Category: Gratitude

Delayed Flat Tire

One Saturday evening, our daughter attended a Latter-day Saints (LDS) Stake Youth Dance approximately an hour from our home. Although she would be driving out when it was daylight, she would be coming back home when it was dark. As she would be traveling alone, I was concerned about her being by herself if she had car difficulties or a flat tire, staying vigilant and aware of drunk drivers, paying attention and being mindful of her surroundings and her speed.

I was worried. At the same time, my daughter really really wanted the experience of driving the distance on her own. My husband did not feel uneasy or uncomfortable about her going. Through the phone locator app connecting us to our children’s physical location, he shared that if she got a flat tire or had other car troubles, then he would be able to go and assist her.

I considered my personal feelings and fears and whether or not the feelings were strong enough to say no or to give her the opportunity to drive by herself. I set aside my fears and provided my support. I felt confident she would arrive safely to her destination because she was traveling while it was still light, however, I was more concerned about her traveling alone at night and was nervous when I noticed the dark, windy, country path she was on when returning home. I prayed she would be ok and was relieved and grateful when she arrived home safely.

The next morning, I left for church a few minutes ahead of everyone else as I needed to be their 15 minutes earlier and I would be staying longer after church while one of our children attended a meeting. In route to church, I awaited their call when they were heading out to join them over the phone in family prayer. When I arrived at the church, I had not yet received a call that the family had left so I reached out to them and learned that when they came outside, they had noticed that the back rear tire of our daughter’s car was flat. Upon further examination, they saw a nail in the tire causing a slow leak. It was a tender mercy that the experience did not happen while she was driving on the dark country backroads the night before. I was grateful for the huge blessing that the tire did not go completely flat until in our driveway after she was home.

When have you been grateful you or a loved one were in a safe place, out of harm’s way, when car issues occurred?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

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

Sabbath Day

I enjoy and look forward to the Sabbath day. For me, it is a time of rejuvenation and a tender mercy to have an entire day set aside to connect with Heavenly Father in a more deliberate way. Focusing on specific ways of feeling closer to Him and the peace that is felt away from the hustle and bustle of everyday activities. I enjoy attending church, listening to and hearing the messages, feeling the Spirit, receiving answers to prayers and validation of His love and care for me.

I enjoy afternoon naps, taking walks, transcribing my son’s missionary letters and emailing them to friends and family. I enjoy the relaxation of cooking and making a new recipe without a time constraint or need to pick up kids or go to appointments. These are all things that I do on the Sabbath day that is calming and relaxing as well as drawing closer to my Savior and Heavenly Father and feeling of their love for me. What do you do on the Sabbath day?

I love that it is a day of rest, a day that I’m not doing chores and mundane tasks like laundry, grocery shopping, yard work and that I can fully take in with gratitude and appreciation what I have through moments of pondering and absorbing the beauty around me.

Is the Sabbath day a day of rest for you? Is it a day you look forward to each week? When and how have you felt Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love for you?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

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

On Board

Every member of our family—mom, dad, and three children (two teenagers and a pre-pre-teen)—was excited to go on a family camping trip. It was a tender mercy how well everything came together. Every one packed their own bags and participated in giving meal ideas. Everyone was happy and looking forward to a great Spring Break! It was way awesome! The location and the site was incredible! The weather was ideal during the day, not too hot and not too cold. Although the evenings were very cold, we were prepared with necessary blankets and bedding. The meals were yummy! Everyone assisted and helped with setting up camp, taking down camp, preparing the planned meals, working together, and playing together. Although there were a few bumps and squabbles, it was definitely a very pleasant and memorable family trip!

When has your family gone on an outing/trip/vacation where every member was on board, participating in the planning and preparing and happy to go?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Timing Of A Laundered White Shirt

It was a hectic, chaotic Sunday morning rush to get out the door for early morning church. The night before, the white clothes were washed and had been moved to the dryer. On our way out and stopping by the laundry room to pull a shirt from the dryer, it was a tender mercy that right inside, in the front, was the very white shirt I needed.

In that moment, I expressed my appreciation, gratitude, and love to our Heavenly Father. Even in a moment of chaos and when things were hectic, He was mindful and aware of my needs and my desire for our family to arrive to church on time. Such a simple thing and yet huge and very much appreciated.  The gratitude I felt in my heart for a Heavenly Father who blesses me in small and simple ways and acknowledging His hands in my life that morning was truly impactful.

When have you had an experience similar—at crunch time, a blessing “falls in your lap”?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Find a Penny, Pick It Up, All Day Long You’ll Have Good Luck

On a particularly difficult, disappointing day, I was struggling. Needless to say, I was not having a happy day. I continued throughout the day performing the tasks, going through the motions that were necessary, feeling gloomy.

Upon leaving a store, it was a tender mercy I noticed in a parking spot down on the ground a bright, shiny, gold penny. Immediately, as I continued walking forward past the penny the phrase, “find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck” entered my mind. I turned back around to pick it up as a car was pulling in before I could get it. At that point, I smiled. The irony.

