A Child's Prayer

Each night a different person in our family offers the family prayer at bedtime.  Tonight it was Cooper's turn for family prayer, and he was reluctant, as he often is, to give it.  I don't know what it is with him and praying, but he often really has to be coaxed to do it.  Once he starts though, he's all about doing it BY HIMSELF and will have NO help.

Tonight once he started, his prayer was sweet as usual, asking for safety and blessings for each person in our family.  He most always prays for Baby Cheese as well.  I've been teaching him that he can pray for help with specific things like feeling peace, not being afraid, being a good boy (minding mom and dad), etc.  We were having thundershowers tonight, and although the rain had momentarily ceased, in his prayer tonight he said, "Please bless the rain and thunder to stop because it scares me."  That is the first time I've heard him pray for something specific like that on his own without being coached or talking about it before the prayer.  Such a sweet and simple thing, but it made my heart smile to see that he understands somewhat the concept of faith and prayer, that Heavenly Father hears his prayers, and that he can pray for help with many things.  Being that he is so reluctant to pray sometimes, it was a big moment to me as a parent.