When I go through difficult times, for whatever reason that might be, I often find myself thinking to myself a lyric from the song “A Child’s Prayer.”
“Heavenly Father, are you really there?”
I was recently having one of those difficult times and was thinking this phrase.
I went to church that Sunday and said a prayer asking that if there was some guidance I could receive, that I’d hear it. It was a particularly distracted day with Ivy in church. Quick side note, it’s amazing how distracting a toddler can be in church. Ivy is really good in church, and yet I still find it so difficult to focus on the speakers while also making sure she’s ok and entertained.
Despite the normal distractions, I caught a speaker mentioning, “Heavenly Father, are you really there?” I can’t remember in what context. I believe it might have been the youth speaker. I perked up, but that was it, the moment passed.
It was a thoroughly uplifting Sunday that day and I found myself feeling in much better spirits. Still, there were those lingering “difficulties” in the background.
The next day I was with Ivy in her room. I am more and more convinced that Ivy, and probably all children, are still at least 50% angel. The coincidences Ivy causes in my life are too perfect.
I was in her rocking chair on my computer reading and doing stuff while she played. Suddenly she came over to me which isn’t unusual. I put my computer away and pulled out my phone instead. I wanted to look up the songs we had in church the previous day because I had a song stuck in my head but didn’t know it’s name. I pulled up Youtube to play the sacrament song and confirm it was the one stuck in my head.
We listened to the song and then Ivy reached for the phone, again, not something out of the ordinary by any means. She started tapping it with her finger. I saw her click a couple recommended videos that were on the side of the screen and then she pulled her hand away. A video started playing. I didn’t recognize the song (at first). It had a long introduction and then there were images of children with their parents. Children praying with their parents, being tucked in, coloring, playing.
Suddenly it started.
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
“I feel it close around me as I pray” is the part, during times of difficulty, that I struggle with. Because in those times I don’t always feel heaven close around me as I pray.
I started to cry.
The song continued.
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
I looked at Ivy.
Then the song continued.
Pray, He is there
Speak, He is listening
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 Heaven
It had been so long since I’d heard the full song I truly didn’t remember that part. And when I heard it, it was so clear. It was so clear. In moments of challenge I remember the part, “Heavenly Father, are you really there?” But I’d forgotten the part, “He is there. Speak, He is listening. You are His child. His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayer.”
I remembered.
Sometimes it’s so hard to hear Him. Sometimes it’s so hard to remember He is there.
Then He reminds you.
I want to remind everyone reading. He is there. Speak, He is listening.
The world can yell at me that it was a complete coincidence that Ivy somehow brought up that song that I’ve never listened to before on Youtube. I say, that’s ridiculous. I needed to be reminded that my Father was there and listening, and so he reminded me. Through my angel.
I’m grateful for Him. I’m grateful for all my angels.
I know He is there.
No Coincidences 