Small miracles

Dear family,

Today was a good day. I hope you enjoyed it. I also hope Nathaniel and I can go to sleep soon!

Love,

Dad

Wednesday, July 14, 2021
9:37 pm

Had a good couple of days. Yesterday I had a good meeting with a vendor that provides loan protection products. Stacy joined the discussion, and I think she was sold on the ideas. I'm glad for that. Things go so much better when we are all in alignment on what needs to happen and why. In the evening I had an interview with a family with needs. It is a blessing to be able to help with some Church resources.

Today was a productive day. Before I got to work I identified two main priorities that I wanted to accomplish. I completed one and made good progress on the second. Tonight I didn't have to go anywhere, which was really nice. I helped bathe kids and have a little journal time.

I recently had an impression regarding my service to the Lord. As a Bishop, I represent the Lord in certain circumstances. I am a common judge in Israel and also have responsibility to extend callings. And yet sometimes I feel like I am just doing my best, trying not to make a mess of the Lord's work. As I was wondering how I could possibly "get it right," the thought came to me that the Lord sustains His Bishops not because we do everything exactly as He would have done them, but because we are doing our best. When a decision is critical and has one right answer, I believe He guides more clearly with the Holy Ghost. And in cases where there are several acceptable alternatives, He steps back a little more and leaves us to our own resources. He will sustain whichever good enough decision we make. I didn't put that into words very well, but it was a comforting thought.

This evening I reread some of my journal entries from last March as the world lurched into COVID lockdown. What a crazy experience. I'm grateful I wrote in my journal consistently.

One other quick experience. Sunday as I was getting ready for bed I noticed I was getting a sore throat. I have two employees out this week and really can't afford to miss work. As I offered my evening prayers, I felt impressed to pray specifically that my sore throat would be gone tomorrow. Unusual, but distinct, so that is what I prayed for. Monday when I woke up, my throat was still sore. Bummer. I wore a mask all day at work to try to avoid spreading whatever was making me feel sick. That night as I finished writing in my journal I suddenly noticed that my sore throat had "turned off." It wasn't a gradual improvement… it was sore and then 85% better in an instant. I immediately thought of my prayer the night before. The timing was different than I had assumed, but the prayer that I had been guided to offer was literally answered.

More later…

Spencer's bagpipe performance and audience... (and an ugly lawn. With the drought this year, the theme is "yellow is the new green." and "survive, not thrive." Blech.)