Joy

[applepansy]

I saw this on FB and wanted to share. Talking about young men and missionaries reminded me of the feelings I had when my son prayed and recognized the answer. It was like somebody had turned on a light bulb behind his eyes.

[Anddenex]

This thought reminds me of a recent experience I just had with my 5 children. We were camping and two of my boys had slingshots. The younger one, 5 years old, lost his slingshot and was very sad. He looked all over and even invited his older siblings to look for the slingshot. All energies had been exhausted by my children to assist their younger brother.

When all their energies were exhausted, I pulled all my children in the tent. I asked them if they remembered a time when the Lord had helped them find something they had lost. I had them share the experience. I then shared my testimony that if we pray, after exhausting all our energies (as they had done) that the Lord would answer their prayer. I reminded them though, that while searching the still small voice would speak to them so they needed to pay attention.

After we prayed, we went searching. Within 10 minutes the slingshot was found by my oldest son. In his words, "Dad, I went this way, in my heart I felt the words to go back and check over here, even though I was headed in a different direction, I listened, and there was the slingshot."

After the slingshot was found we thanked the Lord, personally, and I had my son who lost the slingshot to say a special prayer of thanks by himself.

I am hoping this will have a lasting affect on my children, however, I know it will have a lasting affect on my oldest, who came to realize that a still small voice does speak to the mind and heart and if you listen, blessings usually result.

Thanks for the reminder.