Hello Friends!!! Me again! Happy New Year! Oh how I have missed you!! I‘m sorry it has been so long! I took a brief hiatus to take care of my two kids and take care of myself, but I am hoping to be back to writing more regularly. A quick update, Baby girl is doing great. 
She is in preschool and loving every second! Lil Brother is also doing great. He is getting bigger (and busier) by the second. He definitely keeps me on my toes!! While things are going great now, we started off the new year on a sickly foot. In fact before that we got sick in November and every week after that we were sick until after the first of the year. It was rough! We are all better now thank goodness. But I had a great learning experience while I was sick and I would like to share that with you today.
Facebook. A blessing and a curse.
Facebook is a blessing because for someone who lives far from family and friends, I can keep in touch and see how everyone is doing. It’s a curse because well, things aren’t always as they seem. It seems that we only tend to put the positive things on social media but none of the bad. Why, I’m not sure, but while it’s fun to see the good things, I think it creates a false notion that everybody’s lives are perfect. Well, I am going to be real. If I could write my status right now it would say, “I am sick with a cold. Very sick. I cannot take care of my two kids by myself and I need help.” While brother is screaming and refusing naps and lunch, and baby girl is upset because I won’t let her have crackers for lunch, (worst mom ever, I know!)
I sat in a corner and cried because I felt so defeated. I especially felt defeated because we are going on two months of back to back illnesses and it’s even harder when mom is the one who is sick. I have no family nearby, and I do have awesome visiting teachers but don’t want to burden them. So instead, I just cried and felt so alone. As I cried I pleaded to my Heavenly Father asking for strength when I felt a tiny impression and I knew what I needed to do. I did one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I wiped up the tears and called my sweet friend and neighbor and asked for help.
Angels among us
This caused me to think about why it is so hard for us moms to ask for help. I think it’s because we see those Facebook posts and think that everyone else has it together and if we don’t, we feel like a failure. I know I have felt that way a time or two. I realized a few things this past week. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness nor does it make me less of a mother. If anything it makes me stronger, and more humble. The fact is if we listen to the prophets and apostles, they continually
teach us to ask for help. We are guided to ask our Heavenly Father, our friends, our family, and our fellow man; Our angels. One of my absolute favorite talks is one given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland called ‘The Ministry of Angels’. He says this about angels,
“Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.” (Jeffery R. Holland, The Ministry of Angels, General Conference October 2008)
How different would our world be if we thought of each other as angels, and not competition? Angels are meant to uplift, serve, and help. Christ atoned for us so he could bear our burdens, and I believe while Christ can bear them for us, angels can help lift them. Along with that, the scriptures teach in Mosiah 18.
8. And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
Bearing one another’s burdens
I actually think I do a good job at serving my fellow man, at least I try to. But today’s article actually isn’t about us bearing another’s burdens. It’s about letting others bear ours and that’s something I need to work on.
Today I reached out, and I let someone bear my burdens and guess what? She didn’t think twice about it. She was over to my house in a heartbeat. I let go of the fears of judgement of my messy house and lack of make up and let her comfort me. When I opened the door to let her in, I burst in to tears and she held me boogers and all, and I instantly felt calm and at peace. I truly felt my burden was lifted.
Motherhood isn’t always about flowers and bows. There are a lot of “Facebook” moments such as family trips, dance recitals, soccer games, and that’s what life should be but there is opposition in all things and some day’s just plain suck. Being so sick you can’t take care of your kids is on that list! A wise friend once told me, “ It’s ok to call defeat, that’s when all the blessings pour in.” How true that is! She fed my kids, cleaned my kitchen and sent me to bed to rest.
My Young Mormon Family
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The next day another friend found out I was sick and brought over dinner and slowly, I started recuperating. In this mini trial, I learned if I allow myself to ask for help I can get to know some beautiful angels. I am reminded Heavenly Father will never forsake me. If we could learn to let go of feelings of defeat, weakness, control, pride, or whatever else is holding you back, we can have the weight lifted off our shoulders. We can have a glimpse of the atonement in our lives.
May we remember our Heavenly Father will never forsake us. May we be angels, and ask for them, and may we learn to look closely through the rainstorms (and tears) of life and see the rainbows God puts before us.
A special shout out to my friend today. Thanks friend for being my rainbow you know who you are.
Krystal is a latter-day mom and Holy Homemaker to 3 beautiful kiddos who is striving to find joy in the everyday trenches of motherhood and life! Her passion is sharing her experience of decluttering with a purpose to help others create a Holy Home where the messes subside and the Spirit resides. She is a lover of books, nature, music, food, the gospel, and all things Texas! Follow her at her website,
Latter-day Mom!
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