Faith of Children

Children are amazing!  I have three of them & teach me sooo much.  I know I am a better person because of them.  Recently our family had a wonderful experience that showed us the simple, beautiful faith of our children.

My sister is in the Navy. She met & a kind & wonderful man while they were both in training for their military occupation.  They married at the beginning of June because they knew they would be graduating soon & they wanted to be able to be station at the same base.  His orders came in October: Bremerton, WA.  Her orders came in November: Norfolk, VA!

Obviously that wouldn't work.  When we heard what had happened another sister suggested specific prayer.  (That is were we figure out what our family needs & ask our Heavenly Father specifically for the help.)  The power of humble prayer is incredible & our children took to it with enthusiasm!

At every prayer, family, meals, personal, little voices asked for Aunt to be stationed with Uncle in Bremerton, WA.  Their prayers were sincere & they were concerned about the outcome.  They didn't have to wait long.  Within a week we heard new news.  Aunt was going to be stationed in Bremerton, WA.

I was pleased & to be honest, a little astonished by this quick turn of events.  It definitely felt like our prayers were heard & answered.  My children, however were more matter of fact.  They knew that Heavenly Father would hear their prayers & had the faith that, of course He would answer them.  They were grateful for His answer & we spent a day in thanking him in our prayers. 

I have been trying to teach them but they have taught me.  Faith is simple to a little child.  The light of Christ burns so brightly in them.  They have taught me to be more accepting, hopeful, grateful, enthusiastic.  What a wonderful blessing!

Are We Listening?

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to hear the story of a friend who prayed for an answer and then didn't like what she heard.  I wonder how often I or others have done something similar.  We pray about a problem and when our Heavenly Father gives us an answer we put our fingers in our ears because we don't like the answer.  Then do we go farther and wonder why He isn't answering our prayers?  Do we let our faith be shaken because we don't really want to hear the answer to a prayer.  I know that may be an extreme outcome but I have seen it happen.

I have the greatest Mom in the world but I am careful about what I ask her because I know she will answer me and sometimes I don't like the answer!  On the flip side I have lovely little girl who will ask me the same question over and over and over and over and over (well you get the picture) again because she doesn't like the answer and can't, won't, refuses to hear what I have said until I start lose my temper.

My friends story continues with her realizing that God had been answering her prayers.  Once she started listening she felt the peace He had been offering and saw that certain people had been placed in her life by Him to help her.

Our Heavenly Father loves us and I truly believe He answers every one of our prayers but are we listening?