Calvin

A few nights ago I was downstairs putting the boys (Calvin & Isaac) to bed. We were saying prayers and Isaac wanted to say his first. He didn't have his hearing aids in and Calvin was closer to him so I asked Calvin to help him a bit to remember a few people we've been keeping in our prayers lately. Calvin kept trying to tell him and Isaac kept saying "What? What?" Both were getting a little frustrated. Calvin because Isaac couldn't understand and Isaac because he couldn't hear. But they stumbled through without any anger. Afterwards I gave Calvin a big hug and told him how much I appreciated his patience with his little brother. I told him how important it is for him to look out for Isaac and help Isaac throughout his life. Then Calvin told me, "Mom, I pray every night that Isaac's ears will hear better the next day so someday he won't need his hearing aids." I wasn't quite sure what to say. I told Calvin that Isaac will probably always need hearing aids but that maybe we should pray that he can learn to listen better so he can understand more. But then I thought maybe I didn't have the faith of this boy. So I said, "But Calvin...I believe in miracles. I believe that Jesus Christ can heal people if that is His will. That even if He doesn't heal someone, it doesn't mean he can't or that he doesn't love that person, it just means that that person has a different plan and challenge in their life. Then Calvin said, "Maybe Isaac was specialer (love that word) than the rest of us so he needed a different plan. Maybe he was such a smart kid that he just needed something a little harder than other people because he was so smart." What an insightful kid. I choked back a few tears and hugged and kissed both of the boys good night grateful for such good kids. How many 8 year olds have that kind of perspective and attitude? Isaac is lucky to have such an awesome big brother!