Tender Mercies

I brought Daniel and Spencer home with me from Logan yesterday to spend the night and play until their family came for dinner today after church. This morning they were riding bikes outside while I was getting ready for stake conference. Trace left early in the truck to sit with the choir. Suddenly I hear Spencer crying loudly and Trace enters the kitchen carrying him. He says to me, "I've just run over him." I can't even begin to explain how hard those words hit me.

He lays him on the bench and tells Spencer to point to where it hurts. He points to his shin and there is a tiny scrape. Trace gets out a flashlight and checks his pupils. There is no head injury. Spencer stops crying while I cradle him in my arms. Trace left for church, Spencer goes back outside to show me his bike, which is totally demolished. He and Daniel continue playing outside. I cry for the next 30 minutes. During my prayer of humble gratitude, I have the undeniable impression wash over me that the Lord extended to us His tender mercy. He could have done otherwise. So MANY, MANY times experiences like these do not end this way.

I have been very aware lately of His tender mercies in my life. We all have them, but probably are unaware or don't see them for what they are. Also I've noticed the Lord's interventions in my behalf. I really started thinking hard lately about divine interventions while listening to John Lund's talk on "How to Raise A Teenage Porcupine." He gives 5 ways the Lord can do divine interventions. One is to remove the problem, another is to raise up someone to help you, one is to soften the heart, or remove the person from the problem. I'm going to share some excellent statements of his that I jotted down:

Stop saying to people: you need/you should/you ought. Instead say, "it would mean a lot to me if....."

Give a rational for your request.

Rather than define what your child has to do, define what you are going to do about their choices.

TAKE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS TO THE LORD AND YOUR LOVE TO YOUR FAMILY.

Transfer responsibility to your children as they demonstrate the ability to handle it.

Ask the children how they would like to hear things of a critical nature discussed.

You can't be FAIR to each child.

Let go of expectations that you will have their love and appreciation.

Parents are held hostage by fear of 'missed opportunities.'

A toxic child will give you what you want when you give them what they want.

Don't accept responsibility for stewardships beyond that which God has given you.

You can't share and teach beyond the level of their willingness to accept.

God can't take us faster than we're prepared to go.

If you're not happy you're not grateful.

We fought a war to be in control of our own happiness.

People have to learn things by the things which they suffer.

Hel. 13:38 You have sought all the days of your life for that which you can not obtain.

We can't control being loved, only loving others.

After church Trace and I stood in the kitchen and wept again over what 'could have been.' We know our Heavenly Father loves us and KNOWS us and is watching over us. I am so comforted to know that regardless of outcomes, He is there to see us through. There will be times ahead when our hearts will be broken, tragedies will occur, trials and tribulations will befall us. But we are here to learn, to develop our character, to test our strength and commitment to our Lord and Savior. Here's hoping we can be there for each other, come what may.