I considered, by not picking it up would I forfeit good luck or could I still experience happiness and joy despite my circumstances and disappointment of that day? I reflected on a pill trial in which some participants were given an actual pill, let’s just say Ibuprofen. Other participants were given a placebo pill but were not told that it was a placebo pill. For both groups of participants, their symptoms went away. True, in fact, the medicine, Ibuprofen, worked. Likewise, the placebo pill seemed to work as well. The difference was one was a medicinal relief, the other was a relaxed mind believing in the pill’s effectiveness to relieve the symptoms—pressure, headache, or whatever the symptom may have been.

As I considered this analogy, although I did not have the penny in my hands, I saw the penny, thought of the phrase and that changed my outlook. It changed how I felt. The gloominess I was experiencing was altered not because I picked up the penny, the gold shiny penny, it was the phrase. My mental mindset shifted as I drove away. It was a tender mercy the difference seeing that penny made for me.

Yes, my day began with my feeling discouraged, downtrodden, and disappointed and the penny was a blessing and a tender mercy coming at a time that shifted the way I was feeling. I began to think and feel better. It is those moments of light, coming from a bright and shiny penny, I was grateful for on this particular day.

When has an item or object brightened your day when you were feeling gloomy?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

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

Wake Up Call

As I was taking a much needed nap and was sound asleep, it was a tender mercy that although my alarm clock was set, I awoke 45 minutes earlier than it was scheduled to go off to see a call had just come through from the school nurse regarding one of my children. I was grateful I awoke when I did to call the nurse back and was available for my child who needed me at that time.

Even though, prior to napping, my body was physically tired and I could have slept the duration of the time set, there was a need for me to wake up sooner. I know Heavenly Father was instrumental in my waking up when I did.

When have you “out of the blue” or unexpectedly become more alert and awoken suddenly to be of help to someone else?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Rushed For Time

Due to a spontaneous delay, while one of my children and I were heading to school, there was no time to spare to arrive when the bell was scheduled to ring. Along the way, I was praying we would be able to arrive on time all the while obeying the law. I believe in miracles. It was a tender mercy my prayer was answered when we pulled up and my son entered the classroom just as attendance was being called. It was convenient and a huge blessing that his portable classroom was beside a parent/teacher parking lot and I was able to drop him off feet from his classroom door.

There are moments of unexpected, unplanned delays. Those things that matter to us also matter to Him, our Heavenly Father. As we seek Him through prayer with real intent and our will is aligned with His will, we are blessed. Miracles do happen.

Along the same lines,  I have experienced leaving for church with just the right amount of time needed to get from my house to the church to arrive promptly, barring no delays and maintaining the speed limit. My desire to leave early is thwarted at times, and instead I find myself running later than planned. Wanting to be on time, I pray for that desired outcome and it is a tender mercy when every light along the way is green. In the hustle and bustle, my heart was in the right place and I was blessed.

I recognize that there are those times that my desires do not align with His will because Heavenly Father has a different plan for me.

I recall a story I heard of when a classroom of college students went to take their final exam. They entered the room where they supposed their test would be given. On the chalkboard was a message with information to a new location. As the students scurried across campus to get to the test site on time, many were unaware of opportunities along the way to help and assist others. Unbeknownst to them, this was their test, to which they became aware of when they arrived at the new testing location. I have come to learn that there are delays that have a purpose and a reason and there are those that are unexpected such as traffic and construction. It is in those moments I contemplate how I can best manage those things outside of my control. I am grateful for those moments when I am in a hurry and I have been blessed to arrive at my destination on time. I am also grateful for the recognition and acknowledgment of those times when delayed, blessings were present then also, unseen in the moment, but felt and known, sometimes as a protection from potential danger.

What experiences have you had when you have been rushed for time and running late with a desire to be on time? In the end, were you on time? Did you recognize Heavenly Father’s help in blessing you with arriving on time? Maybe you had a flat tire, and someone stopped to help? Or, you were familiar with a faster path when your original path was under construction or blocked due to an accident? If you did not make it on time, what did you learn and recognize along the way?

tendermercym♥ments~jld

Interruption Conflict

Have you ever been concerned about being interrupted when you are about to do something important and disruptions and distractions are not wanted or welcomed? You desire quiet focus or alone time. Maybe it is when you are going to the bathroom, dialoging with a friend or family member, making a business call, trying to remember an important detail like someone’s name before you introduce yourself to them, counting out change, measuring out ingredients for a recipe like cookies, bread, etc.

I had a moment like this recently, and these moments happen often. As a mother, wife, sister, and friend, I feel pulled in different directions and conflicted by this pull at times.

On a particular occasion, I was concerned prior to a conference call that a family member would reach out midway during the call. I was planning ahead and debating what to do if that happened. Do I remain on the conference call and not respond to the family member until after the call (text message “sorry, I can’t talk right now”) or be interrupted and take their call?

As the conference call began and prior to the main points of the day being addressed, during the hello and welcome, it was a tender mercy that it was then the family member reached out. I was extremely grateful that their call, to which I accepted, came in the beginning and lasted only a few minutes and I was able to get back on the conference call and not miss any of the important points that were brought up.

It was a tender mercy when a concern I had was resolved in a way that I was able to speak with the family member and also attend to the conference call. Both needs were met. A win win!

When have you experienced a similar win win moment?

tendermercym♥ments~jld