Fertilizer

Fertilizer.  Fertilizer, while a necessary and beneficial substance, is not the most pleasant thing to come into contact with.  It smells, can cause irritation, and is difficult to clean up.  However, without it, our plants, trees, and grass won’t grow and reach their potential.  Funny how our Father in Heaven in his wisdom will sometimes see fit to “fertilize” his children to help them grow.

This Summer has been full of fertilizing moments.  Early this spring, I felt the desire to try to build a closer relationship with the Savior.  I put in effort, reading the scriptures and having more meaningful prayers.  Those prayers were answered, but not in a way I expected.

I own a small pest control company.  Every year we have seasonal employees who help with our summer work.  This year, we had a difficult time finding employees.  In addition to being short handed, we had several costly repairs on vehicles, and equipment malfunctions.  As work began to stack up, it seemed impossible to be able to fill all of my obligations.  I was doing everything I was supposed to do.  I was working hard, I was praying, I was reading scriptures.  I still didn’t have the help I needed to get the work done, and I feared I faced the failure of my business, and the security of my family.

At the peak of my anxiety, I lay in bed late one night, praying that we could find a way to make everything work.  The answer immediately came, “you asked for this, let me bring you closer to me.”  This was a comfort, however I still didn’t know how I would be able to accomplish all of the work I needed to do.  I literally needed to move a mountain.

A day or so after that late night, I got a call from the former owner of the company.  He offered to help me spray some lawns for a day.  In that day, He and I were able to accomplish THREE days worth of work.  My mountain was moved.  That same week, I was able to hire two employees.  Work was getting done.  Miracles had happened.

Since that week, I have had other challenges come before me and my family.  I don’t know what the outcome will be, however, I do know that our Heavenly Father loves us.  He allows us to get “fertilized” from time to time so that we can grow to our full potential.  I also know that as his children, we are able to call upon our Father in Heaven and request miracles.  One of my favorite scriptures is Moroni 7:33 “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” 
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I believe our welfare, both spiritual and temporal is expedient to Christ.  As we get discouraged and overwhelmed by our challenges, we can remember that through him, we can find a way through whatever obstacle may come before us.