Answered Prayers

As Latter-day Saints ("LDS" or "Mormons"), we believe in continuing revelation - specifically that God can and will speak to us individually through the Holy Ghost. It is one of the fundamental beliefs upon which our faith is based. It allows the idea of true answered prayers, not just prayers answered in some cosmic way (like praying for enough money to cover the rent and having a check of back pay from a job you had 3 years ago show up in the mail, although we believe in that concept, too), but prayers answered with words, impressions, feelings of the heart - God's word delivered through His Spirit.

Tonight I had a moving experience I wanted to share. Many of you know that my daughter is the world's worst sleeper (ok - I'm sure there are worse...) and that she is still nursing, specifically before naps and bedtime, meaning that sleep without nursing is practically impossible. I don't usually talk about it much with people for fear of unsolicited advice (I know people are well-meaning, but it's still something I don't enjoy. I'm sure no one else does either for that matter.), so it is rare you will see me put anything about it on my blog. However, lately I have been praying specifically that I can find a tear-free way of weaning Shaelyn and help her sleep better. While we will at times make progress in that area, it feels like every step forward yields 10 steps backward, and I times I feel as though my heartfelt petitions are falling on deaf ears.

Today Shaelyn had a very awful stomach bug. She threw up everything we tried to feed her, including (not surprisingly) the breastmilk she had before her nap. Michael is also dog sick, and I have to finish my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow, so tonight was not the night to try to wean Shaelyn from her nightly nursing before bed. But I was terrified that to let her nurse would mean cleaning up an awful mess later, and comforting a sobbing toddler. So in our nightly prayer with Shaelyn, we prayed that the breastmilk would not upset her tummy and that she would fall asleep easily. She then started to nurse in the glider, me still praying in my heart that this would work and not backfire on us later. She had only been nursing for about a minute when I distinct impression came upon me. I was told to stop her from nursing, and that she would take her paci without a fight and fall asleep quickly. Of course I was skeptical. If you try to pull Shaelyn off of nursing prematurely, she will pitch a big fit and throw her paci across the room. She's only done when she says she done. But again the impression came to me, and I followed it, knowing that I was praying for an answer. Sure enough, Shaelyn immediately took to the paci, and fell asleep in my arms about 30 seconds later. No tears, no trauma, and hardly any breastmilk in her tummy.

How grateful I am that we can receive direct answers to our prayers, and that Heavenly Father, who truly is our Father, cares about the things that matter to us, no matter how inconsequential they may be to Him. My testimony of answered prayers was strengthened tonight as I held my sick, sleeping, beautiful daughter in my arms.