The malt ball and "tender mercies"

Bear with me, I have a point while I explain yesterday, it may be tedious, but I am not indulging in self pity, I want to convey a miracle. My husband has been away on business all week. Each day I fall a bit farther behind. Yesterday I woke a bold single mother, I exercised and then studied scriptures, got all kids washed, fed, dressed, prayed over and out the door. I showered, ran errands and returned home tired. I fell asleep while reading to my 4 year old during nap time. When I awoke groggy and disoriented I knew that if I didn’t get up and get the kitchen floor moped and bathroom cleaned I wouldn’t have another chance. I was so tired though, I couldn’t seem to rouse my body. I said a silent prayer “Please Heavenly Father, I really need energy and strength enough to get my work done, I am tired, I need help.” After about 5 minutes of quiet pondering (I fell back to sleep) I woke, and finished my chores.

The after school madness then began, snack, babies up, school papers to sign and homework to be looked after. At 4:00 I had to pick up my 8th grader from soccer practice, drop off the little kids at my moms and take the top two to get shots at the pediatrician’s office. I told my oldest (only half joking), “I would sell you right now for a piece of chocolate”. As I removed my toddler from her car seat I found a malt ball on the floor. It was one of the huge ones that I can buy in bulk at my grocery store - I really love those things. Not wanting to share I hid by the van door and popped it into my mouth, right there I had a moment of pure joy. The rest of the evening was crazy - dinner, chores, court of honor and young womens, but I managed and fell asleep.

This morning when I went running I turned on my ipod and listened to a talk from BYU Women’s Conference, called “Refreshing Our Spiritual Strength.” http://www.ldsvoices.com/index.php?cat=WomensConference In it Sister Leann Whitesides talks of spiritual rejuvenation. She gives an experience where she felt one of the Lords “tender mercies” and the thought came to her mind “See how much the Lord loves you?” She said that “the love is there, we just fail to recognize it” I loved that talk and felt the spirit so strong. I reflected on the tender mercies that I have recently experienced, and thanked Heavenly Father for the strength to finish the tasks that I needed to do, I then thought of the malt ball and the Sermon on the Mount.

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:9-11)

Some may think of that piece of chocolate as merely coincidence, but I heard Pat Holland say that “coincidences are small miracles where God chooses to remain anonymous.” I picture in my head a loving father watching a frazzled mother and smiling with love, the malt ball was how he could show it. See how much the Lord loves me? I am grateful to my Father for that love and with the constant miracles he showers daily over me.

Two years ago, this month I weighed in at 205, and last year on this day I weighed 154. This morning I weigh 135. Each day I received help and strength and gentle promptings. When I was quiet and still and followed them the best I could I succeeded. Those were the tender mercies given to me at that time. I am grateful to a loving Father who gives “good gifts” who watches, guides, and protects. He is my strength, my light, my joy.

(I posted this morning, and on my way to preschool I panicked and thought - I just confessed I ate a malt ball off the floor of my van and liked it - oh dear what you must think of me...I am pretty sure it was clean if that redeems me a bit.)