A little Girls Prayer

I heard her tiny voice
"Mommy, what's going on?
I heard you crying
Tell me, What's Wrong?

There stood my little Daddy's Girl
Sleep gone from her eyes
Now filled with worry
In her favorite Nighty
Holding her bunny at her side

"I know I should be sleeping."
She whispered climbing in my bed
"I woke kinda thirsty
But on my way to get a drink
I watched t.v. instead.."

"Men were talking about a war
In a place far away
They showed a bunch of soldiers
And said that we should pray."

I pulled her close to me
Dreading what she might say next
Asking God for the words
And the strength to keep her calm.

"Mommy is that why you cried?
Are you scared about the war?
We wont be hurt, its far away..
Say Mommy, what are they fighting for?"

As soon as she said the words
Her eyes became wide in fear
"The men… They Looked Like Daddy!
Oh Mommy! Is my Daddy there?"

I didn't know what to say
"Yes" seemed so unfair
How could I Look into her face
And say "Yes your Daddy's there?"

Again she started talking
"That day we said good-bye,
Daddy said not to worry
Mommy Did he lie?"

I scooped her up into my arms
Held her close while she cried
Fighting my own tears inside

I tried to explain
As best as I could
To spare her any more worry
Just like her Daddy would

"Mommy" She stopped me
"I would've kissed him one more time
If I knew he was going to a war
And that he could maybe die.."

Holding back a sob
I did my best to reassure
That daddy would be coming home
To collect that kiss from her.

Her eyes grew heavy
Cheeks of pink stained with tears
When she asked in a whisper
"We should pray now
Don't you think?"

I nodded in the dark
And she took my hand in hers
In a small shaky voice
She began her prayer..

"Dear God, its me again
I talk to you every night
Tonight is kinda special though
Because I'm talking to you twice..

You see my Daddy's in a war
He's a United States Marine
And what I wanna ask
Is would you bring him home to me?

I really love my Daddy
He is my superman
And I really need him
So hurry if you can

And I know they are not my family
But there are others there you see
Lots of Mommy's and Daddy's
Of kids just like me

I might be asking for a lot
But their kids need them too
Daddy always said
There's not job to big for you"

Her tiny voice grew stronger
Full of concern and love
As she asked for freedom and peace
For the innocents I told her of

Then one last time
Her thoughts returned
To the soldiers far away
And the tears fell as she said..

"Please keep my Daddy Safe God
Don't let him be hurt
Keep your arms around him
While he's at work.
Like I hold my bunny at nigh
So I won't be afraid of the dark.

I guess your busy
Cause others need you too
So I'm gonna go to sleep
But I'll talk to you soon"

Just before she drifted off
To the place of childish dreams
She asked one last time
"God Please bless the Marines"

As she slept in my arms
Her hair dampened her hair
I whispered "Oh God
Please answer her prayers"

**** Dedicated to all the branches of our military*****