My son Benjamin Arick, aged six, stands in the middle of the livingroom, family Bible in his hand (held upside down of course; he cannot read), and wearing his "church-going clothes".  He is ready to give a "sermon" at a moment's notice.

It is refreshing to know that Benjamin admires our pastor.  I ought to make a video of our son doing his thing and share it with the pastor at church.  Yet that might embarrass our son, so I don't know if I should do it.  Still, I do find it to be cute; it always puts a smile upon my face.

Benjamin's favorite channel is DayStar.  He loves the Christian programming on there (so do we).  He especially loves the cartoons (in particular, "Veggie Tales").  

Benjamin accepted Jesus into his heart when he was three.  I was in the room, and he started asking me questions.  I answered them as best as I could, as simply as possible, so he could understand.  He then made the life-changing decision to accept Christ into his heart, and he, in kind, prompted Glles (my husband) and myself to do the same thing.  So we are a Christian family, and that makes me glad.

Today when we got up, Benjamin was at it again.  Already dressed in his suit, slacks, good shoes, and tie, Bible in hand, talking about "lovin' you' neighbor".  He looked directly into my face as he said, "Th' greates' 'mandment of all; God said it was!"  His words made me smile, and they brimmed with truth.  He was absolutely right.

I smiled at my son and said, "Honey, church isn't for several more hours.  It's only five forty five in the morning.  Church doesn't start until nine."  Benjamin stuck out his lower lip and said, "Don't care.  I'm practicin', so I can be like Pastor at church.  I wanna be like Pastor.  And I am!"

Such moments cause my heart to sing with joy.  It is moments like these that make the pain of having a child who is disabled easier to bear.  While Benjamin may never be a star athlete (due to his weak heart), he can be anything else he wants to be: an actor, a singer, an artist, a writer, and (yes) pastor.  I don't doubt it for one second that Benjamin will accomplish his dreams; he's already accomplished so much already in his six years on earth, even when doctors said he wouldn't.

I always think of Benjamin's "sermons" when he is having heart surgery or is in the hospital with a respiratory infection.  I always lift him up in pryaer, asking God to keep him safe and to guide the surgeons' hands when he is "under the knife", and so far, God has answered every one of these desperate prayers, because he brought my son through these dark times.  It is when I think of these times that I offer God my prayers of thanksgiving and praise because He is so worthy of them!

I find that thinking about Benjamin's successes helps wonders during the dark, uncertain times.  When he is well, however, I enjoy him so much.  He is so entertaining, and he never fails to bring a smile (or a giggle) to my lips.  He can lift even the darkest depression, and it isn't long before the sun is shining in my world.  He is my ray of sunshine, and I am so glad that God allowed me to have him in my life!

I wouldn't be surprised if Pastor Wing at church let Benjamin "help" him with a sermon one day or if he ended up on DayStar with his own church program!  :)