Kickin' Pricks

I'm really good at resisting direction from Heavenly Father, especially when I've already made up my mind that things are going to work out a certain way. . . It's amazing how miserable I can make myself by insisting that things have to work out a certain way.

When I was a young woman, my dad introduced me to the scriptural reference of "kicking against the pricks" (See Acts 9:5 or 26:14). Apparently Saul was also good at resisting instruction/direction. When the Lord greeted him he asked Saul why he would kick against the pricks. This reference was made to the not-so-helpful behavior of cattle or oxen who, when directed with a prod, resisted the direction by kicking back against the prick. The irony of doing so is that, in the end, the only one who ends up hurt is the person doing the kicking.

I seem to kick a lot. I might even call it pride.

A couple of weeks ago, I was sooooo stressed that I started to pray to ask Heavenly Father for help to deal with my stress. I'm sure He sent some subtle hints first, but I'm also sure I didn't listen. So this is what I planned for my week:

The picture is sideways and I cannot figure out how to rotate it but you get the idea. I had a lot to do and was pretty sure it was going to be a miserable week. I hadn't made much room for changes in plans or miracles. Also, I was starting to show some signs of unhealthiness related to the stress.

So here was Heavenly Father's response...

Six days of sleeping 20-23 hours/day, an urgent care visit, an ENT visit, and the worst sinus infection I've ever had later.... I was well-rested, and my stress levels had dropped to just about zero.

And, as an added bonus, there were tender mercies sent (only those photograph-able are captured below). Many texts, calls, and prayers were made in Jake's and my behalf in addition to soup and dessert from the Hancocks, dinner from the Dickeys, and homemade wheat bread from Judy Wolgamot. Needless to say, we felt very very loved.

After sleeping for six straight days, I went back to work for the first time on my birthday. It was a simple day but will be one of my most treasured days because I had a renewed appreciation (not perfect, but better than before) of the beauty of the simple blessings in life - health, family, friendship, and the Atonement.

Looking forward to a lifetime of Heavenly Father continuing to teach me these lessons.