Pot of Spaghetti

When our second child, Allie, was born my wife and I moved to College Station, Texas.  Soon I was called to teach early morning seminary, which meant I was gone teaching in the mornings, studying for classes all day, and I was busy preparing the next lesson in the evenings.  My wife often had to manage the family alone.  The tension and frustration were sometimes palpable.

I remember one evening in particular when I had worked extra hard at school and I just didn't have a lot of energy left.  I still needed to get a lesson ready, but Allie was throwing a royal fit.  She was still a baby, and my exhausted wife had rocked her, sang to her, soothed, her, and in the end we were both at the end of our nerves.  Teasha confessed that she really needed a break from the jarring noise, and I confessed that I really needed some quiet time to focus on seminary.  It was clear neither of us was going to get what we needed.

I started to clean up dinner while Teasha poured a bath for the screaming baby.  I wanted to help my wife, I wanted to calm the baby, and I wanted to prepare my lesson for the 12 students in my seminary class, but I just couldn't do all three.  In desperation I looked up to heaven and echoed the words of Joseph Smith, "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed?" (D&C 121:1-2).  I needed the Lord's help, but here I was finding myself more helpless than ever.

I dumped out the extra sauce from dinner and grabbed the pot of leftover noodles.  In my heart I told God that I needed His help.  I didn't have the power myself to handle this night.  I explained to Him that I was trying to serve his children, and I was trying to be a good husband and father, but tonight I couldn't do both unless he helped me.  In arrogance and faith I told Heavenly Father I was ready for His divine help and now was the time for a solution.

Usually when I pray I have a two problems.  Sometimes I waver in my belief that I can get an answer, like James said, "ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed".  I remember that night deciding that God would answer me, and I would accept it even if I didn't like the solution.  Maybe it would mean staying up all night, or making a sacrifice somewhere important, but I would accept God's answer.  I knew he would guide me.

The other problem is sometimes I don't hold still enough.  Elijah had to learn this when "a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." (1 Kings 19:11-12).  I remember standing there as Teasha laid the screaming Allie in the baby tub.  I was focusing on my thoughts and feelings, and trying to find that subtle little thread that links me to heaven.

Then I started to feel a peace, I knew God loved me, I knew I was trying to keep the commandments... and I saw the pot of spaghetti in my hand.  The idea was crazy, it was preposterous.  I bet Teasha will be annoyed with it, I bet it doesn't fix anything.... What sort of an idea was that?  But on the other hand I had promised the Lord I would follow whatever answer I got, and frankly I didn't have any other ideas.   I walked in the bathroom and to my wife's shock and horror dumped spaghetti all over the baby.

Allie's eyes became huge, and her chubby hand grabbed a clump of the stringy mess.  She said "oooooo" and shoved a bunch in her mouth.  I threw the pan in the dishwasher as the baby splashed and laughed.  Teasha asked for the camera and draped spaghetti around the baby.  In the end Allie splashed and played until the noodles started to disintegrate, and then the whole mess got a double rinse down the drain.  Exhausted Allie fell asleep while I read the scripture block for seminary.

Apparently baby giggles are great medicine for a tired mother.  Teasha was happy, the baby was asleep, and I got my lesson ready, all because I acted on a ridiculous idea.  I vowed then I would recreate that pattern, pray and ask the Lord for guidance, and then move on what ideas I can come up with.  If I replace fear with faith the Lord will move mountains, or sometimes pots of spaghetti.