The Little Lamb's Prayer

As we said morning prayers yesterday, I prayed that God would give me guidance throughout my day, asking for wisdom and patience at work. I prayed that God would watch over Allie while she is at school and I turned to Allie and said, “What gift would you like Jesus to give you today while you are at school? Would you like kindness, or maybe gentleness? Allie pondered for a moment and then her eyes lit up and she enthusiastically replied, “Bring Miss Emily back.”

Miss Emily was her pre-school teacher for the past six months. A loving, compassionate young woman who guided a class of preschoolers every day, Allieson spent about eight hours a day with Miss Emily. About two weeks ago, she left Arizona to move to Alaska.

When Allie responds “Bring Miss Emily back,” it is a wake-up call to me. While my life is relatively unchanged since Miss Emily left, I see now that Allieson’s has been greatly effected. So I tell Allieson that while we probably aren’t going to be able to have Miss Emily back, maybe we can get her email address and write a message to her. She smiles and is happy about this prospect.

We get to school and I tell the director the story of our morning prayer. She reacts as I did, with a big, “Awhhhh.” She provides us with Miss Emily’s email address so we can reach out to her.

That evening, I sit with Allie and type out an email to Miss Emily. I read to Allie what I am typing. “Dear Miss Emily, How is Alaska? We miss you.” At this point Allie responds. “I love you.” So I tell Miss Emily that Allie wants me to tell her that she loves her.

As I sit in my daily meditation the next morning, the events of the last couple of days play over in my mind and I am overwhelmed.

Miss Robyn is the new teacher in Room 9. Allieson hugs Miss Robin and seems to get along with her just fine. However, since Miss Emily has been gone, Allie cries every day when I drop her off at pre-school. She has begun to have “accidents” at nap time, even though she has rarely had an “accident” at home. It dawns on me that my little Allieson is grieving the loss of a beloved friend and caregiver. Not unlike any loss, it is taking its toll on little Allie. And Allieson, at three-years-old cannot articulate her feelings to tell the adults in her life that she is grieving.

But Wow, God! You know our hearts and our innermost desires. You know exactly what we need. And in our morning prayer time, you answer a little girl’s heartfelt prayer. You give the adults in her life the awareness to help her through this first of many transitions and losses she will weather in her lifetime. You alone saw her pain. You alone felt her loss. And now in a moment of prayer, you bring to Allieson what she needs, even when she doesn’t have the words to express it or the knowledge to ask for it. You bring her loving parents with awareness and the knowledge to help Allieson in her three-year-old suffering. You are so amazing.

I have seen You at work throughout my life. I have heard testimonies of others who witnessed your work in their lives. I am overwhelmed at this witness of how you work in the life of someone who’s suffering and innermost need was hidden, and who literally did not have the ability to communicate her needs.

And yet, here you are Good Shepherd, caring for your littlest lamb. I am so humbled. I have a whole new understanding of Isaiah 49:15; Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! I love this child entrusted to me, yet I did not see her suffering. I am so aware of how your love for us is so much more than any love we have experienced. And I pledge to raise this child up to know You and to walk in Your ways and continue to grow in her love and purpose for You.

Allie’s simple, “Bring Miss Emily back” was a key spoken during prayer that unlocked her needs. I am so thankful for prayer. And I am embarrassed that each morning as I prayed with Allie, I foolishly thought that as the adult, I was leading the prayer and teaching Allie the benefits of prayer, that some day she might be able to ask and receive blessings on her own. I now realize that in our prayer, you are leading each one of us. All we have to do is make the effort. You will do the rest. No matter how foolish, no matter how small, no matter our ability. It is You. It is Love. Lord you humble me and show me your greatness. I am awe-struck that you answered Allie’s prayer and gave me a visible witness to the great Love that you have for each one of us. Thank you for watching over Allie and thank you for watching over me.

Make the effort today. Pray.