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A Children's Story of Inspiration by Sis. Sylvia Livingston Copyright2000 All Rights Reserved. "Mommy, I just have to go. If I don't I will just die", Joanie pleaded, staring up at her mother with her reddened eyes and rubbing her rosy cheeks. She had been crying most of the night.
"Joanie", her mother began in a calm and soothing voice, "I'm unable to get off from work this weekend to take you to Miami." Joanie's mother placed her hands on her hips. She had been trying all week to make the 8-year understand that we don't always get what we want. Despite all effort, Joanie's mother just could not get her boss to let her have the weekend off so that she could take Joanie to Miami to join other members of the youth ministry at their church for their annual field trip. She practically begged, but her explanations went on deaf ears--he would not change his mind. She had to work.
Now, as Joanie's mother stood before her tearful child and tried to explain to her, once more, something her youthful ears just could not understand, Joanie's single-parent mother wondered if things would be different if she had a husband around. "But Mommy, everyone else is going." Distraught, Joanie once again began crying those crocodile tears her mother knew so well. "I know everyone else is going dear, but sometimes you cannot do what everyone else does." Joanie's mother stressed. Joanie looked up at her mother, her eyes quite water-logged, and buried her head in her hands, causing her cheeks to become even redder.
"I know Mommy", she sobbed. Placing her own hands over her daughters, Joanie's mother drew them away from her child's puffed up cheeks and raised up Joanie's head. Leaning over, so that her face was close to Joanies, she whispered: "This is a good time to say a special prayer to God and ask him to make a way for you to go to Miami. Remember, prayer has a way of solving all problems." Joanie lowered her hands and looked up as her mother wiped away her tears.
"Will God answer my prayers in time for me to go tomorrow morning?", she asked sheepishly, hiccupping between each word. "It's already time for me to go to bed." Joanie's mother smiled.
"Of course God will answer your prayers", she responded. "There is no problem too small or too large for God to handle." Drying the tear tracks on her cheeks, Joanie collected herself, dropped down to her knees, and began to pray.
"Our Father, which art in heaven", she began. She took a deep breath. "My mother says that there is no prayer small or large that you cannot handle, so I am saying this prayer. I know you may have more important matters to handle, like stopping an innocent man from being accused of a crime he did not commit or helping a hungry person find food, but I just have one small wish to ask and you can go back to the more important problems.
"Could you find it in your heart find a way for me to go to Miami this weekend? I know this is short notice, but I really want to go. I will be on my best behavior and not give my Mom any cause to worry or be upset with me." Joanie's mother smiled once more as her child concluded. "I will make her proud of me. This I ask in Jesus' name, Amen."
"Amen", her mother echoed as she lifted Joanie's bowed head again. Joanie's eyes twinkled.
"Mommy are you sure God is listening to me? He might not have time to answer my prayer with so many others asking as well."
"If you are sincere in your heart", her mother explained, "then there's nothing God cannot do for you. Now, go and get dressed for bed and I will be in shortly to tuck you in." Rising from off her knees by the sofa, Joanie departed the living room and dashed down the hall to her bedroom. As she did so, Joanie's mother could not help but to be proud of her daughter. It was only last year that Joanie had come to her, without any coaxing, and asked to join the church. Since that time, Joanie had become very active with the youth ministry and often said the pastor was quite inspiring.
This evening, however, Joanie's mother was particularly troubled. She worried that God would not answer her daughter's prayer in the way Joanie expected it to be answered. Most Christians realize that God does not always work in ways we always recognize. She just hoped Joanie would appreciate God's answer, despite the fact it might not show itself the way Joanie hoped it would. Slowing walking down the hall, Joanie's mother said her own prayer to God. On entering her child's room, she found Joanie sitting up in bed waiting for her mother to snuggle her warmly up under the covers for the night. The sight almost reduced her mother to tears herself.
Joanie yawned. "Hi Mommy. I 'm ready for bed."
"I see", said her mother as she approached. She reached over and handed Joanie her beloved teddy bear, which regularly sat perched at the foot of the bed. "Here you go. Did you brush your teeth?"
"Yes, and I picked out a book to read. See." Joanied handed her mother a book of Christian bedtime stories and they both began reading out loud. Appropriately, the book was entitled, 'Miracles'.
An hour later, with her daughter now fast asleep, Joanie's mother began preparing to go to bed herself when, suddenly, the telephone rang, shattering the quiet stillness of the night. Startled, Joanie's mother quickly picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Mrs. Williams", the caller began, "This is Mr. Smith, your next door neighbor. I hope I haven't disturbed you so late in the evening, but my wife and I just got home from evening services and, well, one of the parishioners told us that you had mentioned you were not going to be able to take Joanie to Miami."
"Ah, yes. That's correct. I'm afraid I have to work this weekend."
"I see. Well, if you don't mind. Mrs. Smith and I were going to take our kids in the camper, so we have plenty of room for Joanie to tag along. It will be no trouble at all. All she would really need to bring is herself, of course, and a change of clothes. We'll be able to provide her meals, the camper's fully stocked."
Joanie's mother's eyes widened. She was speechless for a moment, lowered the receiver, looked up to heaven and silently mouthed the words, "Thank You".
"Bless you Mr. Smith", Joanie's mother replied. They then finalized the arrangements over the phone.
That next morning, when Joanie awoke, she found her mother sitting up in bed, flashing a huge smile. Joanie crossed her mothers' bedroom and sat down beside her.
"Mommy, why are you smiling?"
"Because, baby", her mother began and took the child's hand. "God has answered your prayers." Joanie jumped up.
"He did! He did!", she hollered, beaming with joy. "Oh, Mommy. I will love the Lord forever and ever!" she added while throwing her arms around her mothers' neck. Joanie's mother tried not to cry, but the happy tears began to flow.
"I know you will, baby.", she cooed and hugged her daughter back. "Now, hurry. You better get dressed."
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7,8) The End |