Prayer...Here's My Question

I think I should preface this post, because I can imagine that for someone who doesn't know me, this might seem as though I don't have a testimony of prayer.  

I could probably list a small handful of times in my life where I was certain that Heavenly Father not only existed, but also that he knew me specifically. One of these definitive moments was an answer to a defiant comment I made to my mom. "God is not listening when I pray."  For the events that transpired during the week following my comment, there is no other answer than God knew me, heard me, and loved me.  (I will share that experience more fully another time.)

So it is with that in mind that I bring the focus onto my question.  Shawn has listened to me, ad nauseam, struggle with the following concept.  Basically, I want life to be fair, and I want to know that God is just--not only in the afterlife, but while we are living on the earth.  

My question centers around this scripture(and others like it). 

"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."  (3 Nephi 18:20)

I have chosen this scripture because it is in the Book of Mormon, thus mooting the "as far as it is translated correctly" point.  What this scripture says to me is that if you pray with a righteous desire, having faith, God will give it to you.

Allow me the indulgence of citing an example that is often taught in church.  Alma and Mosiah prayed

Starting a Fire

I think most boys are fascinated by fire.  Shawn has a couple stories from when he was a young boy.  One which includes a wood burning tool and a beautiful wood desk.  Another which may or may not have included taking apart "black cats" and reassembling them, elongating fuses, and things going into the air.

Ever since lighting the candles in our jack-o-lanterns this last Halloween, Gavin has been talking about matches, and igniting fires daily.  I have been concerned that he has a proper understanding of the dangers of fires as well as gravity of disobeying our rules about fire safety.

Today he wanted to talk about his ability to start a fire.  While it is still concerning talking to a 7 year old about this subject, I figure it is better to hash out a lot of the initial issues in the brainstorming stages, rather than the experimental stages.

"I want to build a fire." Gavin states.

"Well. Gavin, fires can be..." I begin into the official parent "fires speech", but Gavin interrupts.

"I already know how to start a fire."

"Really?" I say expecting to hear something about the matches we used on Halloween night.  Instead I get this hypothesis.

Gavin begins.  "All you have to do it get a piece of metal, stand by a tree in the forest during a rainstorm.  Wait for lightening, then jump up. When the lighting strikes you have fire."

I am dumbfounded.  Silence ensues while I try to asses parenting triage.  There are just so many things that need addressing here.

"Or" Gavin adds"..we could just bring matches."

When is Kid's Day?

It was the evening of my birthday.  We were in the car waiting for Tiffany to finish at swim practice.  Gavin was patiently discussing our plans to get frozen yogurt.  Usually we vote on the place we are going to go since we have three good yogurt places.

"Mom.  Which place do you want to go?" Gavin asks sweetly.

"Ummm...I don't know.  Maybe Menchies?" I look at him to judge his reaction.

"Ok.  Mom and I both vote Menchies.  But we need to wait for Tiffany so she can vote too." Gavin concludes.

"No Gavin." Shawn replies. "We are not voting tonight.  It is Mom's birthday, she gets to decide."

"Oh yeah" concedes Gavin. "Mom is so lucky.  She gets both mother's day and her birthday. That's two days every year.  I wish kids had a day.  When the parents would respect them and the kids got to decide everything.  We'd get presents and parents would give us all their money."

Without missing a beat Shawn replies "That's Christmas."

(I could not stop laughing for a whole minute!  Thanks for the great laugh guys.)

Halloween Candy Negotiations

Gavin ended up with what he deemed "the mother-load" of all candy this year.  Usually in our home it is a 2-3 day candy free-for-all in the days after Halloween.  However, I was telling my friend the next day that I worried we'd be eating nothing but candy for a week at our house.  (And, I was a little afraid that having it around all the time, I would help with the eating.) She shared an idea of the candy "buy back" that they do every year with their kids.

I love the idea. Gavin loves Legos more than candy.  This is a perfect solution.  Since I have a great attorney, and Gavin is a good negotiator, I thought it better to have Shawn handle the negotiations.  I shared the idea with Shawn, and stepped back to observe the process.

Shawn: Okay Gavin.  Bring your candy in here and put it all on the bed.

Gavin: Okay, but you can only have three. (Easy to be generous when you have a huge bag, and a huge heart to match.)

Shawn: Gavin I was wondering if you'd like me to pay you money for your candy?

Gavin: (A smile creeping across his face) Really? Like actual dollars I can spend?

Shawn: Yes. (Shawn looks at me and we smile at the "actual dollars" comment.  Yes, this kid has us wrapped around his finger.)  I know how much you like to buy Legos, and I was thinking I could buy your candy from you.

Gavin:  I can buy Legos with it?

Shawn: (A smile spreads across Shawn's face) How about I pay you .05 cents for the little ones, and .10 for the big pieces?

Now let me pause and remind you that Gavin has the MOTHER LOAD of all candy.  I estimate that if we purchased his load at .05 cents a piece, we are looking at $75-ish dollars.