Potty Prayers

There are days, or maybe just moments within some days, that I feel like the choice my husband and I have made to live outside of the mainstream Christian mode of operations are impacting our daughter’s awareness of God in a negative way. We don’t “go to church” like we were raised to do. We don’t do daily Bible readings as a family, pray before meals all that often or really do what is expected of Christian people to be doing (ministry, missions, prayer meetings, evangelism, Bible classes, etc.).  If we were to be judged on behavior and building attendance (which seems to be all that gets judged because that’s all we humans can see) we would most likely fall under the category of “bad Christian” or at the very minimum, “backslidden.” Honestly, I feel like a rebel.

It’s the days where I see the reality that my daughter is getting a completely different experience of God in life than we had growing up that I start to get nervous. Should we join a group of people who meet in a building so that she gets the Sunday School experience?  Am I doing a horrible job teaching her about Jesus because we don’t do things like prayer or Bible readings that often?  How else would she learn about Jesus if we’re not doing those things?!  The guilt builds (it’s good at that).

And, then my sweet Savior sends His calming balm to soothe my restless thoughts.

The scene is simple and very daily. We’re in the midst of potty-training – well, the hard part is over and E has been using the toilet for about 3 months now. E is seated on the potty, doing her business, and I am seated on the rim of the bathtub listening to her babble on about something in her made-up language. In an instant I wanted to freeze time.

There she was with her head bowed, chubby hands clasped and whispering ever so sweetly, “Thank you for Jesus.” I choked back the tears. She looked up at me and smiled, “I praying, Mommy!” Yes, yes you are. What a profoundly beautiful prayer!  

Thank you for Jesus. It just doesn’t get better than that. Thank you for His Life. Thank you for His Love. Thank you for His ever-flowing fountain of grace that rains down to quench our thirsty souls. Thank you for the insight of a two-year-old. Thank you for Jesus!

It was in that moment that I knew He was saying to me, “You don’t need Sunday schools, scheduled prayer or Bible time to know Me. I am Life. I AM.” I’ve known this for years now. It’s why we chose to walk a different path than the one we were raised on. He is the very essence of Life and where there is Life, He is there. He is the I AM. There is not a moment on this earth that He does not fill. It is our choice to see Him or not.  He spoke through a little girl sitting on the toilet – how much more daily can you get?

I love Him. I love how involved in the mundane of normal life He is. I love that He cares what troubles our hearts. I love that He lives this life of mine with me, moment by moment. He’s here, living this very earthy life with me and making it a very holy one at the same time. Wherever He is, that is holy ground. We don’t need specific buildings or special times in order to know Him – we just need to open our eyes to what is happening all around us with every breath we take. He is here.

My daughter is growing up with that understanding – something I didn’t grasp until my early 20’s. She is learning that any place and any moment is the perfect time to worship Him. And reminding me as well. 

Thank you for Jesus.