close with “I love you Jesus, Amen”. Well last night became a question and answer…

Her: Where is Jesus?
Me: Jesus is in heaven with God
Her: In heaven with God?
Me: Yes
Her: Where is heaven?
Me: hmmm… heaven is way up in the sky (best I could do on short notice)
Her: I want to go to heaven and see Jesus
Me: (thinking…) Do you love Jesus?
Her: Yes
Me: Then one day you will get to go to heaven and see Jesus
Her: Ok. Do you love Jesus Daddy?
Me: Yes, I love Jesus
Her: You get to go to heaven and see Jesus?
Me: Yes, I do, we both get to go
Her: Do you love God?
Me: Yes, I love God too.
Her: Do you love heaven?
Me: Yes, I love heaven too.
Her: Does Mommy love Jesus
Me: Yes, Mommy loves Jesus
Her: Does Mommy love God?
Me: Yes, Mommy loves God
Her: Does Mommy love Heaven?
Me: Yes, Mommy loves Heaven
Her: Does Calen love Jesus?
Me: Yes, Calen loves Jesus too
Her: Ok. Sing “sunshine” daddy
Me: Ok baby, You are my sunshine . . .