As many of you know, my life as a single mom is filled pain and joy and there is
always something to do and a chore left undone. However I would much rather take
my young son Caleb swimming than fold that clean load of laundry.
Through the years as a single parent I’ve tried to maintain a Christian
household and uphold Christian values. We pray a lot in my family and turn to it
in times of need, in time of joy, or just to sit down and have chat with God.
Caleb is ten now and I’ve noticed through the last year that he has become a
deep thinker and a deeper soul. He’s quiet and introspective. He is always
processing something. Well this week he completely floored me and I’m still in
awe of him.
On the Sunday before the McVeigh execution, I walked out into the living room
and Caleb was sitting quietly on the couch, his short legs sticking straight
out. He had his hands folded and his head was erect, but his eyes were closed in
prayer. The room was dark except for a small candle that had been left lit until
we all went to bed.
I quietly approached him and said softly, “Honey, what are you doing?”
He looked up at me and smiled then answered solemnly, “ I’m praying for Tim and
for his family. They are going to be sad tomorrow. His parents will lose a son
and his sisters will lose a brother. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost Joshua!”
He was referring to his older brother. He went on to relay to me that he didn’t
believe in the death penalty because it just took another life and then another
family would be in pain. He said he thought that there were better ways to
handle the matter. He felt that if a person spent the rest of their life in jail
because of their crime and came to know God’s love, then they could share that
love through the prison far better than a prison minister.
Then Caleb said, “No offense mom, but would it be ok if I just prayed here for
awhile by myself and then come to bed? It’s something that I really need to do!”
So of course, I agreed and left him to his thoughts. After I had finally tucked
him in bed I began to ponder his words. What was this? What was this profound
thinking from a ten year old? Later the next day, I began to hear these exact
feelings being quietly echoed throughout the land as the final chapter to
America’s tragedy was written.
My heart ached for all the families and my heart ached for a mother and father
that would no longer have their son. I was so blessed to have my two boys. I was
blessed to have little Caleb. He had shown me that God’s love was infinite no
matter who you were or what your circumstances were. I smiled as I settled down
for the night ---- Caleb my little prayer warrior --- someday his prayers might
help change the world!
Ripley, Renee trripley@uswestmail.net
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