A Child's Prayer

By Michele Borders

I want to share an experience for the purpose of strengthening our faith in prayer and particularly encouraging us to build faith in the hearts of our little ones.

Last week our nearly 11-year-old doggy became sick. I should mention here that while he is well-loved, he has always had personality difficulties when relating with people. So we took him to the vet, and as is somewhat expected the vet was not able to examine him because the only thing he could get a good look at was his teeth. He felt he had a cough, or a cold and he would send him home with medication to treat this, rather than putting him through the trauma of somehow sedating him etc.

So, we picked him up, gave him his first dose of medication which he took fine in his meat. But by that evening he refused to take his medication and begin to head downhill rapidly. Through much coaxing and tricking we got one more dose of medication down him 24 hours later and that was it. He would not eat; he would not do anything; he was wheezing and coughing and becoming so weak he could barely walk. So, with grief in my mama heart, I was resigning myself and trying to prepare my children for the fact that I didn't think doggy was going to get better.

Now I must be honest, my prayers turned to, “We know you can make him better Lord, but.... So please just make this happen quick and painlessly for him and us.”

However, that is not the way little boys pray. And they continued to pray for Kip to be made well! Each time for whatever reason my heart kept thinking, “but.... “

Shame shame on me! This hit me Sabbath morning when my little boy again prayed for his doggy to get well in Sabbath school where I was the teacher. And I wanted to paraphrase just a bit... You know, to something that was more realistic for a dying dog. Later I prayed, “Lord! Forgive my unbelief and please honor the faith of my little boy.”

To God be the glory, I kid you not! When we came home from church – while I cannot say that he was 100%  –  our doggy’s health had changed! When I went to bed Friday night I was expecting to wake and find him not breathing Sabbath morning. On the contrary by Sunday morning, he is eating again; catching his treats in the air; and moving about quite well.

For now, the faith of a child, I fully believe, has brought healing to their doggy. This has been a good reminder to this mommy's heart to never doubt. Only trust and believe for God's will.