Avery's Book

This is a book I wrote for Avery before I knew for sure she would live. I was trying to think positively! I thought I could read it to her when she got here, and one day she'd understand just how God takes care of us all. Here it is, minus the pictures!

"The Lily's Prayer"

Once upon a time, there was a yellow lily that lived in a beautiful field. God always took care of this lily. He planted her in good, fertile soil that allowed her to develop into a strong flower. Whenever the lily was thirsty, God gave her rain to quench her thirst. Whenever she began to wilt, God gave her sunlight to renew her strength. The lily was truly happy being in the beautiful field, but she began to long for a little flower of her own to care for. She knew that God always gave her the desires of her heart when she asked for things in prayer, so she prayed hard, hoping it was in God’s plan to fulfill her wish. The lily waited and waited, and even though it seemed like her prayer wasn’t heard, she trusted that God would answer her when the time was right.

One morning, when the lily awoke from a peaceful sleep, she could not believe her eyes. In front of her, lay a tiny seed- God had answered her prayers! She quickly took the seed in her arms and planted it in the rich soil near her. Once she was done, the lily praised God for the blessings he’d bestowed upon her. She began to pray that her little seed would grow healthy and strong. The lily was the happiest she’d ever been, and couldn’t believe her dream had finally come true.

Once again, God cared for both the lily and her seed. He gave them water and sunlight whenever they needed it, and kept them strong and healthy. The lily would fall asleep at night and dream of the day her seed would sprout from the soil the good Lord had blessed them with. Lily woke up one morning, and much to her surprise, a large rock lay over the very soil her little seed was planted in. She tried with all her might to move this rock, but it wouldn’t budge. She knew that with the rock on top of her seed, it wouldn’t receive the water and sunlight it needed to grow. The seed had begun to develop roots, but with the rock over her, she wouldn’t grow any further. The lily became very frightened and worried. Her seed would never be able to sprout from the ground as she had hoped.

The lily was very sad, and started to blame herself for planting her seed in that very spot. If only she’d chosen another place in the soil, her seed would have been fine. She began to cry out to God asking “Why? Why did this rock have to be placed on my seed?” Then the lily began to beg God to move this rock so her seed would have a chance to survive. In the lily’s weakest hour, the Lord spoke to her. The Lord said, “Lily, do you not remember who I am? I am the One who planted you in fertile soil so you may have the nutrients you need to flourish. I am the One who gave you rain when you were thirsty and the sunlight when you were wilting. I am also the One who loves you more than anyone else could love you. I am the One who gave you the desire of your heart with this very seed.” Once the lily heard God’s words, she began to remember all the things He had blessed her with. She felt ashamed that she had not trusted in Him. She remembered that she must trust in the Lord no matter what because He was in control. She knew God loved her and her seed very much. The lily prayed to God asking for His forgiveness, and began to depend on Him to take care of her tiny little seed. God was the only one who could help her.

As the lily looked around, she saw that all the flowers in the beautiful field were praying with her. She knew that God answered the prayers of His children, so she was very grateful to these flowers. Tired from a long day, the lily drifted off to sleep. Once again, when the lily awoke, she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was the rock- it had disappeared! She was so happy, she began to cry out thanking the Lord for what he had done. The lily praised God in the morning and she praised God in the evening. She continued to pray for her small seed, and waited patiently for it to sprout.

A few weeks later, the tiny seed sprouted from the ground. Whenever it needed water, God gave it rain. Whenever it needed strength, God gave it sunlight. The sprout grew and grew, and lily stood amazed as she watched the Lord work. All of the sudden, the small sprout revealed a bud, and was almost ready to bloom. The lily knew that one day soon, what was once a tiny seed in the ground, would bloom into a gorgeous flower for her to love and care for.

After a few days had passed, the time finally arrived. The tiny seed had sprouted and grown and bloomed for all the field to see. The lily had never seen a more awesome sight than the day her seed’s petals began to open. She could finally hold her little flower in her arms! As she held her little one, the lily praised the Lord for all He had done. The lily knew that she had a wonderful story to tell about her great God, and how he saved her special little seed. She began to share her story with everyone who would listen that they may know the awesome power of trusting in the one true God. From then on, the lily depended on God, and she and her precious little flower lived happily ever after.

The End