I Don't Need Any Help!

My youngest son is extremely independent.  He potty-trained himself.  He taught himself to read.   He taught himself to ride his bike without training wheels.  He even memorized the Gettysburg Address in it's entirety without my help - while in kindergarten.  "I don't need any help!"  How often I have heard that phrase! I love this picture of him, and just noticed that it's a good illustration of his little independent personality.  If you look closely, you can see that his shirt is on inside out - he didn't need any help!!  He could get dressed on his own.   I had a small victory a few months ago when I was able to teach him how to tie his shoes.  He almost got it all by himself, but not quite.  "Mom!  You finally got to teach him something!", said one of my girls.  I'll have to admit, I was reveling a bit in the fact that he needed me.

While independence is mostly a good trait, it can also be a hindrance to our growth.  If we are constantly, like my son, trying to do everything on our own, we will never succeed.  Thankfully, we have a loving Heavenly Father who is always there, ready for us to ask for his help.  He has given us the tools that we need, if only we will use them.

...Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 32:3)

There have been countless times that I have had a question or concern and turned to the scriptures to find my answer.  Sometimes, it's just been as simple as opening the scriptures and reading whatever happens to be on that page.  Other times, I've really had to search and ponder and pray.

This chapter that I read today (2 Nephi 32), is a very short chapter, yet one of my favorites.  Nephi is finishing his preaching about Isaiah and the coming of Christ and many other things.  He can tell that the people are still unsure about what he's saying.  I can almost feel the frustration in Nephi - knowing that he has told them everything he can tell them, and explained it all and they still don't understand or maybe even believe what he has said.

And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be. (2Nephi 32:7)

Nephi feels as if he's given all the information he can, as plainly as he can.  He doesn't know what else he can say, and knows that it is up to each individual to figure it out for himself.  I sort of know how he feels.  There are certain times when I'm talking to the kids that I feel as if I'm talking to a rock.  And I know that my parents felt the same way.  It's just an inevitable part of teaching, I think.  What Nephi was saying, and what all parents try to convey, is that our kids (and we) are never truly alone.

...For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; (2 Nephi 32: 8)

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; (2 Nephi 32:9)

As a mom, I can only imagine the heartache and frustration that our Heavenly Father feels when he sees one of His children trying to go it alone. "I don't need any help!"  Potty-training and bike riding and shoe-tying are altogether different than the problems that my little boy will face as he grows into adulthood.  He will need help.  He'll need to rely on his Father in Heaven.  I hope that I can teach him in "plainness, even as plain as word can be", that he has the tools at his disposal - scripture and prayer - so that when he faces hardship or uncertainty he will turn to the Lord. 

Click here to read what I read today!