Wednesday, February 6, 2008

~Molly Cleans Her Ears to Hear God~ ~Lolo and her Rice Bowl~

I shared this story with a few of you, but felt it was sweet enough to repeat as today is Ash Wednesday. This is a long post today, but it is heartfelt.


A while back, my oldest was about to get into something naughty, from the other room I said softly, "remember God is watching you" and left it at that. Later that night she came up to me and questioned this. So we had a long discussion about how God can see everyone and everything. Then she asked me how I knew what she was doing. My reply..."because God told me." Now I know this is not totally true, I mean I didn't have a conversation at that naughty moment with God and he said "watch out for that oldest one, she's gonna be in trouble" but I wanted her to know that He is there, He is watching and even in those times that I am not there to watch over her, she needs to do the right thing (I'm praying this will carry on to the teen years) so anyways, it has been awhile since then and just last night she asked me,

"Mom, how do you hear God when he talks to you?"

"In my heart"

"How?"

"I listen, I pray, and I hear him"

"But I don't hear him mom"

"Listen harder and ask him to talk to you, sometimes he tells us things and we are too busy to hear him."

Few more questions and we are done...Later that night as she is saying her prayers...

"Dear God, my mom used an ear thing to clean my ears, I hope I can hear you better now."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it was so hearfelt and sweet. If only it was that easy to hear God.

