He is four and a half years old, and he has some speech impediment.  Who he is, is just beginning to emerge, now that he is starting to talk more clearly (through the help of the most incredible speech therapist!!).  If he doesn’t talk properly, you forget how old he is, and everybody revert to treating him like a really small child – and that is not productive.  It is also very upsetting to him, he believe is big and strong. 

But now, he is beginning to show how his thought processes work, what he actually think, and it is incredible.  Yesterday, I was upset with Laura and I made it clear to her.  It was only the three of us in the kitchen.  Poor Laura is quite obviously my child, both of us has not control over crying.  It starts for no apparent reason and it cannot be suppressed.  So I was talking, and she was crying, and Pieter did not think I was nice.  He told me: “Mamma, jy’s lelik met Laura” (Mom, you are mean to Laura).  Frankly, I was so surprised by his clear expression, and I also was not that upset with her, so I stopped, said it is okay, I am not upset anymore and touched her on her head.  Pieter’s reaction: “Ahhh, see Laura, Mommy still loves you”.  Both of us had to laugh – he has clearly got the same genes than all of us: a real peacemaker .

Everyday, when we say grace befor we eat, he also wants to pray.  When Nestus has finished he shouts “My beurt” (my turn) and then he will just name the things for he would like to thank Jesus.  His prayer is normally something like:

“Nice food, uhm…cooldrink, uhm…. what’s the name again?….dessert. Amen!!!” 

 When he was smaller he used to clap his hands after finishing up his prayer. 

In the evening, before the three children are put to bed, Nestus normally read from their bible and we all pray.  The girls are more accomplished in this than Pieter, but he refuse to allow me to lead him in his prayer.  For some reason he has also figured out the best position for him to pray is to stand on his knees (we are all on the bed), with is face against the bed.  Sometimes he will lie flat on his tummy, face into the bed, his hand together like they taught him in preschool.  And the prayer again will consist of the things he are thankfull for. 

So, last nights prayer:

“Dear Jesus,

Nice food,

little bear sweats (Gummy vites),

mommy, daddy, Lola, Nettie,

what’s the name again?….Miss Johanette (teacher),

Amen!”

(translated from Afrikaans, of course )

 

After that innocent and unpretentious prayer, my own prayer sounded so artificial and boring!!  Oh to be able to simply thank my Father for the good things He gives, without trying to impress Him, or manipulate Him with fancy words into giving sofisticated things I do not really need.