By RaeJean Spencer Hasenoehrl
While running errands with my five-year-old and
three-year-old daughters, I stopped by a friend’s house to drop off a glass
baking dish. My oldest daughter volunteered to carry the dish up the stairs to
the front door. I told her that I would carry it because I didn’t want her to
accidentally drop it and hurt herself. But she begged, “I can do it, Mommy! I’m
big enough!” I decided I was being overprotective. My little girl was growing
up and needed the opportunity to do a “big girl” job.
And the Lord said:
Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here I am, send
me. (Abraham 3:27)
I had a nagging feeling that something was going to happen,
but again blamed it on my overprotective nature. I watched from the bottom of
the stairs in horror as she tripped on the top step and fell directly onto the
glass dish. Blood poured from the deep cuts in her hand. I rushed up the stairs
and knocked on the door. My friend answered. Immediately she called for her
husband to bring a towel to help stop the bleeding. I wrapped my daughter’s
hand tightly. As the blood continued to ooze from the cuts, guilt stabbed at my
heart.
And when they had
platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right
hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of
the Jews! And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.
And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put
His own raiment on Him, and led him away to crucify Him. (Matthew 27:29-31)
I rushed my little girl to the nearest doctor, who explained
that the cuts were much too deep for her to care for. My daughter needed to be
taken to the emergency room. Later, at the hospital, my three-year-old and I
watched with tears in our eyes as my brave little girl screamed in agony as
shards of glass were removed from her hand.
Now there stood by the
cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas,
and Mary Magdalene. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice
saying…My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? (John 19:25, Matthew 27:46)
After the emergency room doctor explored my daughter’s
injuries, we were sent directly to a specialist. The specialist explained that
the tendons in her hand were severed. The injury was very serious and would
require immediate surgery.
…it is written of the
Son of man, that He must suffer many things, and be set at naught. For He
taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the
hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall
rise the third day. (Mark 9:12, 31)
The surgery seemed to last forever. While trying to keep my
youngest daughter occupied, I ached to hold her big sister in my arms, to see
if the surgery had gone well, to learn if she would ever have full use of her
fingers.
But Mary stood without
at the sepulcher weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into
the sepulcher, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and
the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (John 20:11-12)
After some time in the recovery room, the three of us
wearily went home. I continued to nurse her injuries, thankful that she was
safe at home with our family. It would take a great deal of time and patience,
but yes, she would have almost full mobility of her fingers. Relief washed over
me. My prayers had been answered.
Jesus saith unto her,
Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and
say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and
your God. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week…came
Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John
20:17)
I marvel that today my daughter can use her hand with such
intricacy. One finger still doesn’t bend completely, but it doesn’t hinder her
mobility. The scars remain but act as a reminder of the many emotions of that
frightening day so many years ago.
Behold the wounds which
pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be
faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 6:37)
The pain, the stress, the worry—as a parent, I still
remember all of those sensations I felt when my daughter was injured. I can’t
imagine the pain, the stress, the worry that our Father in Heaven had for his
son Jesus as he was placed upon the cross. Nor can I imagine the pain, the
stress, the worry that our Father in Heaven experiences for each of us, His
earthly children, as we sort our way through this mortal existence.
