Joy

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.  

Luke 10:21

 

It was Thursday night, and things were winding down around here.  Camille had a late afternoon nap that day, so Dan took her with him to to pick up a few things (one being a $265 bike that was mismarked at $99...thank you, Lord for that provision!)  and I had just tucked the kids into bed, kissed and tickled (Hannah Reece likes for me to tickle her arms and back before bed to get settled down).  Like usual, I popped on my IPOD shuffle and started up a podcast from Midday Connection while I got busy tidying up the kitchen and living room before bed.  And like usual, five minutes later, Hannah Reece was out of bed.

***
"Girl, what are you doing out of bed?"
"Momma, I'm not tiiiirrrreed!" (insert big smile and head tilt)
"Ok (this part is unusual for me...I usually pat her bottom and usher her back to bed), but if you're going to stay up, you need to help me clean up."
***

So we got to work and I started up the podcast again.

At this point, I need to insert a little aside that Miss Millie is creates her own natural disaster these days.  Hence the loving nickname "Hurricane Millie".  If it is within her reach, it is pulled down, taken apart into it's smallest pieces and methodically squished up, chewed on, or torn apart.  And then she moves on to the next item.  This is all new to us, I don't recall G and H going through this phase of toddler hood.  Although, being the third child, this might be natural because I just don't have the ability to hover over her every second like I did with the first two children.  She does have a little more freedom to "explore".  ;)

So, back to the story.  We have a little basket on the bookshelf that contains these little at-home enrichment cards and manipulative's from various Sunday School and church activities.  Our little hurricane spread the contents all over the floor earlier in the day, and now my late night housekeeping helper got sidetracked with the contents too.  I continued to clean up, eager to finish this task so that I could hit the sack.   :)

Just then, I felt a tug on my arm and Hannah Reece appeared in my view and shoved the little booklet pictured above right in front of my face.  I took off my headphones (not even realizing what she had) and said "could you put that in the basket, please?"   She said  "Momma, will you read to me about God?"  So we sat down on the sofa and read through it's contents.  As you read and lift each flap it continues to open up into the shape of a cross.   She was listening to every word.  I could sense, at that very moment, that the Holy Spirit was opening her heart to the things of God.  I've had a handful of times in my life where I could tangibly "feel" God's presence and this was one of them!  It had nothing do with me and everything to do with God's ordained time and activity in Hannah Reece's heart.   I sat there amazed at God's revelation her, as we talked about the contents of the tract.

At the end, there is an example of a prayer that someone might pray surrender their lives to Jesus Christ.  I was so concerned about her making a commitment before she was ready that I almost skipped over that (shame on me!), but she wanted to know what it said, and right away said "I want to pray to Jesus and ask him to take away my sins.  I want Jesus in my heart."  Amazing.   So she did just that.

After we prayed she looked down on her little pajama tank (pictured above) that she wears almost every night to bed and pointed to one of the peace signs.  This part was equally amazing to me!

***
What does this circle thing mean mom?
It means "peace".
What does peace mean?
(Struggling to come up with a definition on the fly ;)
Peace is knowing that everything is right and well in your heart with God.
That's what my heart is telling me right now.
***

At the age of  4 years and 11 months old,  GOD has drawn Hannah Reece to himself.  Truly GOD's might,  power, faithfulness surpasses everything we know and understand.  I am in awe, that in GOD's good pleasure, HE had revealed these things to Graham and Hannah Reece as little children.  May their lives bring you glory and honor Lord, and may they serve you with undivided hearts, for the rest of their lives.  May our hearts remain soft, so that know and trust you with child-like faith.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  

Galatians 6:14