Atticus' Bible Study

In an effort to spend more time studying the Bible, I have been trying to read Jesus Calling daily. My Bible and Jesus Calling book sits out on the table or on the window seat. A few day ago, I didn't make Atticus nap and told him he could help me clean house and play. At one point, as I was sitting at the computer (probably checking email or people.com - sometimes Mama needs a break!), Atticus comes over to me and picks up the Jesus Calling and...

Atticus: "I need to do my Bible Study."
Me: "You do?" I didn't bother to explain he didn't have the real Bible.
Atticus: "What is a Bible Study?"
Me: "Well, we have to read our Bibles and study what God is telling us. It's a time to just talk to God and listen to God."
Atticus: "Can I take your Bible to the couch to do my Bible study?"
Me: "Of course, Atticus."
He gets on the couch and starts looking at the pages as if he is trying to read the book. Being the crazy mom that I am, I quickly grab my camera to snap a picture hoping he doesn't see. He doesn't! I go back to the computer while giving him his space and I hear:

"Be a good boy. I want to be a good boy." At this moment, I realize he is repeating what we say when we pray lately, which is "God, help Atticus to be a good boy." I'm melting inside. Watching this sweet little boy do his "Bible Study" is the most encouraging thing.

It lasts maybe 4 minutes, and he comes to me and says "Lets do our Bible Studies together." At this point, I show him the Bible and do a very short Bible story with him. Then, I tell him to go find a book about God and he brings me his Noah's Ark book that we read together. Then, we pray and we are done.

I cannot explain how wonderful this little event was. It's just so powerful to see God working in our little children. It is also a good reminder that he is watching what Vic and I do and say all the time. We know this because we constantly notice him repeating phrases we say, but who would have known he would have noticed this or heard me say it once or twice? I don't do my Bible Study in front of the kids, because I need peace and quiet. But, he has noticed. And, last night after a church function, when we prayed at dinnertime we included, "thank you for our church family." Today, as I put him down for a nap, I told him we had some people from our church coming over tonight and he immediately said "what will we do with our church family?". He remembers everything. It's just another reminder of how hard parenting is. While we are not perfect, we are helping mold the minds and hearts of little people around us and have to keep showing them how God wants us to act, even when we do not want to act the right way. We have to give them the strongest foundations so they are instinctive with their kindness, thoughtfulness, patience, and love when they leave our little homes to go out into the world on their own. And by on their own, I mean preschool or kindergarten or to a friends house. I must, must, must keep striving to serve the Lord better so that Atticus and Grace will follow suit.

And, while doing that, I will do Bible Studies with Atticus anytime he asks.