Elvia: Parenting -- God Did Not Place You on Earth to Fail

For anyone who has gotten to the end of the day and just wanted to cry because you just didn't know how you were going to be able to do it. Anyone who has doubted their ability to raise their children with some semblance of success- meet my friend. Elvia is a mother of four and grandmother of three. She enjoys biking and running and bringing a smile to all who meet her. The first time we met we talked for over an hour, our connection being a child with special needs. Her son Kevin, who is in his twenties now, has cerebral palsy, similar to Micah. She has become a dear friend, and has blessed me with her wisdom, experience, and faith. Here is a link to a couple of videos of her put together by the church where she talks about adjusting to her son's diagnosis, and one hard, very special night.
 Video 1: Kevin's Diagnosis, (click on the black and white picture at the bottom, and then the play button)
Video 2: A Light in Kevin's Room  (her portion starts at 1:11)

And in case you are feeling like "that's wonderful for her, but I don't have a child with special needs" listen to what President Eyring taught this past October:

"President George Q. Cannon said this about how God has prepared you and me and our children for the tests we will face: “There is not one of us but what God’s love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, and that He has actually given His angels—invisible beings of power and might—charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.”
     President Henry B. Eyring "To My Grandchildren"

And this is what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shares:
From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children... 
Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times...
I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children.” And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to “search diligently, pray always, and be believing[. Then] all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants...

My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying thatGod never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face...the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.
     Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "The Ministry of Angels"

God is truly mindful of us as individuals, he loves us, and he loves our children. If our desire to do right is sincere, he will not let us fail. I found this quote by Elder Ballard while reading an article about The Family: A Proclamation to the World  : "Be the very best and act the very best you can. God will give you strength beyond your own as you strive daily to fulfill the most sacred mortal responsibility He gives to His children. Listen to the voice of the Spirit and the counsel of the living prophets. Be of good cheer. God did not place you on earth to fail, and your efforts as parents will not be counted as failure unless you give up."

So, be of good cheer friends, the angels surround us.