My oldest baby just turned four a couple of weeks ago. My youngest is 16-months, and my middle splits the difference. That means we have a lot of whining at our house. The other day all three were whining about this, that, and the other. I knew what they wanted, but they never asked for what they wanted. They just whined. If they would have asked, I would have been so happy to accommodate them. But they didn't ask. They just whined. All I wanted was for them to just ask!
I experienced a moment of light amidst the cacophony of my children. I thought of Matthew 6:8:
"...your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
I also thought of Alma 7:23:
"ask[] for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."
Heavenly Father certainly knows what we need. He is not surprised by our desires and requests. He is omnipotent - he doesn't need us to turn any magic key for him to shower down blessings upon us. But, I thnk that He prefers the title of Father to that of Omnipotent Provider. As such, he just wants us to come to him and ask him - for everything that we need. Sure, he hears our whining and complaining, but that's not the same thing as asking. I think that the act of asking connotes humility, trust, reliance, and love. The act of asking builds a relationship, and that is what our Heavenly Father wants with each of us.
So, I suppose I had better set a better example for my children. Instead of endlessly whining and complaining about what I lack and what I need, I need to go to my Heavenly Father in prayer and just talk with him about it. I need to ask him to provide for me. And he will. After all,
"[c]onsider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; And yet . . . even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Matt. 6: 28-29.
Just ask.
