His Offered Hand

It is my experience that God loves us, and is always willing to help us. I have been realizing in the past few weeks, that He is really anxious and eager to aid us in the things that are important to both Him and us, but we need to avail ourselves of the help right away.

Here are the examples in practice:
I have wanted to be a better, more fun, mother -- one who disciplines, but is also kind and fun. When I have remembered to ask my Father in Heaven for help in my morning prayer, I've noticed an added strength throughout the day -- I'm not as tired or wanting to just take a nap when Esther's napping, so I've been able to interact more with Amy, read to her, teach her, and play with her. I've noticed on days when I don't ask for Heaven's help, I am left to my own strength, which is not much. I'm much more tired, and when Amy doesn't listen or bops Esther with something, I'm much more apt to be more upset. I don't like myself when I'm like this, but it takes me reaching out for God's help... and when I do, His hands are always outstretched.

I have also prayed for help to read my scriptures -- it seems like an after thought sometimes to the day, or there have been days where I've not read them at all and will quote a verse or two to myself before lying down to bed. I know I cannot afford to not get strength daily from them, but during the day when the girls wake up, life is so busy, and when they go down, I am usually doing projects in the house or cleaning up messes.

So, a few weeks ago, I began praying more earnestly for help to find time to study my scriptures. Then I would wake up at 5:30 or 6:am and for a few minutes feel very fresh -- any who know me well know I love sleep. If it were allowed or possible to go to bed at 8:pm and sleep till 8 or 9:am, I would be one of those people. So, my initial reaction when I'd roll over and check the clock was, "Oh, I'm going to lay here and try to fall back asleep." There would be other mornings when I'd wake up or be restless at this time, though my eyes were still dead tired and it made movement difficult, because even though I wasn't sleeping, I just wanted nothing more than to lay motionless on my cushy pillow.

I realized when this first happened a few weeks ago, that this was a direct answer to the prayer I'd offered the night before -- I was looking for time to read my scriptures... if I woke up then, I could read a chapter or two before the girls woke up. On the days when I've been grateful for this help and, even if sometimes initially groggily, rolled over and flipped on the lights, I've been able to read my scriptures and have been aided by phrases I've read during the day. I've decided to read through the Book of Mormon in German again, and read it aloud -- it's been very rewarding not only for brushing up my knowledge of German grammar and vocabulary, but there are phrases that mean more when you hear them in another language.

There have been other days, when I tell myself: "Just five more minutes, and then I'll get up." And I manage to fall back asleep and am awoken by Esther waking up.

My testimony and experience is: God loves us, and wants to help us. But if we don't ask Him, or if we ask Him, but don't act in the moment we receive inspiration, the moment will pass and we will find we are not as successful in our endeavors. He does love and care for us, and no one could be a better fan or cheerer for our successes -- but He also wants us to ask with real intent (James 1:5-6 /Moroni 10:4). We need to show Him that we really want the help He offers, and make use of the help He gives us. I am grateful He loves us that much, and that our little concerns are important to Him, because they are important to us. How wonderful it is to know that the God of the Universe knows us by name, and answers our individual prayers. I hope you feel His love today, and if you need help with anything, I hope you grab at His offered hand right away instead of postponing.