It Brought Tears to My Eyes

 

Tata does a good job at talking to the children about the Lord. We sing “Stand Up And Shout It,” my contribution to their religious education, frequently. We sometimes have prayer time for sick classmates. She also will remind them that to be a friend of Jesus means acting in a way that He would like. Most recently she has reminded them that they need to thank God for the food that they eat. She taught them a song:

               Merci, Seigneur

               Merci pour ce repas

               Merci, Seigneur

               Alleluia, Amen!

 

The children (most of them, anyway) close their eyes and hold their right hand over their meal as they sing. Some of them will add a final word to the song: “Mangez!” (Eat!) So, although they have learned the prayer, some of them may not have their hearts truly in it as they sing.

Last week (Friday, May 20), Dieu-donné had to wait a few minutes for his sister to bring his morning snack. The others had already sung/prayed and begun eating. His sister finally arrived (I, of course, was getting indignant at the thought that one of the little ones had to wait, so it seemed like a long time!) and delivered the plate to him. Donné took the bowl and returned to his chair. He closed his eyes, held his hand in the air and sang the prayer song. It brought tears to my eyes!

Lord, may those little ones remember the lessons that Tata gives them about You and Your love for them. May the words which they sing now stick with them and take on their full meaning as they get older.