Category: Comfort

Olive Oil and Garlic Oil

One evening, while tucking one of my children in bed, they casually and gently mentioned their ear was hurting. I had not noticed their disposition and behavior during the day being different than usual and no complaints were heard. I imagine their being absorbed in various activities preoccupied their attention that they didn’t notice the discomfort until settling into bed for the night.

As I looked at the ear, I supposed that maybe they had rested their hand on it supporting their head while sitting in a chair watching television or they had laid on it to take a brief nap resulting in it feeling tender and sore.  As I shared with them this possibility, I asked them to keep me posted on how their ear was feeling in the morning.

All the while we were dialoguing and even after learning of their achy ear, I was still able to maintain speaking with them with my same sweet mom voice so as not to worry them, although inside I was concerned if something more was going on and if I should frequently check on them throughout the night.  I left the room telling myself that I should not get myself worked up and all will be fine. I was confident I would be alerted somehow if I was to be more highly concerned. The next morning no updates were shared, and frankly I forgot. I was grateful as a natural “worry wart” that during the night my mind was not consumed with worry and I was able to sleep.

While tucking them in bed the next night, once again, a casual and gentle mention of the ear hurting was spoken, to which I asked more questions and with no visible sign of a fever or any apparent physical or other concerns, I felt that what may help was an olive/garlic oil solution (better if at room temperature), 1/4 tsp each mixed together, and poured slowly into the ear canal. They agreed. The next day, I followed up and they said the pain had decreased and was minimal to that of the night before. By evening of that night all the pain was gone.

I learned about this home remedy when my older kids were young.  I am so grateful I had this knowledge from so many years ago come to mind and that I had the ingredients on hand which provided comfort and relief during a time of need that helped soothe and heal a tender, sore ear.

When have you been able to apply your education and knowledge to bless and help someone in need, particularly a health remedy, that provided soothing comfort and relief as well as healing?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

 

Trash Day Reminder

At a time I was wrapped up in a crisis and uncertain to what the future holds, I also felt peace and comfort. I knew I’d face further challenges down the road, yet the particulars were unknown. Even though I was scared and that aspect brought great anxiety and concern, I was reassured through the Holy Ghost that all would be ok. As I was in constant prayer with Heavenly Father, I felt a strength in knowing I was not going through the difficulty alone. I am grateful for the growth and learning I have gained through hardships, at the same time I do not look forward to their impending approach.

This experience was happening simultaneous during an unusual week for me. Half of our family were gone with our oldest son serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and my husband and youngest son at Scout Camp. It was different having only myself and our two middle children at home. The first day it rained hard for hours leaving the day bleak and dreary until dusk when for Family Home Evening (FHE) we went outside and played ladder ball. The second day was filled with preparing, gathering, and organizing necessary forms and information to have available and ready for the next day’s appointments. Also on this day, the three of us enjoyed a free entrée from Chick-fil-A as we dressed up looking like cows.

Although the days were hard and my disposition was solemn, I was grateful for activities we were able to do all together. I put on a smile and actively participated even though I was not at my best. It was no easy feat, but worth the effort.

And then early evening on the third day,  I felt lost contemplating the trial I was experiencing and not having clarity on what was going to happen and what I should do.  My heart was aching and my voice was cracking. Despite having faith and feeling comfort and peace, there was also a void and a sense of uneasiness to what struggles were still to come.

As I sought to find peace from the uncertainties constantly consuming my thoughts, I listened to inspiring messages on “Hi Five Live-Facebook” to ground and anchor myself to our loving Heavenly Father. I also made it a point to go outside. I appreciate nature and going for walks. As I stepped outside to be in a place where I could quietly and outwardly express my pain to Heavenly Father, I noticed right away the neighbor’s trash cans were out. In the midst of my troubles, I felt a joy and a gratitude for the reminder of the next day being trash day.  If I had not stepped outside, I don’t know that I would have remembered. I recognized quickly that this visual reminder was a tender mercy.

