Tantrum Thoughts

Sunday       February 12, 1995                       Lark is 2 1/2 years old.

Dear Lark,

I am nursing you as I write this.  You have not been feeling well for the past several hours.

One evening last week you had nursed yourself to sleep in our bed.  Daddy had moved you to your bed and you woke up.  You were very upset about being moved.  But if we came and got you we would be rewarding your tantrum.  So we lay and listened to you cry in your bed.  Finally you got out of your bed and then continued your fit in our doorway.  I was waiting for you to come to me on your own.  Finally Daddy called you and you crawled back in with us.

I was thinking how at some future day you might find yourself in a situation that was making you unhappy.  You might be a bit unclear as to how you happened to be in that situation -- or you might know.  You might "throw a spiritual tantrum."  But you must remember that sometimes Heavenly Father waits for us to come to Him.  He may call in some way (like Daddy did) through the scriptures or a prophet or a person.  But you must draw near to Him yourself to be comforted and helped.

You are watching me write this and I wonder if someday an older you will be helped by this experience and insight.

You can be very loving and I enjoy holding you.  I enjoy your laugh -- your glee.

Love, Mom

Sunday    November 21, 2010           Lark is 18 years old.

Dear Lark,

You have been such a strength to me through the years.  It is funny that I wrote that little message to you when you were just two.  In fact it has been ME, not you, who has had the spiritual tantrums.  Well, to be honest, I've had many tantrums of all sorts.  And I have had to call on the Lord to help me.  You have often reminded me to do this.  You are all sweetness and light to me.  The Lord has figuratively taken me into his arms and comforted me, instructed me, guided me, forgiven me, healed me, and loved me.