Hello My Friends!

I adore creating beautiful spaces so it will be no surprise to you that I found myself in a local craft/decor store recently.  I was on the hunt for supplies and once I had secured the needful items I went to pay for them.  There were two lines available.  As I was in a hurry I quickly thought, “Which one will be faster?”  Options:  stand behind a mom with a young son about 4 years old with a shopping cart filled with many little craft items, or get in a line that had 4 carts in it. I went for the one-cart-line. And yes, per usual, I picked the line that took longer; but on this day, in the end, I was grateful for the lesson I received.

“Beep… Beep… Beep…”.  No, that was not a heart monitor on me revealing the rise of my heart rate as I had to wait, but rather represents the sound of the cashier adding up the customer’s total as she scanned each item. One tiny little thing after another, and another, and another. Suddenly when the young mother picked up the biggest box in her cart, her son completely lost his composure. His emotions overcame him and all eyes in the surrounding area of the store went directly to the scene. You see he screamed and yelled out as he wanted to hold a toy instead of getting it paid for and placed back in the basket for their departure. His displeasure was over-the-top in volume, desperation, and perplexity.  My heart went out to his mom. 

What was fascinating was her response. SHE STAYED CALM. She then put her hand on her heart and looked him right in the eye and said, “You’re ok. You’re ok. You’re going to be ok.” She repeated this message until he understood and changed his focus, then he was able to calm down. He obviously knew what this cue meant and trusted his Mom. They had understanding in place prior to the stressful circumstance. He believed her and was able to work the problem out with her. My friends, he relinquished the toy and the cashier continued to add up the total.  It was amazing.

It happened again, one more time before the order was complete. The mother repeated the same instructive interaction as before to calm down the 2nd fit. She put her hand on her heart, made eye contact and reassured her son. After seeing this again, I couldn’t stay silent anymore. I had to compliment her on what a good mother she is.  She then shared that her son has some behavioral difficulties due to autism so they have little”helps” they have practiced. Some days have been really hard, but her son is learning and together they keep trying.

It reminded me that we have Heavenly Parents that also look upon us in our moments of frustration and outbursts when life isn’t going the way we think it should. When we have lack of understanding or put ourselves before God, sometimes in our frustration we cry out in perplexity, sorrow, and go to anger.  I trust our Heavenly Parents put their hands on their hearts many times saying with calm reassurance, 

“You’re ok. 

You’re ok. 

You’re going to be ok!”   

There’s been a Plan in place for a very long time and when we are willing to listen to God, ‘make eye contact’ so to speak, and trust, we can shift our focus and be calm and peaceful too, regardless of circumstance. I have experienced this time and time again.  I have practiced little ‘helps’ and understand heavenly cues so when those surprise moments pop up I know where to put my trust and attention.  It happened as a teenager when I lost a friend from a car accident; as a young mother when I was exhausted and felt utterly alone taking care of twins; it happened when I was losing my dad to lung and bone cancer; it happened when my husband lost his employment and the years of trying to get back on his feet; it happened when a son almost died from a car accident and the list goes on and on.  Because I had been taught where to put my focus, and who to listen to I had a way to successfully get through life’s surprises, disappointments and break-your-heart moments.

That list I gave you is not all-inclusive, there are hundreds of more upsets in my life, but along with them hundreds of more victories where I was reassured and comforted by Heavenly means.   It was never intended that we work out our problems all alone. 

I extend an invitation to be intentional about how you make God the priority in your life, regardless of the circumstances you are in.  I invite you to literally look to Him and what he’s trying to tell you.  (Alma 37: 37, 46-47)  

Just take it one step at a time.  One thought at a time.  One prayer at a time.  One day at a time. My friends, if you do, it’s all going to be ok.  Trust there is a plan for you.   Symbolically, when you happen upon a line that you don’t want to be in, or are in an experience you think you want out of, see what there is to learn while standing in that line.  It might totally surprise you what God is trying to teach you.  He is beyond amazing.