I know Heavenly Father was very mindful of me. Not only did he understand and know my hurt and suffering, he also knew my desire to not miss trash day. Seeing the trash cans removed me briefly away from my sadness, and I was filled with immense appreciation. Although I was struggling greatly, I am thankful I did not miss the tender mercy. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know Heavenly Father is aware of me and something as simple as a visual reminder that the next day was trash day was a blessing to me.

When have you recognized in the midst of your trials, a tender mercy that is small and simple yet meaningful to you?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Task Completed

I was not looking forward to spraying the interior of my house, however, the spiders and bugs are entering in as Spring is here and Summer is quickly approaching.  I am most concerned that I may step on a scorpion and with a family trip coming up, I do not want to return home to an unpleasant surprise as we did many years ago watching a live scorpion scurry across our kitchen floor. I made it a point to take care of the spraying today.  It took a couple of hours to prep (sweep and pick up dead bugs and trash along the floorboard) and spray the interior rooms.

It was a task needing to be done.  I was grateful to be able to do it while my kids were in school and the house was empty allowing the spray to dry undisturbed.  Although is is a task I do not enjoy, it was worth the effort to have peace of mind that I can walk around in my house and worry less about stepping on a scorpion or a spider or crush a bug.

When have you felt gratitude for a task completed, not one that you particularly wanted to do, but in doing so felt a peace of mind?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

A Rubber Band

While shopping, the bottom of my shoe separated from the top. I sought for a solution and considered a rubber band. I hesitated asking a store employee. When I decided to ask, they had one just the right size to double wrap and hold my shoe together. Awesome! I was grateful to continue shopping wearing my shoe intact.

Why did I hesitate to ask? I am one who is self-reliant and struggles asking others for help when I need it. I also did not want to receive something without paying for it first and at the same time I did not want to pay for a rubber band I had at home. I was essentially stunting myself. As I considered the logic behind my initial decision to not ask, I pushed my reasoning aside and asked an employee who happily found one and gave it to me at no charge.

Have you hesitated asking for help when you have needed it, holding yourself back for whatever reason, and then when you did ask, you were grateful for the blessing you received?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

The Strength Of The Youth

The Strength of The Youth Comes By Following Heavenly Father’s Loving Guidance And Direction.

The strength of the youth to stand for truth and righteousness is admirable. When one of my children came to me to let me know that they broke a rule while my husband and I were out on a date night, it was a tender mercy as I listened to them take accountability and accept responsibility for a choice they had made. Recognizing their wrong doing, as they approached me and addressed their actions, the comfort and safety they felt coming to me was warming as a mom as well as their desire to be honest and truthful.

I felt impressed that there may have been an unawareness of the correlation of our house rule to counsel that was given from a loving Heavenly Father through His Prophets to us. I reminded this child of the blessings associated with keeping Heavenly Father’s commandments and how following His loving guidance and direction we are able to always have His Spirit with us to help and bless us in times we need comfort, strength, protection, guidance, direction, answers to prayers, etc. and that we have agency to choose if we will follow Him or choose a different path. That decision is ours individually to make.

I shared that the house rule still stands and what they choose to do—to follow it or not is up to them. I expressed my thanks for their coming and talking with me. It was a very loving moment between the two of us as the Spirit of truth was spoken and felt.

When have you had a “strength of the youth” experience similar in which one of your children trusted coming to you to disclose a wrong doing and they felt of your love and the Spirit even as counsel was provided?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

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

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Overflowing Abundance Of Blessings

I met up with my youngest child and his school class today to tour a cavern. I was grateful for simple directions to the location. It was a tender mercy I did not get lost or turned around. How many times do you rely on GPS for directions and you find yourself in a completely different place than where you intended?  I’ve had that happen to me time and time again. Today, I was grateful that was not the case. I had a little bit of familiarity with where I was in the beginning to navigate with more confidence in myself than in GPS, and then I relied and trusted in the correctness and assistance of GPS the rest of the way.

It was a beautiful, scenic drive along a route with little traffic and my steering wheel had no pulling and tightness. I am not a fan of congestion or traffic and so the smoothness and easy flow of the drive was a tender mercy! My steering wheel for the past couple weeks has, on and off, tightened while turning. This morning, it happened briefly; but the entire drive to the cavern and back, it was a tender mercy there were no issues.

