Family Life

After tucking the boys into bed I try to disentangle myself from their incessant need to chat and leave the room without too much trauma. Often Joel will call out, “I just need to tell you one more thing, Daddy!” Joel’s “one more thing” can last quite a while, and I’m reluctant to get sucked in to this scheme to postpone bedtime.

Tonight I gave in and held his hand while he told me “one more thing.” It’s a fixed script, rarely varies, and is always heartfelt. I’ll give you the abbreviated version.

Joel wraps his body around my arm like a little sloth, and says (at high speed),

“I like breakfast
I like lunch
I like supper
I like my drink

I like my toys
Especially [insert favourite toy of the day]

I like going in the car
I like coming home

I like my nice warm bed
I like my babies [his stuffed toys]
I like my zippy [his pajamas]

I love playing with you
I love going on your back
I love going on your shoulders

I … I … I
Love … love … love
You … you … you

You can go make your coffee now Daddy.”

And Joel releases my arm, curls up, pulls the covers tight over his shoulders, and smiling closes his eyes.

What an amazing way to end the day, with a recital of everything he is grateful for. It doesn’t matter how the day went, whether good or bad, happy or miserable. Joel may have had the lousiest day imaginable and he may be reciting through tears, but the last thing he tells me every day is what he considers best about his life. And then he is at peace and goes to sleep.

So how has your day been? Will you end the day thanking your heavenly Father for all the good in your life? And having done so, will you sleep in peace, knowing God is good and gives good things to those He loves?

This entry was posted on Monday, January 5th, 2009 at 9:23 pm. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.