A few weeks ago our sweet friend Shalyse Olson posted on Instagram that her little boy Van was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In the days and weeks following, she has been very transparent with their gratitude for the miracles they have seen and also with the challenges they face as they adapt to a new lifestyle that comes with a type 1 diabetes child.
For several days I felt strongly that I needed to reach out to her above and beyond just commenting and messaging on social media. The first thing I did was add their names to the prayer roll in the Sacramento Temple on my next visit. Next I knew I wanted to send their family a little care package to show them they are loved and thought of.
I know it sounds so silly but for whatever reason the care package was really overwhelming me. A few months back I had taken a small package to the post office and the lady working the counter had been obliged to tell me everything that I had done wrong - from packaging it in the wrong box to placing the address in the wrong location. I left thinking "well I'm sure glad I don't send packages often because that was a pain!" So as I collected items at the store for the Olson's care package this was on the back of my mind. I knew I wanted and needed to send this package but I wasn't sure just exactly how to go about it.
As I was headed up to the checkout line I just happened to run into a friend, Jeannette Palmer. I stopped and said hello and then a light bulb went off in my head right then and there. Jeannette has a daughter on a mission; SHE will know how to send a package! I explained my situation to her and and she immediately swooped in and rescued me! She invited me to her house right then and there. She had boxes of every size stocked up in her garage ready to go and quickly created a packing slip and arrange for a porch pick up for me the next day and showed me how easy it was to do online for next time! This thing that I was just SURE would take me hours at the post office was done!
I KNOW I would have figured it out eventually and that in the grand scheme of things, sending a package in the mail is a small problem, nevertheless I knew that Heavenly Father was aware of me and involved in the details of my life. I also knew that I was following a prompting to minister to this family and that Heavenly Father was helping me to complete the task that He himself wanted me to complete. I know that He put a faithful sister in my path that was willing to minister to me as well.
I can gladly report that the package has been boxed up and sent. As I reflect on the experience, of course I hope that receiving a package in the mail brings joy to the Olson family however I am also very grateful for what I have received from the experience as well. I have been blessed with the opportunity to see Heavenly Father's hand in my life. Also in my pondering I see that Heavenly Father works the same today as he did in the past with those that desire to follow him. My patriarchal blessing tells me to "liken the scriptures to your life". This experience makes me think of Nephi.
Nephi, on a MUCH larger scale, also struggled with knowing just exactly how to carry out a task that he needed to do as well - retrieving the Brass Palates from wicked King Laban. Nephi was unsure how to complete the task but he trusted Heavenly Father.
1 Nephi 3:7 "... I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them"
Nephi suffered setbacks and great challenges yet continued to trust Heavenly Father even after his brothers wanted to give up. As Nephi persevered in his commitment to carryout the commandment that he was given, Heavenly Father (in his time) provided a way.
I am not brave or powerful like Nephi. I have never been commanded to risk my life to keep the commandments like Nephi was, but as I strive to be like him and trust my Heavenly Father I will gain the confidence I need to act on promptings and do the will of the Lord. I trust that he will continue to walk me thru the tasks that he needs me to do and put people in my path that will assist in the work as well. I know that there is not a task too large or too small for Heavenly Father to help us with. I also know that often it is the small gestures that we could brush aside as "insignificant" that can make a lasting impact.
