Handcart Girl Story and how it relates to each of us.

This was sent to me by a very sweet friend. It was just what I needed today. I am always so amazed at how in-tune my friends are.

They seem to know just what to say or do to help me in just the moment I needed help. Thank You Heidi for emailing this today!

The following was taken from a Book titled

Confessions of an Unbalanced Woman" by Emily Watts

Agnes wrote of one incident that took place shortly before they got to Salt Lake Valley: “Just before we crossed the mountains, relief wagons reached us, and it certainly was a relief. The infirm and aged were allowed to ride, all able-bodied continuing to walk. When the wagons started out, a number of us children decided to see how long we could keep up with the wagons, in hopes of being asked to ride. At least that is what my great hope was. One by one all fell out, until I was the last one remaining, so determined was I that I should get a ride.

“After what seemed the longest run I ever made before or since, the driver, who was William Henry “Heber” Kimball, called to me, ‘Say, sissy, would you like a ride?’ I answered in my very best manner, ‘Yes sir.’

“At this he reached over, taking my hand, clucking to his horses to make me run, with legs that seemed to me could run no farther. On we went, to what to me seemed miles. What went through my head at that time was that he was the meanest man that ever lived or that I had ever heard of, and other things that would not be a credit nor would it look well coming from one so young. Just at what seemed the breaking point, he stopped. Taking a blanket, he wrapped me up and lay me in the bottom of the wagon, warm and comfortable. Here I had time to change my mind, as I surely did, knowing full well by doing this he saved me from freezing when taken into the wagon.” - Handcart Girl

Emily Watts went on to say this "I have thought of this story many times when I find myself or my friends in what I would call the "running beside the cart moments" I have wondered if, at such time, when we have given all we have to give, relying on the promise that the Lord will lift us up, when we are questioning why he doesn't pull us into the wagon, when we are about to collapse from the sheer exhaustion of it all - what if we stopped and listened to the spirit? Perhaps we might hear him saying "Wait, Wait just a little longer. You don't know what I'm trying to save here." Maybe the message would even be, "You don't know who I am trying to save here. You don't know whose life might be eternally affected by your willingness to hang on for one more moment, to keep taking step after step. I promise I won't leave you to drop. I know what you can bear, and your trials will not exceed your capacity" I have trust that the Lord knows what he is doing with my life, even in those hard moments when I can't possibly see what he has in mind.

I have been feeling like I am running out of steam ....like all the balls I am juggling are going to drop at any moment and that will mean failure.

I have wondered if I can keep up the pace.

Today after reading this and pondering upon it I feel like I can keep going.

I really needed this today!