Sweet Little Conversations

I had the sweetest conversation with Callia tonight. Although I have a bad cough and my voice sounds like a low, gross rasp, I took a lot of time talking to her about the things we read in the chapter we were reading. It was the chapter in "Little House on the Prairie" where Mr. Edwards comes over to help Pa build the house, and stays for supper and for Pa's fiddle playing around the fire. We talked about poor Ma's ankle after the log fell on it, and how they must not have known that you should put cold on something like that rather than heat as they did. Then we talked about tobacco when she asked what "tobacco juice" is, which led to addiction, and cancer. She eats that kind of thing up and seems to have a lot of compassion for people, even when she recognizes poor choices. I love how she, so far, seems to be hesitant to judge. I think it really ministers to her when I take time to talk to her about the way things are and how I feel about them, rather than just going through the routine in a rush. I don't feel like I can always do that, but it's nice when I can.

I think that is why she prayed such a sincere prayer tonight, and had such a sweet little conversation with me afterward as we lay in the dark on her bed. I was touched by one particular thing she asked God for, which was for me to feel so much better tomorrow. She said it so sincerely. :)

She said to me "Mom, I wish everyone in the whole world could be healthy."
I thought about it for a moment, then said "In heaven there will be no sickness."
"Yeah...", she said with a smile in her voice. "God loves us."
"Yes, he does, and I love you, too."
"I know you love me," she said, "you always love me."
"Yes, I do."
"And I always love you."
"I know you do." I said, "You're my sweet girl."
"You're MY sweet girl, Mom."
"Thanks" :)
"You'll always be my sweet girl, and I'll always be your sweet girl."
"Yep."
And she went on to say a few more things. I wish I could remember what they were. I was even thinking "I should write this down to remember how sweet her little heart was when she was 7." I used to have conversations like this with her several times a day, where she is talking about love and God and relationships. Now they're more likely to be once every week or two. Sadly, my mood is more of a limiting factor than hers. She is to an age now where she knows it when I am in a bad mood and just humoring her. She only talks like this when I have ministered to her in some way, and am truly receptive to it. I pray that soon I can be fully free of my depression so that I can spend as much time talking to Callia like this as she wants, and equip her for life in Christ as I should be doing. Time seems so short, and she is so ready to be taught, and so beautifully trusting. What a little gem. She deserves my best.