The compassion of children is an eye opener, it's amazing, gracious, honest and genuine. My Lolo learned about an orphanage at school on Monday. They have the option of taking home a bowl (piggy bank) to collect change for a cause. We did not take one, simply because on Sunday we received a Rice Bowl from church and we are working on that first. We are standing in the hallway at school and she has something to tell me that is very urgent, very important. I bend down and listen. My dear sweet child has tears in her eyes. She is crying for the children who don't have Mommy's and Daddy's or even Nana's and Papa's. She is telling me all about the children with no homes so they go and live together and the place that they live, the "orfage" is broken and not nice and nobody has money and they can't fix it and sometimes they don't have food because they don't have money and we can give them money mom, we have money mom, we can help them, I can give them my money mom because I have plenty and I have a house and I can share my money mom. *Hugging, crying* It wasn't until I promised her that we would talk about it more at home, that I would show her the Rice Bowl that we received from church~ then and only then did the tears slow down, the voice return to normal and her breathing slow back down again. We zipped our coats, got into our car, drove down our nice streets and into our warm home. I took out the Rice Bowl, she ran upstairs and returned with her piggy bank. The sweet child dumped ALL of it into the Rice Bowl, then looks over at her Nana~ who knew, she knew what was on Lolo's mind, got her purse out and dumped all of hers into the Rice Bowl. Because of my dear sweet Lolo, we have filled our Rice Bowl and will be taking home the piggy bank from school today to fill that as well...because we can...because we have plenty and because Lolo cares enough to make it happen.

~~~~~~~~~~2 POSTS TODAY~~~~~~~~~~

35 comments:

jennwa said...

Those a re both great stories. Your girls are so precious.

Courtney said...

Great stories. The first made me laugh the second made me cry! Great now I'm a big ball of emotions.

Kat said...

I am crying here. Just crying. I think about this so often. Today is a freezing cold day with insane snow. Some people are outside in this weather because they have no where to go. It is hard for me to wrap my brain around this. It is heartbreaking. I stuggle with how much to tell my sensitive boys. To let them know how fortunate they are without taking away their innocense. sigh
Your daughters are absolutely precious. Thank you for those beautiful stories.

Laura said...

That is so sweet. It is awesome to see that caring. So many people don't feel that anymore. Way to go Lolo!

Amy said...

Children are just so compassionate. They remind me daily to look at the world in a different light, through their eyes. And it's a beautiful thing!

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Adorable stories!

Thanks for leaving your list of 5. I TOTALLY almost added David Beckham - he is getting hotter with age, don't you think? :)

Hallie

kim-d said...

Oh, my gosh. In reading about the rice bowl, what I thought of was...three generations of God's work all together in one room. The only thing keeping "that is incredible" tears from flowing is that I am at work. You have every reason to be very, very proud of your girls. And Nana also has every reason to be very, very proud. I am so touched, I'm ready to send my change to Lolo for the orfage!

Anonymous said...

So the first one was adorable, but that second one brought tears to my eyes, that Lolo, what a sweetheart she is, I can't wait to see you guys in Florida.
-KY

Happy Days said...

You have amazing girls! You are definately doing something right! Gosh I have the goose bumps!

Steph said...

Awwww...that is so sweet! I love how compassionate kids are. I think it's natural...I guess for some. It is for mine too. They think of things I never would sometimes.
Happy Ash Wednesday.

krissy said...

Well, I have tears in my eyes now!!! That was just fantastic!

I love when my daughter prays! I listen outside of the door and her prayers are so heartfelt and loving!

Great....now I'm just crying!

I have 2 pictures for your 100 list! I'm going for 5 pics, it's just taking a little longer then I expected!

Maria said...

Aww that is just the sweetest story! I wish I was there to give her a hug!

Unknown said...

The things we can learn from kids. Sounds like you are doing a great job raising your girls. She will grow up to change the world!

Christina

KATE said...

It's so amazing how close our little ones are & how genuinely Christlike they can be. I think it's because they just came from Him.
Sweet sweet stories & sweet babies you have!!

Lizzy in the Burbs said...

Aaaww, Girlymom, those are such touching stories, loved them! My kids receive the rice bowls, too, (my youngest goes to a Catholic school and my oldest did up until eighth grade). They both donate some of their own money and then my husband and I add to it. It is such a wonderful way of teaching kids to give to those in need. Sometimes it is upsetting, I don't like to see those info-mercials with the starving kids and the bloated bellies, either. It shows that you're teaching her to be a compassionate person with empathy, that's HUGE!

We are currently getting snow and wind (probably sending it your way, sorry) and school has been cancelled. We were supposed to have mass today, but it was cancelled. I don't know if we'll be receiving our ashes or not, this is so weird, I don't remember this ever happening before! I guess we'll have to have "Ash Thurday" tomorrow!?! Take care and keep those ears of yours clean so you can continue to hear God! (so cute!)

Lizzy

Are You Serious! said...

♥ Very sweet!

lindsey said...

You are raising great daughters! Just think if everyone were as generous as Lolo and as spiritual as Molly the world would be a better place.

Thanks for sharing I really enjoyed reading these heart warming stories!

Spammon said...

So now you can refer to them as "Holy Q-Tips". You should paint them gold to add to the fun.

Beth Cotell said...

What sweet stories!

OHmommy said...

Presious stories. I was just telling my husband last night about how fortunate we are to believe and have our children believe in a religion. It feels so good knowing our children have answers. They are comforted knowing answers.

Joanna said...

Oh, that was so sweet!

Anonymous said...

What an ADORABLE god-daughter I have! :)

Kristen said...

What an obviously great job you are doing with your kids! As a teacher, I can tell you great kids have great parents!


Keep up the awesome work, and your girls are going to change the world!

Kellan said...

Oh, what a truly sweet post!!! It just bought tears to my eyes - your sweet little girl and her innocent, precious words and her sweet heart!!! I just loved these two stories! Have a good day. Kellan

Mari said...

I thought that story was great when you shared it with me and I'm so glad you posted it. Your Lolo has a great heart and is showing such compassion at a young age.

kimmy said...

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Actually the kids are better and will be off to school tomorrow (unless there is another snow day). But, now my hubby is sick. I seriously need to take a shower in Purell tonight!

Kimmy

I have a good life said...

How close children are to God. What a great, heart-felt post. Thanks for sharing! :)

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

With the internet at my fingertips, why WOULDN'T I know lots and lots of poop lingo?

I did my research!!

Hallie :)

Lisa said...

What wonderful stories. They are both tributes to what a good job you and your husband are doing in raising your girls. What lovely ladies they are!!! Those stories just melted my heart :)

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Wow, your girls and that story is so amazing. What big hearts!

Jen said...

i'm all warm and fuzzy inside now. thanks for sharing. you're raising sweet girls!

Laski said...

Your girls are . . . *sniff* amazing! You have got to pinch yourself and say, "Wow!" a lot! You've done well mom. Gosh, now I'm all hormonal--AGAIN!

Amy said...

I love watching my children gain an understanding of God and the needs of others. These are great stories.

Anonymous said...

what a great story... they say it like it is.

Bridget said...

I'm already an emotional pregnant mess but after reading this post I lost it- how touching and so sweet of your girls!