Continuing from a previous post the book, “On Earth as it is in Heaven” Patricia T. Holland (deceased) wrote:
It is in response to these very modern challenges that God comes to us as “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” What a reassurance and reward just to know that such all-encompassing help is available to us in our anxious times. No wonder we lovingly call him Father.
But do we really picture an actual Father when we pray? Do we think of him — do we truly think of Him—as our Father? Do we spend any time on our knees trying to picture the being to whom we pray? May I suggest a process that works for me? I don’t mean it to be a ritual for anyone, just encouragement.
Find a private place and kneel comfortably and calmly in the center of the room. For a few moments say nothing, just think of him. Just kneel there and feel the closeness of his presence, his warmth, his peace. With humility, express your gratitude for every blessing, every good thing that you enjoy. Share with him your problems and fears. Talk to him about each one and pause long enough to receive his counsel. I promise you that you will learn his shoulders are broad enough for your burdens.
However, rolling our entire bundle of burdens onto his shoulders is not a simple matter; it requires a majestic leap of faith. Sometimes when we are the loneliest or when we feel the greatest hurt is precisely the time when we feel God is not there, the very time we feel utterly abandoned by him and by others. But such willingness to trust that he will comfort us, especially in difficult times — that he will comfort us, such willingness to make that leap of faith toward his embrace when we are least certain of his presence, could well be the most monumental single step of our lives. When we hand our fears and frustrations to him in absolute confidence that he will help us to resolve them, when in this way we free our heart and mind and soul of anxiety, we find in a rather miraculous way that he can instill within us a whole new perspective. He can fill us with “that Joy which is unspeakable and full of glory” (Helaman 5:44), even in the midst of our anguish. It is significant to me that this promise of joy that is unspeakable and full of glory came to the brothers Nephi and Lehi, the sons of Helaman, in a terrible moment of trouble. They were in prison, facing oppressive opposition for their work.Yet it was there, amidst such obstacles, that “the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts and they were filled as with fire.” Then, we read, a voice came to them, a pleasant voice, that said: “Peace, peace be unto you because of your faith.” (Helaman 5:45-47.) pg. 37-38,
I had a childhood experience involving fire and fear and faith. I learned something of God’s miraculous gifts and power at the very tender age nine. Having spent most of my childhood joyfully competing with with two older and three younger brothers, I was somewhat of a tomboy at that age. Riding horses, milking cows, shooting marbles, hunting jack rabbits, and, depending on the season, ice skating or swimming in Holt’s pond—These were my favorite ideas for family fun. This all took place, of course, in the humble little hamlet of Enterprise, Utah, an entire community of faith—founded and settled by my great-grandfather.
My heritage was richly steeped in stories of early Mormon courage so my cousin and I when we weren’t acting like boys, spent most of our time together pretending we were great pioneer women. One day after school, we road our horses to the top of the hill above Andy P. Windsor’s farm. There, with great imagination and all the authentic ingredients in hand — one can of beans, two pork chops, two potatoes. two flint stones, a small box of matches, (as back up to the flint stones) and a dutch oven—we made preparations for “cooking our grub.” . . . . . “On Earth as it is in Heaven” ~~~ Patricia T. Holland p. 37-38 (continued)
