The prayers of Little Ones

Between spending regular time with some of my nieces and nephew, and being a Primary (children's Sunday School) teacher at church, I get to hear a lot of prayers said by children, or Little Ones. Let me tell you, these prayers are some of the most sincere, genuine, and truthful prayers I have heard in my life. Sometimes they can also be the funniest...but still SO sincere, and I love it!

There are two prayers that are in my mind that I want to share.

The first one was from my niece, who is 6 years old. In her prayer, she prayed for me specifically, in the midst of her conversation with Heavenly father, to be happy and to have joy. Have you ever had a prayer resonate with such truth and hope and love? I felt loved to have her think of that for me. I felt hope that it was possible. I felt inspired to do things to make sure I was happy on my on terms, and not depending on others. It was a sweet reminder that we are meant to have joy and to BE happy. I have my ups and downs, like we all do, but it was so tender to me to have my niece pray for me to have things that I can have, as I choose them, and allow myself to enjoy life.

The other prayer that has stuck with me was said by one of my Primary kids. He is also 6. (It is a WISE age!) Anyway, one part of a prayer that he said was that he prayed, "for the gospel to be with us". It sounds poetic to me, that we may have the gospel with us. I know people pray for God's love, for direction, truth, guidance, counsel, inspiration, and so one, but it has stuck with me for us to have the gospel with us. We need to have the doctrines, truths, commandments WITH us, they become a part of who we are, they influence the choices we make, the things we do, and the people we become. As we have the gospel with us, we are blessed.

I am grateful for the prayers of Little Ones, and for the honest, humble purity that comes as they open their hearts and mouths.