A Cookie for God

Yesterday, after Ryan finished eating his ham and cheese sandwich for lunch, he retrieved the cookies from the cupboard and brought them to the table. Like his Great Granddad Lusby, Ryan prefers to eat only a half a sandwich so there's more room for dessert. He knows that he has to eat his entire sandwich before he's allowed to have cookies. It may take him nearly 20 minutes to finish his sandwich, but he's determined to eat it all so he can have dessert. Then he rewards himself with 2 chewy chocolate chip cookies and 2 fudge strip cookies. Ryan has also established himself as the official Cookie Keeper - we have to ask his permission to share the cookies and then he doles them out to us in whatever quantity he sees fit. I'm used to the typical routine of Ryan opening the package of cookies and saying, "One for Ryan, one for Mommy...two for Ryan, two for Mommy." I was surprised yesterday when he laid a third cookie out in front of the unoccupied seat at the table and said, "and one cookie for God." He then asked if God lived up in the clouds and wondered if Daddy could see God when he was flying in the helicopter. I confirmed that God does live in the sky but Daddy is not able to see him when he's in the helicopter and reminded him that He is also here with us all the time even though we can't see him. Then, he turned his attention back to the cookies and explained, "me love chocolate cookies and God love cookies too." I was touched by his innocent, unquestioning faith and his thoughtfulness and selflessness. Ryan is such a sweet, gentle soul; I hope the harsh realities of the world don't change that about him.