The King and I

 I was lying in bed, communing with God in a Tevya-like manner, when I heard this horrible screech.  Not a pleasant thing to be interrupted by.  E came tearing down the stairs and into my room.  She told me of her injuries because of fighting, and in my sleep-dazed state all I wanted to do was yell at her to go upstairs and get ready for school, like she should have been, instead of fighting so that she never would have gotten in her sibling battle in the first place.  Then it dawned on me--King David.  Instead of yelling, I hugged her and told her the story of the righteous young David who slew Goliath and was chosen to be King because of his righteousness.  Then I told her how he stopped making good choices, like praying and reading his scriptures, which lead to other bad choices until he committed murder.  She said, "How does that relate to B throwing a can of OJ at me?"  I guess we both were a little slow this morning.  I brought it home that she needed to be praying and reading her scriptures, i.e. making good choices, and doing what she is supposed to do when she is supposed to do it so that she isn't confronted with a situation that she does not have the strength to overcome, i.e. Bathsheba.

 It dawned on me that King David and I have something in common.  No, not adultery and murder, but a very spiritually strong youth where I new God had a very important plan for me, then a complacent period in my faith.  I have not been confronted with my personal Bathsheba yet, but I have not been fortifying my life with consistent and sincere prayer mingled with scripture study.  I now realize that is why I am so unsettled in my spirit and am having a difficult time being in my thirties.  King David's life changed drastically, shepherd boy into king, as has mine, single brainiac into stay-at-home mom.  But, he left the most important things of his youth by the wayside on his journey of life.  

 May I not continue to follow his example, but chose to follow another's:  Nephi.  He was stalwart in his faith, even after reaching the Americas.  His faith was polished into a fine gem by the swirling sands of the desert and his spirit was refined by the fiery noon day sun.  He allowed his life and the trials that come along to strengthen his character and solidify his trust in God.  He knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that that faith and righteousness in Jesus Christ is the only way.  I know this, as well, in my mind; may I also be able to struggle through my personal mists of darkness, that befall everyone, and come out refined and pure so that my spirit may again know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus is our Savior.  


P.S.  Last day to order your Bountiful Basket local ladies.  If you want me to pick yours up, let me know.