Deliverance

As a family, we've started back at the beginning of the Book of Mormon again. Something we do once or twice each year. We've been reading in 1st Nephi where Nephi teaches something profound he learned. He says: "The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

Obviously, this is a deliverance from sin.......through the atonement, but I can't help but think that there is also a deliverance from pain and suffering and what ever affliction has us bound as well. A stronger faith can only deliver us from those natural feelings of despair and depression and anger when life's hand cart get's hard to push.

Our suffering here is so necessary because it helps us aquire the God given attributes like faith, humility, and patience and it also helps us draw nearer to God in the process. All of us want to be nearer to him, but the way to do that can be grueling at times whether it's self induced or whether we have help from adversity. In a way I know that adversity is a huge blessing because it pushes our faith to depths that we wouldn't normally take it and it provides moments of such clarity of who God is and how he works in our life.

Someone told me before Jaden left for his mission that our family would be showered with blessings because of the missionary work he would be doing. A few weeks ago, I remembered that comment and thought, "That's funny, because ever since he left, it feels like we've had nothing but adversity." However, when I look back and see what we've come out of, every single hardship and struggle was heavily laced with tender mercies that helped us get through it. The blessings WERE there, they were just in the form of miracles and moments to help us get through the difficult times.

I have a sweet friend who's family is being challenged beyond what I think I could handle. They too have a sick child and this uphill battle has been going on for 7 years. We had a good talk the other day about this very thing. It is no less than heart wrenching to see people you love suffer, but we know that those who do, will only be that much closer to God, that much more armed with the necessary attributes we need to be with God and even be like him.

I've seen more clearer in the last few months how, in difficult times, he too draws closer to us. We are never left alone to struggle for ourselves.

Two weekends ago, we went as a family with our Harding family to see the movie, "17 Miracles". It's about the Mormon Pioneers who came out west in the Martin and Willie Handcart companies and got stuck in snowy conditions with no shelter, no food and no supplies to keep them warm.
There was an account in that movie where one person talked about how when his strength was waning, he would set a goal to push his cart to the next ridge and then quit. When he got to that point, he said the cart began pushing him. When he looked behind to see who it was, no one was there. There is no question that angels attended to these people in their severe suffering and they attend to us too.

Jessica is doing pretty well through her treatments. Like I said earlier, almost like clockwork, she has 10 bad days and 10 good days. It's funny too because about the 10th day after her treatments, her frown turns to a smile and the Jessica that we know and love comes back to life.
We go in today to visit with the school to try to work out a plan for her school year. Not sure what that's going to look like yet, but I'm sure it will all work out. We sure appreciate all your prayers, your thoughts, your notes, your well wishes to Jessica right now. Her handcart is pretty heavy right now but every little act of kindness from you all helps lighten her load. We appreciate it.
This was a "Willow Tree" figure that Jessica got for her birthday. When she opened it and read the description card to this figure, we all started to cry. This one is called "Surrounded with Love". Nothing could sum up how we all feel better than this little gift. Thank you all for all you do.