Scurry, Scurry

"Hey, Mom. There are no vegetables for my lunch," my Kindergartener commented as we passed each other in the kitchen.
"There's a little bag of baby tomatoes in the pantry," I responded, turning to pull out the electric griddle.
Moments later, he passed me again on his way to the second fridge in the laundry room.
"Mom, I am looking for veggies for my lunch."
Crossing from one counter to another with a bowl of pancake batter in my hands, I said again, "I saw a bag of little tomatoes in the pantry by the bread board."
While the griddle heated, I began to methodically empty the dishwasher. That's when I heard the kitchen fridge drawer open as the words, "Mom, I need to find a vegetable for my lunch," accosted my ears AGAIN.
Whirling away from the dishwasher, I bent down till we were at eye level and carefully said, "Son, look at me. This is the third time I have said this."
The boy shut the fridge drawer and turned his smiling face toward me.
"There is a small bag of baby tomatoes in the pantry!"
He glanced into the pantry, saw the produce in the described spot, gave a little yelp of pleasure, and moved forward with the assembly of his lunch box contents.
Holy moly!
The experience left me wondering how and why the simple answer to his heartfelt question was not heard, received, or even looked for as he scurried around doing everything he could to solve his own problem.
And how many times I have done the same thing to my Father in Heaven?

Recognizing that God wants us to be "up and doing", using our gifts and resources to solve problems, I also wonder how often He watches me scurrying about, looking for answers in all wrong places while throwing half-hearted requests for assistance toward Him and not sitting still long enough to hear the answer?

I have since learned from President Gordon B. Hinckley that my son and I have been doing things backwards.

Taught President Hinckley: "If there is any one thing that you and I need, … [it is] the kind of faith that moves us to get on our knees and plead with the Lord for guidance, and then, having a measure of divine confidence, get on our feet and go to work to help bring the desired results to pass.” (emphasis added, 1)

Get on your knees, ask for help, have confidence that He will answer, then get up and work at it. The answers will come.

Got it. Let's try this again, Suzanne.