Lindsay Bills Stephenson is a BYU graduate in Nutrition Science. She grew up in the Denver area as the oldest of three girls. She currently lives in West Virginia. She is expecting her second child.
Lindsay, Daniel and baby Kate. Photo by Nichole Bills
When I was in Kindergarten, Santa Claus brought me the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen. Although I recognize now that it was actually just a cheap piece of costume jewelry, in the eyes of a young girl, this was the finest of all fine jewelry. I treasured it and felt special every time I wore this necklace.
One day, I was playing on the playground at school and realized that my necklace was no longer hanging around my neck. In the midst of an aggressive game of tag, I failed to notice when and where my necklace fell off. I searched and searched, but to no avail. My precious necklace was gone.
When I said my prayers that night, I asked Heavenly Father to help me find my special necklace that I’d lost on the playground that day. I looked again at school the next day, only to be disappointed when I could not find it. This same process of praying and searching continued for six days; my little heart just could not let go of that necklace!
I was on the playground a week later and saw something pink and gold among the rocks under the bridge on the playground. To my delight, after many prayers and a lot of time searching, I found my necklace! I don’t recall many vivid details about the experience. I am sure there were tears, drama, and other details that I have forgotten. I do remember, however, recognizing that Heavenly Father loved me enough to listen to my prayer and answer it. This made me feel more special than owning a fine piece of jewelry ever did.
I learned three important lessons from this experience:
1. Heavenly Father loves each of us and cares about our desires and concerns!
2. Heavenly Father hears our prayers and He answers them according to His timing. The answers may not come right away, but they certainly come.
3. We must do the work required on our part to receive an answer to our prayers. If I had prayed to find my necklace but never went to look for it, I probably never would have found it. I was able to find it because I asked for help and then I put in the effort necessary to receive help finding that necklace.
I have since accumulated jewelry that is more precious in terms of monetary value. This special necklace, however, still has a special place in my jewelry box and carries with it more value than any other piece of jewelry that I own. It is a reminder of my once small seed of faith that has since continued to grow and thrive over the course of my life. I have had many prayers answered over the course of my life, but the experience of being a young child and feeling important to my Heavenly Father is tender and will never leave me.
This experience has come full circle as I am now teaching my own young daughter to pray to her Heavenly Father. It is exciting for me to see her love for prayer growing and her belief in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ developing. Her seed of faith is already starting to grow – and she is not even two! Watching this process within her strengthens my own faith even more! I am forever grateful for this beautiful experience that taught me important truths that have stuck with me throughout my life. I love my Heavenly Father. He truly loves His children and stands nearby with hands ready to help and a heart full of love.
3 Comments
AuntSue
Our Father does care. He has helped me find a good pair of dress shoes for $10 that I wore for almost 10 years. He helped me find a very discount price on a good leather purse that I loved for almost as long. He also comforts me when I am terrified of surgery and tells me when a comment I would like to make is 'not my stewardship'. I am so grateful that He knows me and cares about me.
It's not that He cares about shoes or purses or jewelry, but he cares about His children. He communicates that love in the best way possible for each individual. How many times have I prayed when I was frustrated or stymied as I tried to fix the plumbing or a car or find something I needed. The solutions are opened to mind like a special delivery love note from God.
Yes! Once when I was discouraged and jealous of my roommates beautiful bouquet of flowers, I walked outside and it was a gloriously beautiful day. I felt the Spirit whisper, "This is your bouquet of flowers!" I know the day wasn't really all mine, but felt the love and attention of my Heavenly Father.