A child's prayer.

I had one of those days yesterday where I was kicking myself as a parent. Macey was asked to give the opening prayer in Primary on Sunday. Macey is her mother's daughter, we both get very nervous about stuff like that. I knew she would be nervous, so I thought I would practice her prayer with her. I asked her what she was going to say and she'd blurt out things like "please bless that Jesus will love the babies" and "please bless that everyone's teacher will be nice to them", etc. That is her nervous talking (also like me, I say stuff I shouldn't when I'm nervous). I laughed and told her no, probably shouldn't say any of those things... here are some things you *can* say.

In the past I've just gone up with her and whispered in her ear what to say, but she has been saying her own prayers for a long time and I knew she'd be ok... as long as she didn't get nervous and start saying silly things. Before I brought her into primary she confided in me "I'm so nervous that I'm going to bless the food." Oh my goodness, she is so sweet. I told her it would be ok, just stick to the list I gave her and everything will be fine.

I knew, watching her sit in the front row, nervously fidgeting, that I should have never said anything to her. Her prayers are always so sweet and heartfelt, even though some things she says she maybe shouldn't- she means them from the bottom of her heart. :) One night after a lonnnng day, Macey asked in her prayer to "please bless Collin that he will sleep all night long so Mommy can sleep, too".

When it was her turn to get up, she was shaking and was white as a ghost. She tried to remember the "list" I gave her, but couldn't, and in the middle of her prayer panicked, and motioned for me to come help her. I felt so awful afterward. She would have been fine if I hadn't meddled.

I love hearing children pray, they say the best things. After she was done I was talking to some ladies in the back and one friend told me that her daughter gave the prayer last week and ended it with "and with liberty and justice for all. Amen." Is that not the cutest thing you've ever heard? They also told me that a few weeks back a boy prayed and asked to bless that all the teachers will be prepared for them this week. :0) Oh my goodness, hearing those things makes me want to be in Primary again! I love children and the things they say!