Bless My Heart

November 19, 2009

The sad thing is, one of Elizabeth's pet rats died last Saturday.

The glad thing is what I witnessed when we went to get a new rat.

Elizabeth cried her tears for Lacey on Saturday, but wasted no time in pursuing the idea of getting a replacement pet. So Monday night found us ('us' being Elizabeth, Joshua and me) going to the pet store to buy a new rat. Elizabeth didn't want Allison to get too lonely, you know! At the first store, there were only male rats for sale. You may have noticed from the above mentioned name, Elizabeth's present rat is a female. Ahem. We don't want baby rats.

Strike one.

At the second pet store we found female rats. But they weren't the kind Elizabeth wanted. And they were pricey. ($!)

Strike two.

So we piled back into the van to check out the only other pet store we could think of in town. It was about a fifteen minute drive, and as we were getting closer I could tell from Elizabeth's remarks that she was concerned about the possibility of not finding a rat at our final stop.
On the one hand I was thinking, This isn't exactly an issue of tremendous eternal significance. And on the other hand I was thinking, God cares about Elizabeth's heart. And He tells us to pray about everything. So I said, "We could pray about it."
At which point Elizabeth and Joshua said simultaneously, "I am." "I have been."
And this mother's heart filled with joy.
Sometimes I think my kids roll their internal eyes at me when I suggest we pray about everything. But one of my greatest desires is that my children learn to pray at all times, that they become convinced God truly does listen and care - and has the power to act. So, if their eyes are rolling, let them roll.
But Monday night in the dark of the van I could see their eyes weren't rolling. I could see my children are learning to pray on all occasions. And my heart was truly blessed. Thank You, Jesus!

Oh, and Elizabeth found a female rat to adopt and love when we made that final stop.
Because God cares for her heart, and He has the power to act!

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