By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral of the Story:
Prayer connects our hearts to God,
who hears us no matter how small our worries seem. When we pray with faith and
love, we invite God’s light into our moments of sadness and need. Sometimes His
answers come quietly, guiding our steps in ways we do not expect. Even the
smallest prayer from the tiniest heart matters deeply to Him. When we ask with
trust, we learn that God’s help may arrive in surprising places. Faith is
believing that God is near, even when we can’t see Him.
Gratitude grows when we remember to thank Him for His goodness. Through prayer,
we discover that nothing is ever truly lost when we walk with God.
In the gentle hills of Cloverfield
Meadow lived Lila the Lamb, a sweet, kind-hearted little lamb with curly
white wool and the biggest, brightest brown eyes you could imagine. Lila had a
special friend she loved more than anything in the world, a small, soft teddy
bear named Buttons.
Buttons had been a gift from her
Grandma Sheep on her first birthday. His fur was light brown and worn in
places, and his smile was just a little crooked. But to Lila, Buttons
was perfect. He came with her everywhere, to the meadow, to nap time, to family
picnics, even to church on Sundays.
One sunny afternoon, after helping
her mother hang the wash on the line, Lila realized something was terribly
wrong.
“Buttons!” she cried, spinning in a
circle. “Where’s Buttons?”
She ran to her room. He wasn’t on
her bed. She checked under the blanket. No Buttons. She looked behind the
curtains, in the toy chest, and even under the rug. Still no Buttons.
“Mama!” she called, tears filling
her eyes. “I can’t find Buttons anywhere!”
Mama Sheep came quickly, her gentle
face full of concern. “Oh, sweetheart, don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
Papa Sheep joined them, followed by
Lila’s two brothers, Leo and Liam. Together, they searched the whole meadow,
under rocks, behind bushes, inside the barn, even near the old apple tree.
But as the sun began to set, Buttons
was still nowhere to be found. Lila sat down in the grass, feeling her little
heart sink. “He’s gone,” she sniffled. “I’ll never find him again.”
Mama knelt beside her and brushed away
her tears. “Sometimes when we’ve done all we can, it’s time to stop and pray,”
she said softly. “Let’s ask God to help us.”
Papa nodded and gathered the family
together. They knelt right there in the meadow, under the golden evening sky.
The
Prayer
Papa bowed his head and spoke with
warmth and faith:
“Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You
for this day, for the love that fills our home, and for the blessings You give
us every day. Lord, we come to You with a small but special request. Lila has
lost her teddy bear, Buttons, and it has made her heart very sad. We know that
You care about every one of Your children, no matter how small, and that You
hear every prayer we pray. Please help us find Buttons. Guide our eyes and our
steps to the right place. And help Lila remember that You are always near,
ready to help and comfort her. We trust You, Lord, and thank You for Your
kindness. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
When they finished praying, Lila
felt a calmness in her heart. The worry didn’t seem as heavy anymore. “Thank
you, Papa,” she whispered.
Papa smiled. “Now let’s keep
looking, sweetheart. God hears us. Let’s see where He leads.”
The
Answer
The family began to search again,
this time slower, calmer, and more thoughtful. The moon was just beginning to
rise, casting a silver glow over the meadow.
Lila decided to look one more time
near the clothesline, where Mama had been hanging the wash earlier. Something
told her to check the basket beside it. She peeked inside, nothing. Then she
lifted one of the clean towels and gasped.
“Buttons!” she cried joyfully,
pulling the teddy bear out from under the folded laundry. “He was hiding in the
towel basket all along!”
Her family hurried over.
Mama smiled. “Well, look at that. We
searched everywhere else, but it was right here all the time.”
Papa placed a hoof gently on Lila’s
shoulder. “That’s how God works sometimes. He helps us see what we couldn’t see
before.”
Lila hugged Buttons tightly to her chest.
“I prayed, and God helped me find him.”
Papa nodded. “Yes, He did. Remember
what it says in the Bible — ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you
will find; knock and the door will be opened to you’ (Matthew 7:7, NIV).”
Mama added, “And in Philippians 4:6
it says, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’ You
did just that, sweetheart.”
Lila smiled through happy tears.
“I’ll always remember this day.”
That evening, the family gathered at
the dinner table. The golden light of their little home glowed warmly as the
smell of baked carrots and sweet clover soup filled the air.
Mama served dinner and said grace.
Then she looked at Lila and said, “Would you like to say a prayer of thanks
tonight, dear?”
Lila nodded and folded her hooves.
“Dear God, thank You for hearing me
today. Thank you for helping me find Buttons. Thank you for giving me a family
who loves me and for always being there when I need you. Please help me
remember to pray not just when I lose something, but every day, so I can stay
close to You. Amen.”
Papa’s eyes glistened as he said
softly, “That was beautiful.”
They ate together, laughing and
talking, their hearts full of peace and gratitude.
After dinner, Lila placed Buttons
gently beside her pillow. Before she closed her eyes, she whispered,
“Goodnight, God. Thank you for helping me find my friend.”
And as she drifted off to sleep, the
stars above Cloverfield Meadow sparkled a little brighter, as if Heaven itself
were smiling back.
Poem:
The Prayer That Found Buttons
When something’s lost and hearts
grow sad,
Remember, prayer will make you glad.
For God is listening all the while,
To every tear and every smile.
He hears the whispers in the night.
And guides our hearts to what is right.
When we have faith and bow our heads,
Our worries fade, and our hearts are led.
For nothing’s lost within His care,
His love is always waiting there.
He gives us peace and joy to share,
When we remember the power of prayer.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
How did Lila and her family show
faith when they couldn’t find Buttons?
2.
What did Lila learn about praying to
God when we need help?
3.
Have you ever asked God for help
with something small or big? What happened?
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