Preceding the approximate 45 minute drive, one hour before leaving, my right leg was acting up and was very restless. When I experience this discomfort, napping relieves it. After I dropped my children off at their respective schools, it was a tender mercy I had time to take a nap, resting my body before making the drive and I had no further problems with my leg.

And, it was a tender mercy there was a discount on the ticket price for school chaperones! I was happy for the discount. It was still pricey, but less, by several dollars, than an otherwise very expensive entrance fee ticket to the cavern.

A highlight of the field trip was the tender mercy of being able to spend time with my son at the cavern, particularly right now as he enjoys having me join him on his field trips. It was a fun and memorable experience with him!  He was very loving, kind, and considerate of me. He alerted me and kept me safe from bumping my head while passing through a tight place. He saved me a seat on a bench a couple of times in areas where we could sit down and listen to the tour guide rather than remain standing. He saved me a place next to him at a picnic table with his friends at lunch time. He expressed and showed his love for me throughout the tour and gave me hugs. I am grateful I was able to join him and share this special time together.

I had been to this cavern two years earlier with one of my other children. I wasn’t thrilled about returning with the mindset, “been there, done that”, but I wanted to be with my youngest and have the experience of being with him. In the end, I enjoyed very much the tour and was grateful I had returned as there was a lot I had forgotten. It was a fabulous afternoon, even if a bit cold and windy. The time with my youngest was valuable and priceless and worth the pricey ticket to revisit the cavern with him.

Yesterday, I was experiencing a lot of doubt, fear, and concerns and it was a tender mercy those doubts, fears, and concerns were lifted on my way home as I chose to listen to a CD, “Say Love” by my favorite music artist, Hilary Weeks. Her music spoke to my heart and provided a strength I was lacking yesterday. Today, I felt the Spirit and a renewed calm and peace.

It was all in all a very pleasant drive to and from the cavern and an all-around very good day with multiple tender mercies and I am truly grateful!

Do you have days that are complete flops and you feel depleted, lacking energy, strength, and stamina and then you receive an overflowing of blessings that give you renewed faith and courage to face life’s challenges? How do you work through those difficult times? I tell myself to put one foot in front of the other and keep taking baby steps forward, one step at a time, even if it is a shuffle and I can barely pick my feet up. As I serve myself (like brushing my teeth), and others (making a simple family meal heating up a can of soup), I am actively doing something to keep myself afloat. What do you do to keep yourself up and going between those not so good and good days?

I am grateful for the knowledge that each day is a new day and there is “light at the end of the tunnel”. The amount of time in darkness may be unknown, but the light will come if I keep moving forward. It is this knowledge I have preceding the hard times and a hope I hang onto during really hard times that helps me get through the bleakest of moments. If I did not already have that belief prior to the challenges, getting through the challenges would be even harder.

tendermercym♥ments~jld

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

Should I Shower Now Or Not

I was, no doubt, in need of a shower. I had hoped to have had one yesterday and that didn’t happen, so most certainly,  I needed and wanted a shower today.  As I was preparing to get in the shower, my daughter sent me a text message that she was heading off-campus for lunch. I worry when she is out driving. I want to be accessible to my children in the event that they need me in an emergency situation, so I was debating whether to shower then or wait till my daughter returned back to the school.

There are so many things that consume my mind with worry regarding my kids.  It is not unusual for me to put off doing what I need to do for myself when I’m concerned about their well-being.  I considered the unused time delaying what I could do for myself if I waited 20 to 30 minutes in limbo until I heard word that she had made it back to school.  As I contemplated and offered a simple prayer to know if I should shower now or not, I felt impressed to shower and take care of myself and everything would be ok.  I felt comforted and a peace of mind.

I am grateful today that a prayer I had in my heart asking Heavenly Father a question, “should I shower now or not”, I felt impressed to go ahead, shower, and everything would be ok.  In fact, everything was ok. It may seem small and silly, yet Heavenly Father knew it mattered to me and an answer right then and there was a blessing.

Have you ever been consumed with worry, so much so, that your taking care of yourself is halted for a time? What have you done to work through your worry and still care for yourself?

tendermercym♥ments~jld