In June I saw this really cool red cell phone and I wanted it for my birthday.  I told my parents about it and I even showed them a picture of it.  They told me they would keep it in mind.  I felt like I should do more about the situation since Mom and Dad didn’t sound too convincing, so I prayed each night. My birthday was 2 months away so I knew God had plenty of time to answer my prayer.

 
   Well, my birthday was last week. My mom made a big cake and fixed my favorite dinner. I was very happy and even happier when my dad handed me my present. I knew what it was. After all, I had prayed every night for it.  As I unwrapped my gift my heart was beating very fast because I was excited. When I opened the box I saw a shiny, silver colored, watch. I was very surprised and disappointed, but I didn’t want my parents to know. I said it was real nice and I thanked them. 

  I was very confused. I didn’t understand why God didn’t answer my prayer. I think I was even kind of angry with Him. But there was nothing I could do about it.  So I stopped praying to Him and I tried to forget about the cell phone. A couple of days went by and something happened.  I was watching my little brother while my mom was upstairs sewing some curtains. There was a box of chocolate cookies on the top of the refrigerator in the kitchen and my little brother wanted them, but he wasn’t tall enough to reach them.  Mom had told me not to give him any snacks because that would spoil his appetite for dinner.

  My brother asked for the cookies and I said, no. But, that didn’t stop him. He kept coming back to me every 10 minutes asking for the cookies and I kept saying no. He was very angry with me. I didn’t tell him that it was Mom who said he couldn’t have any snacks. I just let him blame me.  When Mom came down to the kitchen she noticed the box of cookies on the top of the refrigerator.  She said, “Oh. No! I forgot to take those cookies back to the store where I bought them. They’re no good. I’m glad nobody ate them they are filled with little bugs.” My brother wasn’t angry with me after he heard that. He was very glad that he didn’t get the cookies. 

    That night when my parents thought I was asleep I overheard them talking.  Dad said, “I really wanted Michelle to have that phone for her birthday but we just couldn’t afford it last week. Mom said, “Even though she tried to hide it, I know she was disappointed. Did you see the look on her face?”   Then Dad said well she’ll have a different look on her face on Christmas day.  We’ll be able to afford that cell phone, then.  I was so happy.

   As I lay on my bed, I began to think about my brother and the cookies. He had kept on asking for the cookies. But he didn’t get them and he got angry. Now he’s glad he didn’t get the cookies.  Then I thought about me, every night I had prayed to God and asked him for the cell phone.  I didn’t get it and I got angry.  Now, I know why I didn’t get it. I also realized that God really does always answer prayers. Sometimes He says, Yes (and it happens right away). Sometimes He says, NO (and it doesn’t happen at all). And, sometimes He says, Wait (and it happens later).

Story by
Shirley Francis-Salley