Chloe's bedtime prayer

Tonight Chloe said quite an endearing prayer, and I wanted to share it.

"Dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this day.  We pray that we will sleep well tonight.  Please help Ryan and me to stop whining about every little thing; and help us to realize that it's not all about us.  And help mommy to finish her pictures soon, and help daddy's case to go well tomorrow.  Please bless everyone that's sick, that they will feel better.  And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Wow.  Two things are clear here.  She repeats what she hears, and she has a thoughtful heart.  What little girl would think to pray for such things?  She excluded no one in this prayer.  It was perfect, and so genuinely expressed.  It was hilarious to hear her say, "help Ryan and me to stop whining about every little thing, and help us to realize that it's not all about us."  That was definitely a repeat of what I often say to both of the kids when they're being self-centered and whiny.  It's so much funnier coming out of her mouth for some reason than it is mine, though.  :)

While Chloe has her fun challenges, I cannot deny her sweet and tender heart.  She tries so hard to do the right things.  She falls short at times and acts out on instinct, whines, pouts, sasses, and argues, but it's when she says a prayer like this that I am reassured we're getting somewhere.  She's learning to think of others before herself; she's trying to be a good girl; and she's recognizing that she needs help and guidance from above in order to do so. 

I was very humbled by her prayer tonight.  She is quite the special little thing.  And she'll be finished with kindergarten in less than a month!  Arrrgh!