The Prayers of Single Mothers

Caveat: Churchy, avert your gaze, all you who are squeamish.

 

My little family and I live in a home with little to no access to the priesthood.  We never had it, we don’t miss it, it’s not a big thing.  We don’t really currently have any home teachers and I am completely at ease with that.

There are genuine and appreciated offers of priesthood from friends and acquaintances but it’s a bit like driving a fancy car, I’ve never done it, looks like it might be an experience, seems a bit ostentatious and not really on my radar.

What is on my radar though, are the prayers of Mothers. 

I have no idea if you know how much your parents kept you in their hearts, had high hopes for you, worried about you, rejoiced for you, trusted you, loved you and wanted the best for you.  All of these are “civilian” expressions of having a prayerful heart toward you.  It doesn’t stop, your goodly parents will have these hopeful and empowering feelings toward you for the rest of their days, which is a good thing. 

With the absence of the priesthood, what we in my family do have is the prayers of a Single Mother.  These are potent, powerful and heartfelt, frequently brief in the midst of an emergency, and really very demanding. They wait on nobody.  A single mum’s prayers demand an answer, they search for inspiration, and require a response.  There is nothing wishy washy about a single mum’s prayers and nothing wishy washy about how she receives the answers she seeks. 

In the absence of priesthood, it feels like nothing is missing, no blessing denied, and that we are heard and held in high esteem.  It is very connected and dynamic.  Mum, Dad, 2.4 kids would perhaps be nice, maybe.  Finding yourself in a different shape family should hold no concern with regard to Ecclesiastical matters.