Sacred Ground

Christi had quite a day today - lots of activity, lots of therapists, lots of excitement. So much that she could hardly keep her eyes open for some of it.  She got a little afternoon nap, but not the amount of rest time she has been used to.  We persisted with the therapies etc. though thinking that she would sleep all the better tonight for it.  With that in mind, I started to get her bedded down early tonight. But, even though she had been stretched, lotioned, massaged, etc. she just wouldn't close her eyes and go to sleep!  Then it hit me, we hadn't said her prayers.
I know it might seem a little silly to try to have a little girl who can't speak again yet say prayers - but Christi loves to pray!  She loves to pray so much that she has sometimes drawn impatience from her brothers and sisters (especially on fast Sunday) if she is asked to say the prayer on our meal.  She always asks Heavenly Father to bless so many people and things that she prays for quite some time.  Oh, and she always asks a blessing on the food right before she closes (even at bedtime :)).
So like I had done before, I folded my arms beside her and prayed.  I broke the prayer into small phrases like I often do with her little brothers giving them time to repeat each little portion until they feel confident coming up with their own material.  I would pause between phrases and at each interval Christi on cue, would squeak out a little sound.  Then she would wait.  She would wait until I said the next phrase, and then again - another little sound.  This continued all the way through the prayer.
When I opened my eyes at the end of the prayer, I saw the most beautiful half-grin (she can only smile with half of her mouth right now) spread across her face as she focused on a point over the top of my head.  I felt right away like I was on sacred ground! I felt that real, genuine, heartfelt communication had taken place between a little girl who can only squeak - and her all powerful Father!  So grateful to be her student today!