Month: November 2020

I Don’t Always Know What Is Best

When have you had an “I don’t always know what is best” moment in which a better decision than the one you were about to make came by way of a peaceful impression?

As a mom, I don’t always know what is best. Have you ever taken on something your kids could do because you were concerned with looming what ifs it didn’t get done or in the way you hoped and therefore you decided to do it yourself instead? Essentially, trusting yourself over trusting in your kids.

As our adult children have ventured out on their own post high school graduation to attend college, they have left behind memorabilia and possessions they did not want to take or needed with them. Recently, as my husband desired to declutter our attic, he contacted one of our children via FaceTime to go through and assess together with them their stored belongings to see and decide what they wanted to keep, have sent to them, or have thrown out. 

In the end, what remained for the keeping was a backpack, a few memorabilia, and an important document of recognition which all fit nicely inside the backpack. The backpack was then set aside to be given to them whenever the next time was that we would be with them again. Right around that same approximate timeframe, one of our other adult children called and shared their plans of driving home from college to spend Thanksgiving week with us. 

Perfect! It was a tender mercy that on their return trip back to school, they would be able to take the backpack to their sibling that was unable to come home for the holiday. And, in addition, hand-deliver a Christmas stocking to them filled with wrapped gifts from my husband and I. 

Initially, that was the plan, however, as my mind gravitated to “what if” concerns, I was reluctant and hesitant about sending the backpack, Christmas stocking, and gifts with our child upon the close of their visit. As they would be driving almost a full day and straight through the night to get back to their college residence, worry and fear set in for their safety and well-being, especially during the longer hours of night driving due to daylight savings and if they encountered possible inclement weather conditions along the way. 

If in the event they were in an accident, my mind pictured the loss of the belongings we sent with them scattered about the roadway that may or may not then make it to their sibling. Oh, how my mind goes into natural worry wart mode.  

That being the case, I felt it would be better to not send the belongings with them, but rather wait till our family drove out to visit our adult children at a time when I was confident our travels to them would be much safer. However, I don’t always know what is best. Upon my hedging on what to do, it was a tender mercy I received a peaceful, calm impression that all would be well during our child’s travels back to school. With that impression, I sent their sibling’s belongings, Christmas stocking, and gifts with them.   

It was a tender mercy our child made it all the way back to school safe and sound and that all throughout their travels I felt a constant peace and calm. Also, it was a tender mercy that my husband and I were able to watch via FaceTime the child who was unable to come home open up the gifts we had gotten for them to enjoy during the Christmas season. 

When have you had an “I don’t always know what is best” moment in which a better decision than the one you were about to make came by way of a peaceful impression?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the posts as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.

Second Wind, This Or That, Decision

An imperative second wind, this or that, decision made the difference whether I’d be able to nestle in bed for what morning hours remained before my alarm clock went off and sleep restfully or restlessly.


After my nightly sleep pattern shifted a bit due to a necessary nap earlier in the day, an imperative second wind, this or that, decision made the difference whether I’d be able to nestle in bed for what morning hours remained before my alarm clock went off and sleep restfully or restlessly.

‘Tis The Season’. As fall temperatures have fluctuated back and forth from warm to cold and cold to warm weather, my seasonal allergies have kicked in. To what allergen, I am not sure exactly. Could be ragweed, possibly? Whatever is in the air, the associated allergy symptoms leaving me feeling groggy and wiped out combined with the exhaustion of potty training our 10 week old puppy, I felt drained and drowsy midday. 

After I took a much needed nap, later in the evening when everyone had settled in for the night, I had a second wind. I considered staying up into the early morning to watch a real-life mystery/crime show, however, I decided against it as I contemplated how scared I may feel afterwards and opted instead to go to bed. It was a tender mercy I decided to not watch it for as I headed to bed, our puppy was awake and needed to go outside to go potty. 

With everyone sound asleep and I being the only one awake, I took our puppy out into our backyard and into the darkness of the night, lit slightly from a few strands of soft glowing christmas lights hanging between a couple of trees and along a section of fence that were plugged in and our patio porch light that I had turned on. As our backyard backs up to a nature preserve with a myriad of night wildlife, like raccoons and such, roaming about and have on occasion entered our yard, it was a tender mercy I was less frightened to be outside, especially when I heard wrestling in the bushes just behind our fence, than I would have been had I stayed up to watch a mystery/crime show.

When have you experienced a late night second wind, this or that, decision and what you opted to do proved later to be the better of the two?

tendermercym❤️ments~jld

“How have you noticed Heavenly Father’s awareness and mindfulness of you today?”

*If you would like to receive an email when new posts are published which includes an audio version of the posts as well, please send your name and email address to tendermercymoments@gmail.com.