As my wife was putting Nicholas to bed last night:

Mom, I know why I am here. I was sent here to teach Amanda through influence. Like a fire burning the trees influences the forest and teaches it to be healthy.

Now my wife and I have often spoke in private, or so we thought, about why Nicholas was sent to us. This the first time he has talked about it. My wife emerged from his room a little unnerved. “Like fire burning the trees influences the forest” she repeated.