The strength of the Lord

Several thoughts and experiences have come together for me over the last couple of days. I'm reading the book of Mormon in The Book of Mormon, where Mormon is describing the awfulness of the Nephites as they battle with the Lamanites. In Mormon 3:3 he says that, "...they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them....And behold they did harden their hearts against the Lord their God." And then, in verse 9, "...they began to boast in their own strength..." From the time that they relied on their own strength they were beaten and, in not many years, destroyed.

Contrast that with Zeniff in the book of Mosiah, where he says, "Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle....And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might."

And again in Alma, "...in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them."

So, back to me...because we all know it's all about me, right? :)

Stephen is gone at a conference (in Boston--wish I was there!) for 5 days. Have I mentioned that I need Stephen? I need his sense of humor and easy-going-ness and everlasting patience...and I need him to tuck the kids in at night, because, frankly, I'm pretty much fried by bedtime. This is his first trip away from home since Trevor has been born, and I've been pretty worried about how I would react to so much kiddo time with no breaks. Pretty sure that Stephen was a tad bit worried, too.

Well, I read the scriptures in Mormon in the morning on the day that he left. I realized that if I tried to do this weekend relying only on my own strength (or lack thereof), I was doomed to fail. But, and this is a very big 'but' (don't laugh at that ridiculous phrase, k?) I didn't have to do it alone. Oooooh, aaaaaaah, ding! Ah-ha!

I DON'T HAVE TO GO IT ALONE.

I'm pretty sure that intellectually I knew that fact, but it really hit me hard when I actually understood it--when it became relevant to me and my situation.

So this weekend I've made a point to pray earnestly every morning for me and my kids. I've done better with reading the scriptures in the mornings. And you know what? I have been amazing (if I do say so myself). I have had patience and haven't lost it by bedtime. I've kept a reasonably tidy house, made meals, run errands--all the normal stuff--and been patient through it all...even bedtime! It truly is a miracle.

I'm pretty sure that I can't keep it up (oh me of little faith!), but Stephen will be home soon, so when I slip up (which I include in my self-improvement plans), it will be okay. This weekend I needed this particular miracle. "And God did hear [my] cries and did answer [my] prayers."

So when I feel alone and at the end of my rope, I just need to rely on Someone who is a lot stronger than me. Because He really does care about my little family. Isn't that a wonderful thought?