STANDING FIRM AGAINST THE STORM

     Last week we had a wind storm, with winds that reportedly measured at 91 to 112 mph. Many people woke up to no power, broken branches and uprooted trees. About 1000 trees were toppled in Salt Lake City. 

    I marveled at the sight of majestic pine trees lying on their sides with upended roots--a sight I'd not seen before. 

(Sugar House park)

    I couldn't  help but wonder why some trees remained standing, while others didn't. An analogy started to form in my mind as I contemplated a verse of scripture. Helaman 5:12, ". . . that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation whereon if men build they cannot fail."

    I later read that some of the trees came down because they were weakened by fungi or broken roots. Others came down because of the soil they were planted in, or the lack of surrounding trees to help anchor their roots. 

    I wondered, 

    What is it that keeps me standing in the midst of storms? 

    How strong is my root system?

    How am I staying anchored to Christ?

    The first answer I can think of is having church at home. Bringing the ordinance of the sacrament into my home has been a special privilege with a sanctifying influence. As we've gathered together to worship in our living room, I've felt a stregthening power that has bolstered my family.

    We've grown closer together and my house now feels a little more sacred. My love for my husband has increased as I've watched him, dressed up in a white shirt and tie, administer this ordinance to our little family. I hope my children will remember this special time, when we gathered together and found spiritual safety in the shelter of our home. 

    Family prayers and scripture study have also brought us peace and strength. It has taken some diligence to stay on track with our Book of Mormon reading. But I know it is always worth the effort. When we come together at night to read the scriptures, I feel a good, warm assurance I'm arming my children with the strength they need to stand firm against the storms of life.

Interacting With Those Who Have Disabilities

 "A child with disabilities often spends hours being taught how to interact with others. 

But why don't we spend time teaching those without disabilities how to interact with them?"

Calleen Peterson

PIONEER DAY

      

PIONEER DAY

JULY 24, 2020

"They laid the foundation. Ours is the duty to build on it."

Pres. Hinckley

Ordinary People

"We are ordinary people trying to do an extraordinary work."

 

( Hinckley, Gordon, B. "This Thing Was Not Done in a Corner," Ensign, Nov. 1996, 40)



 

Tender Mercies

" . . . the Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ . . . the tender mercies of the Lord are real and do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of his tender mercies helps us to discern and acknowledge them."

 

(Bednar, David, A. The Tender Mercies of the Lord, Ensign, April 2005)

 

It was early on a Sunday evening and Rob and I were relaxing on the bed with the baby trying to hold onto what remained of the weekend. Rob got up to bath the girls and after feeding the baby I got up too.

To my horror I discovered the backdoor wide open! I was certain it had been locked. An open door only meant one thing―our little runner had escaped and was off wandering through the neighbourhood.

"Rob! Rob! The backdoor is open!" I yelled, "Where's David?" My heart was pounding and my thoughts were racing. I needed to think clearly and act quickly.

"Please don't let him have gotten so far I need to call 911. . . again," I prayed,     ". . . and please keep him from getting hit by a car."

I grabbed my car keys, cell phone and slippers and called out to Rob, "I'm taking the car!" Experience has taught me I can cover more ground more quickly with the car.

I decided to go in the direction of 900 E since this is where he was picked up last time. I got to my car only to discover it was occupied―by David! He was sitting in the driver's seat shuffling through my other set of keys, like he was trying to find the one that starts the car.

Relief washed over me along with alarm. David had been found and he was safe. He didn't even make it past the driveway. But he wanted to drive the car―he's only 10!

I herded him back into the house and locked the door and grabbed every bunch of keys I could find. Rob and I had talked about this day. We knew David would one day develop the fine motor skills to unlock the door. We had also joked about him wanting to drive the car. We knew this day was coming, but we didn't think it would come so soon.

Now what?

Our whole security system is based on lock and key.

Now what? How do we keep David in? And how do we keep him from getting the keys?

A stifling pressure of "now what's" filled my head and I still felt a little shaky. I went to the bedroom to check on the baby.

Fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door. Emma bounced into my room and announced, "It's the nice ladies who make us cookies!" This was music to my ears. Cookies. Sugar. What perfect timing!

Terri and Camille didn't stay long but their visit calmed my anxious spirit. They showed up right when I needed them. They weren't able to provide me with solutions to my security problem, but they did leave me feeling loved and comforted. Which is exactly what I needed.

The timing of their visit was so remarkable. 

Coincidence? I don't think so.

More like inspiration.

Through their act of service I was able to recognize the hand of the Lord and feel of His love for me. The timing of their visit confirmed that Heavenly Father is aware of me and my needs.

What a sweet and joyous comfort.

What a tender mercy.

How We See the World

"So how do people with autism see the world, exactly? We, and only we, can ever know the answer to that one! Sometimes I actually pity you for not being able to see the beauty of the world in the same way we do. Really, our vision of the world is incredible, just incredible . . . "

Higashida, Naoki. (2013). The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy With Autism. New York: Random House.

Remembering Marcelle

 

In the first week of David's life I was unable to be at his bedside because I was confined to my own hospital bed. And Rob needed to be at work. So we asked my mother-in-law, Marcelle, to sit with David during the day. She willingly accepted. It meant a lot to us that our baby not be alone at this time. He had an angel at his side―even his loving grandmother.

In that first week David rarely opened his eyes and barely moved. His little body was recovering from the trauma of his birth and had been heavily sedated with seizure medication. Even though there was little opportunity to interact with him, Marcelle remained at his bedside. Hour after hour.

Sometimes she'd talk to him. Calling him "little prince", she told him about all the people who loved him. Other times she just sat quietly while he slept. Undoubtedly his recovery was aided by the influence of her strong spirit and great love.

As she spent long hours sitting at his side, lending her strength, we couldn't have imagined the pending fragility of her own mortality. Six months later she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.

A few months after David's first birthday Marcelle passed away. Her passing made the time she spent with him even sweeter. 

With the simple gift of her time she left a legacy of her love for him.

Angels With Chariots of Fire

"On the other side of that veil there are angels riding with chariots of fire to be a protection for your child."

(Jeffrey, R. Holland, 2012. For Times of Trouble, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company)

 

Feeling the Spirit at Church With My Autistic Son

After 10 years of taking David to Church I've finally realized I don't need to sit through an entire service in quiet reverence in order to feel the Spirit. When I make the effort to be at Church with my autistic son the Spirit can find a way to reach me. 

Sunday.

The longest hardest day of the week.

 

The day I take David to Church.

 

One Sunday after an especially long and trying sacrament service I found myself standing in front of the elevator. Nine months pregnant. David had just pushed the button and was jumping up and down as he waited for the doors to open.

 

I felt exhausted. I wondered how I’d get through the next two hours. David had been upset for most of the first hour. This made me think the next two wouldn’t go well either. It was one of those Sundays where I found myself wondering if it was worth all the effort.

As I leaned against the wall a painting caught my eye. It hung next to the elevator and was positioned directly in front of me. I recognized it as a pioneer burial in the snow. I’ve stood in front of the elevator many times and I’ve seen that painting before. But this time was different.

The scene before me—‘Martin Handcart Company, Bitter Creek, Wyoming 1856’—depicted by Clark Kelley Price, ignited a warm glow inside me as the Spirit filled my being. Deep within my soul the fires of faith burned a little brighter.  

 

I tried to imagine what it must be like to bury your husband or child in a shallow, snowy grave. Tears welled up in my eyes. I was glad that wasn’t my reality.

All of a sudden my trial didn’t feel so bad. I’d rather bring an autistic child to Church than bury him in the snow.

The elevator doors swung open and David pranced inside. I followed close behind. It didn’t matter now if the next two hours were difficult. I’d received the spiritual strengthening I needed.

In the midst of chasing David, the Spirit found a way to reach me. It only took a few seconds for me to be uplifted and edified. In the short time it took for the elevator to arrive I received a beautiful impression of comfort and faith—my reward for coming to Church.

 

All of my effort in wrestling David had now become worthwhile.