Prayer and Friends

Soup Can Phone

One summer morning ... , while Elizabeth was playing croquet by herself in the front yard, she saw a car drive up next door. A man and woman got out of the car. And then a girl with bright red hair got out. She looked just the right age! Elizabeth ran over to meet her.

The new girl’s name was Becky. Elizabeth smiled at her. Becky smiled back.

“I’m playing croquet,” Elizabeth said. “Do you want to play?”

“I’ve never played it before …” Becky said shyly.

Elizabeth smiled and held out a croquet ball. “Want to learn?”

Becky nodded and ran over to play.

From then on Elizabeth and Becky were always together. During the day they played and ate snacks in their clubhouse. At night they sat by their bedroom windows and yelled to each other so they could keep talking.

One night as the girls were yelling back and forth, Elizabeth’s older brother stopped by her room. “You know what you two need?” he said. “Soup-can phones.”

“What are those?” Elizabeth asked.

“All you do is connect two cans with some string. You run the string between your windows. And then you won’t have to yell.” He promised to help set it all up tomorrow.

The next night Elizabeth and Becky had their first soup–can phone conversation.

.... All too soon summer turned to fall. With homework and dancing lessons (for Elizabeth) and swimming lessons (for Becky), they didn’t see each other as much as they had during the summer. But almost every night, they sat by their windows and talked using their soup-can phones....One day Becky left for her grandma’s funeral. She didn’t know how long she’d be gone.

“I’ll miss you,” Elizabeth said.

Becky nodded and hugged her goodbye.

That night, after saying her prayer and getting in bed, Elizabeth couldn’t sleep. She missed talking with her friend.

A thought came to her: Why not pray? But she prayed every night before going to bed. And besides, she had already said her prayer tonight.

But the thought came again: Pray. Pray as if you’re really talking with Heavenly Father.

And so she got on her knees again and prayed. Only this time she didn’t just repeat what she usually said. This time she really talked about how she felt about things—small things and big things.

Prayer isn’t just a bunch of words you say, Elizabeth thought as she climbed back in bed. Prayer could be like a real conversation—like her soup-can conversations with Becky.

In her prayers Elizabeth started talking about things that had happened to her earlier in the day. She talked about her problems and her feelings. She felt like she’d found another friend.

Elizabeth was glad when Becky finally came home. That night they had their usual soup–can phone conversation. And later, just before she went to bed, Elizabeth had another special conversation—with her Heavenly Father.

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“Our Heavenly Father is always near. You can reach out and receive His aid through prayer.”

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), “Prayer,” Ensign, May 1977, 32.

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Dear Friend,
I just had to send you a note to tell you how much I love you and care for you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking to your friend. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me. As evening came, I gave you a sunset to close your day and a breeze to rest you and I waited. You never came. Sure, it hurts me, but I still love you because I am your friend.
I saw you fall asleep last night and I longed to touch your face. Again I waited wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you. You got up late and rushed off to work/school. My tears were in the rain.
Today you looked so sad - so all alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down many times too, but I love you.
If you would only listen to me! I love you! I try to tell you in the blue sky and in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves, in the trees, and breathe it in the colors of the flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain steams and give the birds' love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and sweeten the air with nature scents.
My LOVE for you is deeper than the ocean and bigger than the biggest want or need in your heart. If you would only knew how much I want to walk and talk with you. I know how hard it is on Earth. I really know! And I want to help you.
I want you to meet my Father. He wants to help you too. My Father is that way you know. Just call me - ask me - talk with me! Please don't forget me! I have so much to share with you! Alright, okay, I won't bother you any more. You are free to choose me. It's your decision. I have chosen you, and because of this I will wait, and wait, and wait, because I love you.
Your Friend, Jesus