"I am a Child of God, and He has sent me here.

Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.

I am a Child of God, and so my needs are great.

Help me to understand his words before it grows to late

I am a Child of God, rich blessings are in store,

If I but learn to do he will, I'll live with him once more.

Lead me, Guide me, Walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do, to live with him some day."

This picture was on our bulletin this past Sunday. When I saw it, I began to cry and I started thinking about the Primary song above. This was the first song I learned, long before I was baptized. And it has come to mean so much more to me, especially during these times of trouble and adversity. This song is about a child singing to they're parent about their need to learn about their Heavenly Father, so that they can reap all the blessings he has in store for those who follow him and do his will. As an adult now for me it's meaning becomes slightly different. I now plead directly to my Savior:
"I am a Child of God, and you have sent me here.
Have given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.
I am a Child of God, and so my needs are great.
Help me to understand your words before it grows to late.
I am a Child of God, rich blessings are in store,
If I but learn to do your will, I'll live with you once more.
Lead me, Guide me, Walk beside me,
Help me find the way
Teach me all that I must do, to live with you someday."
That's why we're here, to learn his will, accept his will. To let him lead me, to let him guide me and to let him walk beside me. Ah "there in lies the rub", as I think Shakespeare said.
It's one thing to say it, it's another thing to do. As mortals we have our agency, and we have the earth and all it's splendor, and all the temptations that go along with it. As Satan tries and tempts us, and as he whispers in our ears we find it ever so hard at times to submit to the Lord's will and what he wants for us. There are words in another song that come to mind. One line in "Come, Come Ye Saints".
"Why should we think to earn a great reward, if we now SHUN THE FIGHT". When we choose to not accept a calling, when we choose to not do our Visiting Teaching, when we choose to not do those things on a daily basis that bring us closer to him. Are we not in a sense, SHUNNING THE FIGHT? We are after all at war. As mortals we face adversity in basically 3 ways:
1. We are mortal and are subject to disease and frailty
2. Everyone else is mortal and imperfect and we suffer sometimes because of what they can do to us.
3. Because we have our agency we often make choices contrary to His will. And we suffer.

As I now battle this disease, I realize that I have no where to turn, but to Him. He is my "buckler and shield". I now that this is His will for me right now, and I feel confident that everything will be okay. What I need to make sure of is that I learn what he wants me to learn, and submit cheerfully. I am thinking of Mosiah 24 : 13 -15:
"And it came to pass that the
voice of the Lord came to them in
their afflictions, saying: Lift up
your heads and be of good comfort,
for I know of the covenant which
ye have made unto me; and I will
covenant with my people and deliver
them out of bondage.
And I will also ease the burdens
which are put upon your
shoulders, that even you cannot feel
them upon your backs, even while
you are in bondage; and this will I
do that ye may stand as witnesses
for me hereafter, and that ye may
know of a surety that I, the Lord
God, do visit my people in their
afflictions.
And now it came to pass that
the burdens which were laid upon
Alma and his brethren were made
light; yea, the Lord did strengthen
them that they could bear up their
burdens with ease, and they did
submit cheerfully and with patience
to all the will of the Lord."

Just some of my thought this day, sorry for the sermon.
Tomorrow I get my port-a-cath inserted, and yes I will get something to help me relax. Yeah!!! Oh, and many thanks to all of you ladies who have called wanting to help get me to my treatments. I can't tell you how grateful I am.