A Child's Prayer

Night time, quiet time,
Loved ones gather at day's end.
I hold them close, I help them know
That God will always be their friend.
Then just before I say goodnight
My little ones kneel by my chair.
I close my eyes, I dim the lights,
And listen to this simple prayer:

Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer every child's prayer?
Some say that heaven is far away,
But I feel it close around me as I pray.

Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
"Suffer the children to come to me."
Father, in prayer I'm coming now to Thee.

Pray, He is there. Speak, He is list'ning.
You are His child, His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer, He loves the children.
Of such is the kingdom, the Kingdom of heav'n.

Heavenly Father, are you really there?
He hears and answers every child's prayer.
Please hear my prayer.

Our family has asked that question a few times in the last month...Heavenly Father, are you really there?

It has been a month of sorrow, heartache and challenge. Heidi's sweet friend and love, then her little companion pup were taken from her. And to us it all seemed unfair and wrong. Too much of pain and too many tears following so closely after previous bitter challenges. And as parents a long ways away, unable to do anything tangible to help, our thoughts and pleas often went heavenward. And therein has come our peace. For though we anguish with our daughter and her siblings, and the family of Shaun, we know from whence cometh our strength. "He hears and answers every child's prayer." And what seems wrong and unfair is not for us to determine. What we know is that He loves us, and we have confidence that all things will work together for Heidi's good. We have faith that there will yet be peace and great joy in store for our daughter, and our family. We were reminded of that in the words of this simple children's song, and in this promise, "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." (Doctrine & Covenants 112:20).

We're grateful for the blessings we, and our family, continue to receive and acknowledge the Lord's tender mercies at work in our lives. And we have felt first hand the promise given in Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."