THE WINDOW WELL

Several years ago, we were living in Logan, Utah. I was working two jobs and trying to do sweat equity on our new home. Our construction loan kept getting bigger and bigger and bank inspections on our progress were common. Often the only full day I had to work on the house was Saturday. I would rise up early and retire to bed very late, sometimes only receiving one or two hours of sleep.

Most days were spent in an attitude of panic. Weekdays found me painting or fixing till one or two AM. I had to be at work at six AM. For weeks this ordeal went on and I thought it would never end. I told myself I had no time to attend the Temple, I was just too busy.

As I look back on those days I realize who was telling me I had no time for the Temple. Still, my only day of rest was Sunday and I was most grateful to keep the Sabbath Day Holy.
During this time I remember one Saturday in particular. My sixteen year old son, Scott and I had been working since early morn, putting in sub flooring, painting and so forth. Every task had gone amazingly well. Stake Priesthood meeting was at 6PM and he and I were planning to attend, riding along with my father-in-law. It was 4PM. I told Scott that as soon as we finished putting in a window well, we’d start getting ready for our Church meeting. The task went fine at first but by then it was 5PM.

I told him he’d better start getting ready, but I would have to stay behind and get the window well installed. He pleaded with me to work on it later and get ready for the meeting but I resisted, setting a bad example. He and my father-in-law went to that meeting and I did not. I had nothing but frustration while they were away and had made zero progress on that project by the time of their return.

When we sold that house and moved, that window well had still not been completely installed. Even then, I was too old to believe in coincidence. That absence of a completed window well was an outward reminder to me of what we give up when we don’t keep the commandments. He will help us thru our trials, but we must do our part. Had I attended the Temple and other Church meetings during those rough weeks, he would have blessed me more readily with success. So it is with all of us. As we work at following God’s instructions we are blessed and attending the Temple is one of the most important things we can do to help us with our struggles.