The Balm of Gilead

As I sit here at work eating my turkey sandwich, I can hear my boss streaming General Conference over the Internet. It has become his ritual to listen to different talks throughout the day. It has brought much comfort and solace to my troubled soul. As I bowed my head to thank my Heavenly Father for one of the messages I realized that I have been praying about a 100 times a day lately. I know that we are to pray morning, noon and night but when things aren't going well I am guilty of praying more than aunt Katrina, if you can believe that! When I was a little girl I used to stay with her all the time. When we all loaded up to go somewhere one of us 11 younguns, without fail, would have lost something, usually me or Jed, and it was usually some piece of clothing that we needed to be wearing. She would always say a prayer and then go to looking for it. I can't count how many pairs of shoes, ponytail holders, shirts, belts, and purses were prayed over in the doorway of the old trailer they lived in or even in the front seat of the old prison van she used to drive. I am so grateful for that example. I have learned a lot of lessons over the years but none are quite as strong as the ones that I have been taught by example. Same thing with Aunt Randy. When Trey was having Dylan and we were all in hospital. Dylan struggled for a good little while and we were all so scared. Every single one of us was praying our little Doodle Loop through. Now almost 4 years later I can still remember the quiet hospital hallway lined with my family, every head was bowed, ever single set of eyes closed and ever pair of arms folded so tight our hands were white, in humble prayer that we could get to keep our little Dylan, and miracle of miracles we did. Another strong example of prayer in my life is from my mama. She seems to always have the inner confidence and quite calm that I often long for. When Elijah got his eye hurt I can remember many different times when we said family prayer that she would pray for him to be healed or to at least be given the strength to endure his trial well. I was always so impressed with her calm assurance that whatever came out of any given bad situation would be the Lord's will and that our task was to accept it and make the best of it. I can also remember her always saying, "Well the Lord will just provide." Her faith and constant prayers to accept the will of the Lord in our lives has been a huge building block for me throughout my life. At family parties we always eat. We enjoy our southern roots and part of that has always been, and will always be good fixins. But the thing that I remember the most is always grandpa's prayers before we dig in. He prays for those of us that are there, those that are not, those that are serving missions, or just married, or having babies, or having hard times. He never forgets to express his deep gratitude for all of us, as wild and crazy and imperfect as we sometimes are. As a missionary in the rice fields of the Philippines I can remember feeling those prayers and the strength and courage that I knew were coming from those back home praying for me. Enough courage and strength to take one more step, talk to one more of Heavenly Father's children, and do just a little bit more before my time was up. The prayers for those in my family that struggle have never ceased either. Whether it was divorce, loss of a spouse, a baby, a job, a testimony, a love, a physical illness, or a spiritual one, it all gets wrapped up in a prayer somewhere. My life lately has given me great cause to seek the refuge of the temple and the peace that comes from within those walls. As I sat in the chapel yesterday the organists was playing hymns and one that he picked was 'Did You Think To Pray' (LDS Hymnbook, Hymn 140). It reads: 1. Ere you left your room this morning, Did you think to pray? In the name of Christ, our Savior, Did you sue for loving favor As a shield today? [Chorus]Oh, how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day. So, when life gets dark and dreary, Don’t forget to pray. 2. When your heart was filled with anger, Did you think to pray? Did you plead for grace, my brother, That you might forgive another Who had crossed your way? 3. When sore trials came upon you, Did you think to pray? When your soul was full of sorrow, Balm of Gilead did you borrow At the gates of day? Text: Mary A. Pepper Kidder, 1820–1905 Music: William O. Perkins, 1831–1902 Elder Boyd K. Packer said, "The Bible records that in ancient times there came from Gilead, beyond the Jordan, a substance used to heal and soothe. It came, perhaps, from a tree or shrub, and was a major commodity of trade in the ancient world. It was known as the Balm of Gilead. That name became symbolic for the power to soothe and heal." (New Era, August 1979). The hymn recognizes prayer as one of those balms from the land of Gilead. I would also suggest that temple worship, good music, scripture study, service, and a strong family support are wonderful forms of this healing balm. My favorite thing about the 'balm of Gilead' is that it is not a balm for our mortal bodies, but one for our souls. It can and will soothe the burns of abuse, mend the broken heart, and comfort the weary soul. My Heavenly Father will always be here for me, as long as I let him. He has given me His balm. The knowledge of His son and the sacrifice that He made for me. I know that when sore trials come up me I need look no further to my Savior, the eternal source of my very own kind of balm, to heal my broken heart, soothe away the pains of life, and give me the strength to continue again. It can not be bought or sold. It is always available to me if I but seek it. My heart, when in the middle of pain and overcome with despair, often times has cried, with Jeremiah of the Old Testament, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" and just as often, after I have turned to my Savior, I received the blessed answer from my loving Heavenly Father as did Joshua in olden times, "5.There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6. Be strong and of a good courage....." (Joshua 1:5-6). He lives. He is my Redeemer and the Savior of the World. As I choose to use the balm that has so liberally been given me, I will be healed, as will you. I have an usually large family that are always teaching me and have become one of my favorite sources of healing and comfort. This picture shows some of the best Balm that Heavenly Father has blessed me with. LtoR: Mama, Aunt Katrina, Aunt Randy, Little Randall, Grandma and Grandpa