He Does Care

In the movie Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration, there is a scene where a women asks Joseph Smith, "How do you know God even cares?" 

Joseph looks at her with conviction, and says,
"He does care.
And you can know it.
But you have to trust Him."

It reminded me of a story that happened recently in our family. 

My 10 year old son has two great loves: the outdoors & animals and football.  As Fall approached, we made sure to sign him up for his first year of tackle football.  He enjoyed it and was ecstatic to receive his own red jersey with his name on the back.  He was proud of his jersey.  About a week after the season ended, he misplaced his jersey!  He was heartbroken and we were frustrated as we looked high and low and prayed many prayers to find that thing!  

Then hunting season came.  All of his friends seemed to be talking about going hunting.  He really wanted to go hunting.  (We are not hunting people) 

One night, in tears, my son poured out his heart to me that Heavenly Father doesn't listen to his prayers and that he doesn't care, because if he did care he would have found his jersey by now and he would have had an opportunity to go hunting.  

I of course reassured him, and explained that sometimes prayers take time and we don't understand why some prayers aren't answered, but Heavenly Father does love us.  

I have to admit that I was feeling frustrated as a Mother, wanting my son to have an experience that witnessed to him that Heavenly Father was hearing our prayers and does care about the little things.  

Many days later...October 15th
My son was invited to go elk hunting with his uncle.   They didn't get anything, but they had fun.
That same evening, he went over to a neighbor friend's house.  When he came home, he pulled open his jacket and said, "Look what I found Mom!"  He was wearing his red jersey!  

What a blessed day!  God had not only answered one prayer, but two...in the same day! 

It was a great lesson to my son, myself, and the whole family at that! 

God is good!  He does love us and He does hear and answer our prayers.  Sometimes, though, we  have to be patient and trust that He is still working in our life, even when it feels like He has forgotten us!