prayer

In our church meeting today a member of the seventy (a high calling in our church) came and spoke to us. He told a story that really touched me. I just thought I would share it with anyone who may be a similar situation in life as me and might need the thought...

A little boy was asked to say the prayer in his sunday school class. He began praying "Dear Heavenly Father I am thankful for the letter A, I am thankful for the letter B, I am thankful for the letter C" and so on. The sunday school teacher thought about stopping the prayer, but let him continue. "I am thankful for the letter Z." the teacher was grateful that the prayer was over, then the little boy continued, "I am thankful for the number 1" and so on. The teacher again thought about stopping him but let him continue. "I am grateful for the number eleven. I am grateful for the number twelve and I am thankful for my sunday school teacher who let me finish my prayer cause no one else ever does."

The speaker continued to explain that our prayers probably seem like ABC's to our Heavenly Father. He has heard it before, it may seem like the most important thing in the world to us, but to him, who knows all, the beginning to the end, it is no big deal. But no matter what you pray for, or how trivial it is, our Father in Heaven lets us finish. He doesn't just hear our prayers, he listens.

I have felt lately like maybe my prayers are stupid. Maybe the things I am praying for so earnestly are wrong or silly. I was beginning to think that maybe Heavenly Father was tired of hearing the same old thing again and again especially when he has already given me answers and comfort to the things I have prayed about. So, this story could not have come at a better time for me.

I know that God is listening to my prayers.