Following Promptings

Sometimes, a miracle isn't noticing what happened, but what didn't happen.

I decided for my 30th birthday, that I would live closer to the teachings of Christ. I'll spare the details and write the "jist" of it. (And, since I already wrote one of the stories about avoiding the flu, I can just write the second story!)

To start it off, I designated two weeks straight to inviting the promptings of the Spirit more, with no distractions of tv; to focus on the Lord's will for me this year. (I tend to have my own plans, then come back to where I'm really supposed to be, and it turns out a lot easier to just stay where I was meant to be.)  I can't believe how hard it is to not get distracted by things around me, but in spite of all my distractions, I did follow a few promptings that I'd received.


The clearest promptings I have received in the past two weeks have protected me from the flu (two of our neighbors, one up the street and one down the street had the flu) and strep. It was just from a feeling I had to not go out for ice cream for my birthday, and to not go out to eat.

Not going to out to eat saved our family from Strep. I had a feeling not to go, about an hour before we needed to be out the door. Since we'd already made the plans to go, and I'd already cancelled on her last week, I kept pushing it aside. A series of events happened so that it ended up being too late to go out to eat. My 6 year old broke some decorations in the living room by throwing a pillow, so I had to vacuum up all the glass. I had a last-minute wardrobe change for me and my 4 month old, due to spit-up, and my 3 year old just couldn't seem to find his shoes. I ended up cancelling because we just didn't have enough time to eat and play before bedtime.

I later found out, Julie's little boy (that my boys would've been playing with) had strep that same evening on Wednesday, and I or my kids would've ended up with it.  We had plans to go out of town on Friday to go see my siblings and their families. I would've either had to cancel my trip out to see them, or I would've brought sick kids out there to share with all the cousins! (Vacations with sick kids are no fun.  I think everyone knows that!) Because I listened to the prompting, we were healthy and happy, and had a great time on our trip. What a blessing it was to have that prompting, and to listen.

I avoided the flu and strep. I can't imagine how much easier my life would be if I always kept the Lord's spirit with me, and listened to promptings always.

If you Listen, Life will get Easier

I have received several promptings in the past two weeks- most of which I have forgotten.  But, I will share one that I most definitely recall!

Last Thursday a friend invited me to go out to ice cream with her. It sounded fun, I had had a long day, and it really would've been nice to get out.

I went home, got my kids (and husband) settled, and got ready to go out the door.  I had a feeling that I shouldn't go out, I should just stay home.  I didn't think much of it, brushed it off, and thought "I deserve this, it's been a long day, and I'm going to go. It's not a big deal."

I continued to get ready, find my keys, and turned a show on for my youngest. (He wasn't "settling down" as much as Dad would've liked, for me to be able to go out, so this was my solution.)

Again the thought came.  Again, I brushed it off, thinking if it really was an important prompting, it would come again. I got in the car, with this little bird on my shoulder telling me "don't go."

I drove up to my friend's house, and while in her driveway, I told her, "I'm sorry, but I just have this feeling that we shouldn't go out tonight. I don't know what the reason is, but I'm going to listen."

I'd heard that if you start listening to promptings, more will come, and you'll learn to recognize them.

That was that. There was no earthquake that night. No sirens. No firetrucks, ambulances, or other warning signs. There was no reason to think I'd been saved from grave danger.

The next day, Friday, I auditioned for a choir that I really really wanted to get in to. Saturday morning I found out that I'd made the choir- and rehearsals started straight away that morning. It was so so so wonderful! I feel like that was a little gift from my Heavenly Father, to be able to sing in a choir is one of my greatest joys.

And, that's usually how it is when I listen to promptings. I don't get to find out. Or, weeks later, in hindsight, I can see how it all played out.

This time I was able to see the answer a few days later. We had been out of town starting on Saturday after my rehearsal, to getting back late Sunday night.

Monday I found out that my friend I would've been hanging out with that Thursday had been sick with the flu all weekend. I would not have been able to audition, or if so I would've missed the first rehearsal, and would not have been able to go out of town with my family.

Blessings can be big, or subtle. I am so glad I listened to the prompting to stay home Thursday night. Because I listened, I had a much enjoyable weekend of singing and family, and I avoided the flu!!

Miracles All Around Us

There are miracles that happen all around us.  Sometimes we notice them, sometimes we don't. 

I notice little miracles ALL THE TIME in my life! I want a place to put them in writing, and to recognize that there is a God in Heaven, and angels among us helping us in our day to day lives.

Some of these will seem mundane, or even just a coincidence, but to me they are faith strengthening experiences, letting me know that I am not alone in my endeavors. 

I hope readers will enjoy reading these every day "happenstances", and start to notice little miracles in their lives as well.