My daughter and I pulled up to the pool where she practices for swim team every day. She opened the car door and got out. “I hope the snow cone truck is here after practice,” she said. (A local company has been parking their truck nearby lately and they have the best snow cones.)
“I hope so too,” I told her.
“Pray for it to be here, okay Mommy?” She smiled and got out of the car.
“I will,” I said as she started to close the door.
But instead of walking away, she suddenly hopped back in the front seat, bowed her head, and folded her hands. “Pray now,” she said.
And so we did.
There in the parking lot, with the car running and the air conditioner blasting, my twelve-year-old daughter and I prayed for that snow cone truck to be there after practice. After we were done, she got out of the car and ran off through the gate to the pool.
And I drove away with a huge smile on my face.
I loved the way she wanted to pray right then. I loved her childlike faith and the way she wanted to take even a simple desire like a snow cone to the throne of the Maker of the Universe. I loved her acceptance and expectation of God’s involvement in every detail of her life.
And I realized that I need to be more like that.
Sometimes I find myself only praying for the “big” things… that my friend’s dad doesn’t have cancer, that my friend’s husband who got laid off finds a job, that a woman I know who is going through chemo heals completely…
But God cares about the little things too. He cares about the details and he doesn’t want us to hold back from talking to Him just because we think our requests aren’t important enough, or because we might even feel selfish for asking. He is Almighty God… yet He is our Friend and Counselor who cares deeply about even the tiniest details. He knows the number of hairs on our heads. He collects our tears in a bottle. And He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, big or small.
We can ask Him for things like patience with our kids, confidence for a meeting or presentation, or even that pair of running shoes we hope is still on sale at the mall. Those things aren’t too small or insignificant for Him.
He cares.
And he doesn’t want us to wait to ask Him either. Like my daughter did that day in the car, He wants us to involve Him now.
To seek him now.
To pray now.
Even if it that prayer is for a snow cone.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the truck wasn’t there after practice that day my daughter and I prayed for it to be. But even though she was momentarily disappointed, I loved how she responded…
“Well let’s pray really hard tonight for it to be there tomorrow, okay?”
So that night we did.
And the next day, it was there.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14, NIV
By Genny at MyCup2Yours
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I love that your daughter wanted to pray right then and also that she was able to immediately turn to prayer, again, after her initial disappointment. You must be teaching her well! Sometimes I forget that God cares about the little, tiny details of our life, just like he does the big stuff. Great reminder to start off the week…. thank you!
Thanks, Brittnie. I forget sometimes too. I needed the reminder. 🙂
Your daughter’s persistence to keep on–what a great glimmer of hope!
My heart’s been tugged on lately to pray for my friend’s right then when I’m talking with them, versus saying I’ll pray for them. The *praying now* makes God a part of our every moment and for me that’s been so life changing.
Amy,
Thanks for the inspiration; I love your reminder to pray for your friends “right then.” I’m going to try to remember to do that too. 🙂
Genny
Thank you for this reminder, Genny. Great post.
Thanks for the sweet words, Christy!
So sweet. So TRUE! I forget, too. The big stuff…oh yeah…I’m running to God with that! But the little things…sometimes it just gets overlooked. I remember once several years ago (he was still quite little) Parker misplaced something…I think it was a game for his Nintendo DS. He was so very afraid it was lost for.ever! But he found it. It had gotten dropped in the car and slipped between the seats. He was elated that it had been found. Then he said, “Mommy…I prayed that God would help me find it. This prayin’ stuff really works!” Yep…it certainly does! I don’t think I’ll ever have a snow cone from here on without thinking of your daughter and this story.
Thanks for sharing it.
Hope you are doing well, enjoying the summer and eating lots of yummy snow cones. I’ll pray for it to be there tomorrow, too!
Peace and blessings.
Jeanine
It’s so nice to hear from you over here, Jeanine! And what a sweet story about Parker. Thanks for sharing! Your stories are always so heartwarming. 🙂
Oh this just made my heart smile and my tummy flip. I can so see my sons doing something similar. I love this so much. Thank you for sharing your daughter’s beautiful perspective!
Thank you for the sweet words, Lisa-Jo. 🙂
Genny,
I love that you have shared this perspective as sometimes I wonder whether it is ok for us to pray for things like the snow cone in your case and in my case my children praying for their ball teams or to find things as well. We try to not be so self focused but your message put it so well. I am glad to be able to have the opportunity to meet you via incourage! Have a blessed day, I look forward to checking out your site.
Lynn
I’m glad to “meet” you here too, Lynn. Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a blessed day too!
Thank you for sharing this! I loved that she wanted to pray right then and there too! And I loved her response to disappointment which was run back to the Lord! What a great reminder for all of us to run to God in any and every circumstance no matter how big or small, good and bad.
I loved her response too, Faith. It reminded me of the times I’ve forgotten to pray again (and again) if my prayer doesn’t get answered! We can never pray too much!
I love this. God cares about the smallest desires. Thank you for the reminder to take everything to Him in prayer!
Thank you for the note, Barbie. It’s fun to see you over here my friend!
Great post and reminder!
I often tell people, including myself and hubby, to pray for small stuff – like passing a test, getting into school, getting a job, etc. Nothing is too hard for Him to handle.. and He jsut loves it when we go to Him for even the smallest of trials/tribulations!
Thanks!
LOVE it!!! i feel the same way when my 13 or 7 year old wants to pray about things in life. it always puts me in awe, to think that they believe, they REALLY believe in Him. there couldn’t be anything greater in life for a mom than to know that her children has that faith!!!
Colleen,
This was so sweet; thank you for sharing. I know what you mean; it’s so amazing to see my kids truly believe the way they do, and it is such a great lesson for me too!
I love this. While I have always been a follower I have never been as verbal and obedient as I have been over the last few years. I am very much on my journey and often wonder if I pray too much. My husband even teased me and said that I was praying too many times as I read our son his lullabible and I told him there is no such thing. But then I sat there and wondered if there was. I needed to read this and know that there isn’t and that no prayer is too small. Thank you!
Faith,
I think there is no such thing as praying too much! :))
Have a wonderful night!
I pray for parking places, breaks in traffic, green lights, to find an object in a store, for my friend to be healed of cancer, for my son to graduate, for my husband to stay safe on his travels, for my mother-in-laws broken knee-cap to heal properly, for my 16 year old dog to not suffer, for my son’s marriage to stay solid, for my 2 sons to return to Jesus, for my brain cancer to never return – all with equal belief that He will hear me and answer! I know He will give the right answer for my good, as He always has!
I know, too, that the snow-cone truck showed up and your daughter said, “I knew he’d be here!” I love your story – thanks for sharing. We all need to believe that way!
love, love, LOVE. i struggle with the here and now. super love this.
Right and wrong are much more black and white to children. They are much better with faith, because they accept without analyzing. They don’t see the gray as much as we as adults do. Everything is gray to us, because we put so much importance on too many little things. We analyze everything.
That is why as adult we are supposed to come to him as children. With a child’s faith.
I have learned alot about faith from my son. He has also reminded me of what is important and has renewed my need to walk closer to the lord.
Contented to see your faith on God! I’m also a solemn believer of God I love to be stay under his shelter because I think it’s the best place to live. I’m also a big fan of snow cone even till now! I like you’re pray for the “big” things about your friends. That’s really very sweet. Keep it up and good luck for your daughter.
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