I WANT to say a few words to my very little friends about telling Jesus what they want when they pray, for He does so like us just to come to Him as little children do to their father or mother, when they want to ask for something. Because, although God is in heaven, and we are down on the earth, He always hears us when we pray, if we really mean what we say.
Shall I tell you about a little girl only six years old I know? Her name is Hilda, and the other morning she came to see me with her mother, and as it was a very dull and gloomy morning, I made the remark that it looked very much like rain.
“Yes, it does," said the lady,” but Hilda says it is not going to rain very much today."
I wondered very much how such a little girl should understand about the weather, so stooped to ask her why she thought it was not going to rain. And then she told me that her mamma bad promised to take her somewhere in the afternoon if it was fine, and so she had asked Jesus to let it rain “only a little bit."
"But why do you want it to rain a little bit?" I asked.
“Just to water the flowers," answered my little friend.
“And so you don't think it is going to rain because you asked Jesus, Hilda? "
“No," she answered again,” because Jesus always hears us when we pray to Him, doesn't He? "
All this time Hilda's mamma had been listening with such a happy look on her face, to think how her dear little girl could trust Jesus simply, and she told me that whenever Hilda wanted anything she always told Jesus about it.
One morning at breakfast the servant came in and brought in a letter for their father, and when he opened it, he found it was from his eldest little son, who was away from home at boarding-school. He read the letter, and as he put it down, said, "Poor Willie!”
"What is the matter?" said Willie's mother. "He has failed in his examination."
For a minute or two no one spoke, and then a little voice said:
"Do you think, mamma, Willie asked Jesus to help him in his lessons?”
This was Hilda's brother Raymond.
"I don't think he could have done, mamma, because Jesus would sure to have helped him, if he had."
“Yes, I am sure He would, too," answered the mother; “what do you say if we ask Willie next time we write if he did forget?”
“Oh yes, mamma! do, please; because, Jesus will help him with all his lessons, and then next time he will be sure to pass his examination."
These two dear children, little Hilda and her brother Raymond, both knew what prayer was, and they believed in it, and I want any of my little friends who read this, just to remember, when they kneel down to pray to God, He just wants them to ask Him for what they want, and ask Him to help them in their lessons and play, or whatever they are doing all through the day. R. H.