Last Sunday Reese was asked to give the opening prayer during Primary for the following Sunday. She was pretty darn excited. During the week we talked about the difference between when we say our personal prayers at home and when we say the prayer for a meeting like Primary. I thought for sure I was going to have to go up and help Reese say the prayer because she is a little Sunbeam in with all of those big Primary kids.
I am so thankful I was in Primary yesterday. I had totally forgotten that Reese was suppose to give the opening prayer. They announced her name and I asked whether or not I should go up to help her and they told me yes. I got up to go and help her and when we made eye contact with Reese, I asked her whether or not she wanted help. She told me no so I quickly backtracked and sat back down in my seat.
I bowed my head, closed my eyes, folded my arms, and waited for Reese to begin. Reese stood up to the microphone and took 3 very deep breaths and released those breaths into the microphone, creating quite the racket. Then she began, "Heavenly Father". She took another couple of breaths and released them into the microphone again.
At this point I started praying for her, that Heavenly Father would help her to have the courage to say the prayer. I could only imagine how nervous she was to stand up in front of everyone and pray. After what seemed like forever she finally began praying and said the sweetest little prayer. She thanked Heavenly Father for our Prophet President Monson. She thanked Heavenly Father for the missionaries. Then she took a couple more deep breaths and contined praying. She thanked Him for her teacher Sister Hawthorne and for her friend Hadley. Then she closed in the name of Jesus Christ. When she finished I opened my eyes and gave her the biggest smile and a thumbs up and then I wiped my eyes.
I am so thankful for the sweet little children who I have the privilege to call mine. I love their simple yet powerful testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ! I love being a mom and I am so thankful that I got to hear my little Reesie's first prayer in Primary yesterday. It is a memory I will cherish and a memory that will forever bring a smile to my face.
