A Child's Prayer

The last couple of weeks my two youngest children spent learning the songs for the Primary program at church. It was crunch time. So, we loaded all the songs they needed most help with onto each of their iPods and they walked around plugged in most of the time. And we sang together while driving to and from school. Listening to them sing, 'A Child's Prayer', was magical. For these two who are in constant sibling competition and contention, who also love each other more than sunshine, to hear them singing the words, 'Heavenly Father, are you really there and do you hear and answer every child's prayer...'. Let's just say that I was deeply reminded why I am a mother and love my children.

I wasn't certain they were really learning the songs, but as with a lot of things, it's hard to tell how much they've absorbed until they choose to share. As they stood up on the stand with the entire Primary, I couldn't hear them, but I could see their little mouths singing the songs and knew that they knew.

To be honest every year since our inactivity at church began, I have dreaded the fall program. For me it marks another year of trying to get my family to church and failing. It marks another year my children haven't spent learning to love the gospel of Jesus Christ and to grow friendships with their peers. I know that the Primary is an organization inspired by God, given to us because He knew we would need help in raising good people and to give them the strength they need each week to battle the world. I am grateful that the kids and I made it a commitment this year. I hope that the spirit I felt at the program Sunday lingers for awhile. It is by His grace that no matter how impossible it may seem to keep collected a large group of children, tiny to preteen, these programs always become what they are meant to be, because Heavenly Father loves these children and He loves us. I can picture He and His Son up above with a concourse angels viewing all the Primaries in the world -listening to their sweet voices and smiling. -K