We had always heard people say that they could feel someone praying for them, but we never knew just how tangible a prayer in your family’s behalf could be. During very dark conversations about Lane’s diagnosis we felt a peace, calm and strength that seemed comfortingly out of place. We received strength as we poured our hearts out as well. After a few days of being in Primary children’s hospital we finally did a video call for family prayers with our two girls who were staying at grandma’s house. Up until this point we hadn’t been able to get Lane to say a prayer. When we asked the girls who wanted to go first Lane sprang into action instead and just started saying his prayer. He put together more unprompted words than he had ever mustered in his life up to this point. We were so taken off guard that we still don’t know what he said but we certainly felt the spirit of it and oh did he smile when he was done!
Our own prayers have also buoyed us up and guided us. My favorite explanation of prayer comes from the Bible Dictionary.
“As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.”
Prayer
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/prayer?id=p7&lang=eng#p7
Full disclosure there are times that Lane will still not say his prayers when asked to. When he and I stayed in the Ronald McDonald house for a week. He hated doing video calls with Amy and the girls because it made him homesick. I get it. Since we have been able to come home and establish a better pattern of getting to come home. He usually likes a video call with “my girls” as he calls them. A phone call home, and a prayer call HOME. Both can be hard, both can be rejuvenating and restoring and happy.
