Sunday, April 10, 2011

A Child's Prayer


A few months ago the music director in our church asked me if I could find a musical number to sing in church.  After looking at a lot of options, it dawned on me Kali had been asking to sing in church for a while.  I asked if she wanted to sing in church and she said she would LOVE to!  I chose a simple and sweet duet between a parent and a child called A Child's Prayer.The practice sessions were very sweet and spirit filled as I listened to my little girl's sweet voice.

We practiced for weeks and the week we were supposed to sing Kali came down with Influenza B.  We cancelled that Sunday in Feb and rescheduled for today.  Last Sunday our pianist came over to practice and Kali completely clammed up, hiding behind me shyly.  It dawned on me this could go very, very badly and I had to come up with a backup plan.  I asked one of my friends if her daughter McKinney, who is Kali's good friend would be at all interested in singing with Kali.  I smiled when she asked, "Does she need to hit the notes?"

After many practice sessions, the big day came and I just said many prayers these two little five-year-old girls  would have the courage to sing in front of our 500 member congregation. We got ready for church early and this morning Kali showed me a picture she drew of us singing "our song" in church.  I showed Kali who we would sing after and when this woman got up to speak Kali started panicking.  "I can't do it, Mom.  I am so scared to sing in front of all these people.  My voice will not work."  The tears came and she started twisting and turning in agony.  Oh Boy.  I told her we could say a prayer and Heavenly Father would give her courage.  When that didn't quite stop the tears, I turned and looked back at McKinney who was calmly eating fruit snacks on her daddy's lap. Hmmmm- let's get her blood sugar up - I turned to Steve and he handed me a piece of candy for her.  Worked like a charm.  The time came and she and McKinney held hands up to the front.  They started singing and a calm sweet spirit came over me as they sang:

"Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer every child's prayer?"

I started singing and it felt like I was bearing my testimony to these sweet little girls.  My heart and the spirit confirmed the words I sang:

"Pray, He is there.Speak, He is listening.
You are his child, his love now surrounds you."

I put my arm around my little girl and wanted her to instill in her that Heavenly Father would always be there to answer the pleadings of her heart. Singing with my little girl was a very sweet experience and made for a very special Sunday.