Butterflies and Dragonflies

When Chicken Noodle Butt first came to live with us, he had nightmares. We would pray with him each night. B-boo started praying with him to dream of dragonflies and butterflies. Now, when we pray with him before bed, we always ask God to give him dreams of dragonflies and butterflies.

In our family of 7 children, we draw names for Christmas gifts. This year, Chicken Noodle Butt drew B-boo's name. When I took him to pick out a gift for her, we walked around and around while he commented on how she would like chocolate, or jelly beans (she doesn't), or bubble gum for a bubble gum machine. The list went on and on and on. Just when I was about to give up, he found a beautiful butterfly necklace for her; but he didn't want just the butterfly, he had to find a dragonfly, too. So, as we searched through the necklaces, we finally found the last dragonfly. He wanted us to help him write for B-boo to dream of dragonflies and butterflies on her wrapped gift.

And so, he found the perfect gift for his cousin; from the heart. And she was touched.

But the story doesn't end there. You see, he has a serious addiction to video games. Yesterday, when it was time for everyone to get off the Wii and clean their rooms, he threw a major tantrum. I am talking a rollonthefloorkickingandscreamingforthreehourstantrum. Because he was going to play the Wii and that was that. He's had fits, but this was the biggest we've seen!

When all was calm again and he had finished his room, he came up to me and apologized. Later that evening, I was exhausted and sore; partly from the Wii and partly from raking 1/4 acre of leaves. I went to bed. And he crept in and said he might see scary things. I reminded him to dream of dragonflies and butterflies. And then, he decided he was fine but that he needed to pray for me and tuck me in. And so, he prayed to God and asked Him to help me to dream of dragonflies and butterflies.

I said, "Thank you for tucking me in tonight."

He replied, "You're welcome."

And he went to bed and dreamt of dragonflies and butterflies.