One More, Then That Will Be All

I can’t remember which kid it was, but that was their famous line so they could talk me into one more cookie. I thought it applies here because I’ve been on a "miracle” kick. But I had another one happen yesterday that I’m so tempted to share. I know, maybe I’ll disguise it by calling it a “tender mercy” or a “merry musing” as Sarah suggested (love it). But whatever you call it, it definitely fits the theme of my recent posts. So if you just can’t take another one, leave now. Here it comes; can’t say I didn’t warn you! This happens every January. I have to “fly blind” for a few weeks at the start of every year in my music chairman/ choir director callings. I carefully and prayerfully select the music for sacrament meetings, based on subjects for talks assigned by the bishopric, but it always takes the bishopric awhile to get me the subjects for the sacrament meetings for the new year. So, I have to just close my eyes and point at a song, and hope it works out because we have to begin our rehearsals. Ready or not . . . Yesterday, it did work out beautifully. It made me realize (again) someone else is in charge. I looked at mounds of music and prayerfully decided on “Dearest Children, God is Near You.” I have a pretty arrangement and felt really good about it, so we started rehearsing. I emailed the bishopric and humbly and subtly suggested that they could build the theme around that hymn, but then found out that the high council was coming that day. They usually come on the third Sunday, but for some reason it was switched to the fourth this month. After the choir sang beautifully, the high councilor stood and thanked us. He said that the hymn reminded him of a special experience he had as a missionary many years ago. He had a young man committed to baptism and everything was arranged. But in the last meeting before his baptism, the young man told them he wasn’t going to do it. He said his wife was angry about it all and he just couldn’t do it. They got out the hymnbook and, talk about close your eyes and point, they opened the hymnbook and started singing. Guess what hymn? He said he didn’t think he’d even ever sung it before, but they sang it perfectly – every note on key. A sweet spirit filled the room. When they finished the young man was crying and told them he would be baptized. A few weeks later, his wife was baptized, as well. That sweet story led perfectly into his talk which was based on Elder Andersen’s talk of last conference on “You Know Enough” which was basically that we don’t have to know everything- just that God is near, and He loves us. Having had a copy of the talk he would give, I couldn’t have chosen a better song. It was perfect. I don’t know if anyone else but he and I noticed, but I was indeed humbled and grateful. So whatever you call it- a cookie’s a cookie. And, much like the kid with the cookie, one more probably won’t be all. Sorry, I’m out of control. Somebody stop me!!!!!