carried

when i was a kid, i always wanted to be carried. but, because my butthead little brother was born 14 months after me, my carrying days were cut short while he was carried until he was like 10. plus, i was a "dense" little bugger and people got tired really quickly.

i've been floored lately with the notes i've gotten from people praying for my neighbors and me. i love it because it makes me feel like i'm being carried; that i'm somehow not doing this work by myself and that my neighbors are advocated for.

the one that makes me smile so big is a five-year old named michael, whose mom just contacted me. i've never met him and this is what his mom emailed me:

"although we haven't seen you, we knew you are doing ministry in thailand from your dad a year ago. my five-year-old son michael almost prays for you every night before he goes to sleep. his prayer is always like this: "dear god please help michelle kao tell everyone in thailand who you are and follow your words."

first off, i about died when i read that. i just thought it was so cute. and also, i better start working harder if i expect to tell everyone in thailand who god is. also, i wish i could post the picture she sent me of michael (but i will choose to not subject everyone's personal privacy to my own blogging fancies). he's adorable with his pink little ears and cheeks. i wrote michael back and attached pictures of me and a couple kids in the neighborhood and my thai mom and told him a little bit about them.

and michael's mom wrote this back to me:
"hi michelle, i am glad to hear from you. after i received your email, i read it to michael, and he has prayed for may and toey and your thai mom ever since that day. he prays for may and toey to have a peaceful ife, and their dad to get a job and your thai mom to believe in jesus. even i was amazed when he prayed for these people, because i only read your letter to him one time and he already remembered the kids' names. praise the lord, he gives michael a heart to pray for people he doesn't know. michael's dad lost his job three weeks ago, he prayed for him once, but he prays for may and toey's dad every day since he heard your letter."

then i really died. what a heart on this kid. i wish i had faith like michael's. things like this help me remember that god's got us covered and is carrying us here.
p.s. - i still like being carried, but who can carry this beast? don't you feel sorry for phil.