Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

I'm not going to sugarcoat things, or make them seem less than they are. When I say I'm a worrier, I mean it entirely, and it is so debilitating.

That isn't to say I always worry, though. There comes to me, throughout my life, experiences that strengthen me, ease my mind, and give me guidance for the future. I had one of those experiences today, and however small it might seem, it helped me so much.

The experience was, quite simply, finally remembering to watch a talk given by a leader of my church some weeks ago, at a time when I was actually ABLE to watch it. I knew I wanted to, but I didn't know what the talk contained, and I think it no small coincidence that it was today that I watched it, when I've been oh so worried.

The talk is called "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, and can be found here in text form, and here in video form.

Although everything he said seemed to apply to me and the trials I experience daily, one thing in particular stood out in relation to my fears that I will miscarry this miracle baby I've been blessed with. Here is the quote:

I was impressed by something a senior officer said to the group as they began the final and most demanding phase of their training.

“First of all,” he said, “I do not want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Whenever you’re hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day. Then, if you’re still feeling bad, think about it long and hard before you decide to quit. Second, take it one day at a time. One [phase] at a time.

“Don’t let your thoughts run away with you, don’t start planning to bail out because you’re worried about the future and how much you can take. Don’t look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day, and there’s a wonderful career ahead of you.”1

Generally it is good to try to anticipate what is coming and prepare to deal with it. At times, however, this captain’s counsel is wise: “Take it one day at a time. … Don’t look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day.” To worry about what is or may be coming can be debilitating. It can paralyze us and make us quit.

In the 1950s my mother survived radical cancer surgery, but difficult as that was, the surgery was followed with dozens of painful radiation treatments in what would now be considered rather primitive medical conditions. She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since: “I was so sick and weak, and I said to her one day, ‘Oh, Mother, I can’t stand having 16 more of those treatments.’ She said, ‘Can you go today?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, honey, that’s all you have to do today.’ It has helped me many times when I remember to take one day or one thing at a time.”

The Spirit can guide us when to look ahead and when we should just deal with this one day, with this one moment. If we ask, the Lord will let us know through the Holy Ghost when it may be appropriate for us to apply in our lives the commandment He gave His ancient Apostles: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof” (3 Nephi 13:34; see also Matthew 6:34).

Not surprisingly, this is exactly what I needed to hear. It was the sentiment that I was trying so hard in my last post to express, the conviction that I needed to have for myself, the strength I was trying to muster. I need to forget that the future might be grim. I need to conquer these fears and be thankful today, get through today, and then I can take on tomorrow.

It helped me so much to read this, and I know it came to me at exactly the time I needed to hear it. How grateful I am for experiences like these that help me to know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is truly watching over me and my little family.