July 18, 2013 at 11:11 pm , by Nick Shell

2 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Tonight as I sang “Amazing Grace” to you as a lullaby, you wanted to clear something up:

“What’s grace? Is that a man?”

You had caught me off guard, as I was trying to decide whether or not a second verse would be necessary before I could walk out and help Mommy finish folding laundry. That’s what I was really thinking about.

I replied, “Actually, grace is talking about God.” From there, I paused a moment, attempting to quickly analyze your understanding of God at this point in your life.

“God loves you,” I added.

Your instant response: “Me?”

It was one of the most sincere things I’ve ever heard you say. I was able to see firsthand what it’s like for a person to be told for the first time (and attempt to understand) that God loves them.

Whereas I’ve believed my whole life that God loves me and it’s far from a new concept now, tonight was the night that seed was officially planted in your mind.

The lights were off as I knelt next to your bed, but just the tone of your voice showed me it meant something to you to hear that God loves you.

I continued, “God made you. He wants you here.”

Without any hesitation, you laughed as you declared, “Bow-wow!”

Then you preceded to make truck noises.

It’s a start, anyway.

Love,

Daddy