They speak to me about cookies and caring, about flowers and family, about Legos and love in action.

They speak almost continually, telling stories and asking questions, needing to know and wanting me to know.

Their speaking to me is simplicity itself.  They feel curious and they ask, they become excited and they tell, they are frightened and they listen.  They speak what is in their hearts and minds, and they listen to my answers and my reassurances.

 You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

I do not speak to my Father with such simplicity.

I worry that I do not ask for the right things, I fear that my attitude is faulty, I think I know that I am not silent enough.

Should I pray “I thank You that You hear me” or “let Thy will be done”?  I do not know which is right.

Shall I pray in gratitude for beauty given to me while others are mired in ugliness all around?

If I ask for hard things to be removed am I being ungrateful for the maturity that hard things bring?

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

They do not worry if the way in which they speak with me is good.  They do not stumble over words, attempting to choose just the right ones.

When they ask for wrong things, when they speak ugly thoughts, when they refuse to listen, I love them.

I help them know which way to ask, how best to speak, and I love them.

When they are frightened or upset, when they do not know the words they need, I search their hearts and interpret, and I love them.

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I am grateful for their simplicity.

I know them.  I know their hearts, and want them to know me.  No anger or disappointment comes when error is made.  I love for them to speak easily, not fearful over content or word choice, but simply speaking and listening, learning to know and to be known.

You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”…And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

May I, like them, speak simply, without worry or fear, learning to know, and resting in the peace of being known and being loved.

*Scriptures are taken from Romans 8.14-30*