To My Boy

Every day for the past like week or so… by the end of the long day I’m a total Negative Nancy. Ugh. I know. It’s awful. I think MY current physical status combined with my empathetic-ness just makes for a bad outcome. So… when I baby sit (which is very rarely lately), my poor little boys usually get the worst of Miss Alyssa… and they’re STILL oh so gracious! What a blessing. Anyway, for the past few months I’ve been teaching my little brother Jonathon to memorize scripture, and he LOVES it. I love it as well because I’m learning too, and watching him find such joy in this task has encouraged my heart. So yesterday… he asks me to say “the joy of the Lord one.” He’s talkin bout Nehemiah 8:10. For the life of me I couldn’t remember the end of the verse. I was feeding his baby brother oatmeal and didn’t feel like getting up to look up the verse… (Yes, that’s the bad nanny I’ve been)… so very quietly… like a whisper… he looked up at me with his dark hazel eyes and said, “It’s strength, Lyssa.” The joy of the Lord is my strength. Say it, Lyssa! Say it!” If that’s not Jesus speaking to me through a precious little boy, I don’t know what is. I got tears in my eyes, said the verse, and kissed him on the cheek while praising God for the gift of children! What would I do without them! :)

Sweet Jonny Boy,
You are one of the sweetest boys I know. You make me have that silly little feeling in my stomach (you call it... luuvvv) every time I look at you. You are so handsome, funny, smart, and gentle. Even at your young age, I know you love Jesus. It's a child-like faith, simple and pure. And I love that. I love watching you desire to read your Bible, and I LOVE how you ask me to sing you "a praise song" at bedtime. Thank you for being patient, and having that uncanny way of knowing just when I need a hug. You are absolutely incredible, baby boy (even though you're not so baby anymore!), and I thank God all the time that I get to be a part of your life. I'll always be your sis, even when you don't need me to tuck you in at bedtime ;) Hugs, sweet boy. I love you so much.
~Alyssa