FAMILY DEVOTIONS IN THE SPACE AGE
Michael E. Phillips
January 1, 1986
With all the defiance of a mongrel whelp, my four-year-old son stared me down and issued his answer: "No!" For the past four bedtimes, young John had become increasingly obstinate about praying.
"You're going to pray if I have to wait here all night!"
I heard myself utter this benign threat and had to wonder who let the crazy man in. What had happened to the wisdom of a hundred seminars on child rearing?
But if John could play his role, I was going to get an Oscar for mine.
"John, sit up and tell me what you want to pray for."
John ignored me and I panicked. Here I was, a pastor, a family counselor, a cherisher of boyhood memories, a crusader for handling children the right way. My jaw was tight, my lip curled, and above those was a top about to blow. (Would God enter the scene with a pearl of wisdom or at least an off-stage prompt? Apparently not. So I improvised.)
"John, you always pray. Isn't there someone you would like to pray for?" (John pretends he is asleep.)
"John, Jesus likes it when you talk to him." John emerges from Slumberland just long enough to yawn like a crevice.)
"John, I want you to pray right now." (John instantly turns onto his stomach.)
"Do you want Daddy to get the belt?" (Not even third-person rhetoric can shake the fever.)
"All right John, I'm leaving. I hope you have a horrible sleep." (Exit the spiritual father of two, dragging his tail and conscience behind him, agreeing with Bill Cosby that all four-year-olds have brain damage.)
As I walked (i.e., stomped) away, I wondered if this was the same kid who once tore into his bedroom to pray for Grandpa, who was sick. I must have been failing in the fight. Here was cadet mutiny of the Christian kind. My little disciple didn't want to pray. Quickly, I leafed ...
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