“Grace. The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.”   Bible Dictionary

One of the sweetest blessings in my life is my knowledge of God’s plan for His children. My greatest comfort and hope lie in looking to the future with an eternal perspective, understanding this life is short, temporary, and one day “God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” My faith and testimony of Jesus Christ give me courage to keep plodding along on my earthy trek, but at times I look to my temporary future with anxiety and fear.  I forget that I don’t have to travel it alone.

Recently my mom, who lives with me, called me (upstairs) in the middle of the night to tell me she had fallen and needed help.  I ran down the stairs into her bedroom, and the first thing I saw was blood smeared all over the floor and her glasses, bent and twisted beside it.  It trailed into her second room, where I found her sitting on her recliner, her face covered in blood, with a nasty cut above her eyebrow, bruised and bleeding, and another one on her cheekbone, skin torn and jagged. Though it made me flinch inside to see her like that, I felt a calmness come over me.  I knew I had to deal with whatever needed to be done.  Thankfully, Mom was OK.  I counted it a miracle she had been able to get up from the floor and get to her chair.  She was calm, coherent, and not in too much pain. I called 911 (for the second time in my life), and we headed to the ER, after the paramedics checked her out and settled her in the ambulance.

It was Mom’s second fall in two weeks, the first one scary, but no injuries.  This time she’d been bending down to pick up her little dog, and toppled over onto her head.  She didn’t want to go to the hospital, but once she knew she must, she was brave and had a good attitude.  We spent the rest of the night in the ER while they did tests, gave her fluids for dehydration, and stitched and taped up her cuts.

Sitting in the ER with Mom, I was thankful for trained people who could help her, that her injuries were minor, and she would be well again quickly. I had plenty of time to think about how much I love Mom and value our closeness, as well as many thoughts of my dad (the other 911 call) and the time I spent with him in the ER after his stroke and subsequent emergencies in the following weeks. His injuries were not so minor, and we had no guarantees that he would be well again.  After three weeks of ups and downs, hospital, rehab, home for 2 days, then back to ER, Dad left us to return to his Heavenly home. Although I can’t say I felt calm in Dad’s emergencies, I could feel my Savior helping me face each day and strengthening me to be there for him.   

The memories of that terrifying, uncertain time–five years ago–and the grief that followed, often cause fear and anxiety about the future, taking care of my mom.  When I picture scary things happening to her and what we might have to go through, my imagination forgets to include the grace I’ve received in other times of trouble.  Just as I had divine help with my dad’s situation and my mom’s recent fall, I can rely on it for future challenges, of any kind, in my life. Amazing grace. In quiet moments, when I feel the Spirit, I know I won’t be alone.  I know I’ll be given what I need. I know because it has been proven over and over.

“It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us. That is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us—not only to direct us but also to empower us.” David A. Bednar

Despite my faith in the Lord, I haven’t gotten to the point where I welcome trials. I’m still in the “please don’t make me do that” stage.  I’m hoping I will eventually be able to do as King Benjamin teaches and become as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon me, even as a child doth submit to his father.

In Mosiah 24, Alma and his people are in bondage to Lamanites, and Amulon is causing them grief with persecution and placing heavy burdens on their backs. When they cry to God aloud, they are threatened with death, so they pray in their hearts and God hears and answers them.  But He doesn’t free them from slavery at that time. He provides grace.

“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.” Mosiah 24:15 

I’ll be honest, when I read the part about them submitting cheerfully and with patience, I feel grumpy.  I want to be like that, but cheerfulness and patience?  I’m lucky to have a smidgen of either. The story continues, that “so great was their faith and their patience” that eventually the Lord provided the way for them to escape and settle in a safe place.  

I love my Heavenly Father. I’m grateful He is immeasurably patient with me. I know He’s aware of me and hears my own cries for help and strength. I know within His plan, I have a safe place. I’m trying to become less a cranky, petulant child and more a cheerfully submissive one, as I stumble along the path He has set out for me.  I know the Savior’s hand is there, reaching out to me, and I gratefully cling to it and keep going.

“It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by His atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.” Bible Dictionary