Comments on: Basket Case Syndrome

By: Deborah Smith

Deborah Smith — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:51:13 +0000

Thank you for sharing your heart with your incredible ability to put your feelings into words. The Lord has a way of shaping us-each one in such unique and sometimes painful ways. When I am a “basket case” I hang on to the truth that there are specific things the Lord wants me to learn about myself and those around me–so I search for what it is He wants me to learn. . .those things become my BIGGEST blessings of all!!
You and your family are such a blessing in my life. And I am SO grateful. The Lord is providing just what your family needs. . . Trust in that. You are in my prayers.

By: sweetisthpeace

sweetisthpeace — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:22:33 +0000

I love that talk. Afer hearing that, we decided to start our own family tradition of sharing what we are grateful for that day. We also recently started having our daughters thank each other for something, so that they can learn to serve each other.

I am sorry to hear about your husband’s work situation. I know you already know that the Lord can turn all things to our good, but it takes some effort to keep that perspective in the midst of the trial. In any case, I’m much happier to see my fast offerings go to help your family than to see the outrageous amount I pay in taxes go to line the pockets of politicians and lobbyists. The Lord’s system truly is inspired.

Your family will be in my prayers, and I know the Lord will bless you for your service.

By: mormonsoprano

mormonsoprano — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:01:49 +0000

Margaret & Janet – thank you so much for sharing your experiences and faith. Your comments are greatly appreciated

By: Janet Walgren

Janet Walgren — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:31:47 +0000

I was unemployed and homeless with four children on more than one occasion. One of the biggest blessings that came from my experiences was getting to know the Lord intimately in my extremities. It is true that the world is shaky and things don’t look so good right now, but my experiences taught me that no matter what, everything would turn out OK if I put my trust in Him.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy way acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path. Proverbs 3: 5-6

I will keep you in my prayers.

I love your gratitude basket idea.

PS. If you would like some suggestions (from my work) to get quick cash now email me

By: Margaret D

Margaret D — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:00:23 +0000

Oh, this post brings back so many memories for me. Just when our youngest daughter was starting kindergarten, my HH was suddenly out of work when the bottom fell out of the construction industry around 1980 (kind of like now). I’m an RN and definitely had the most marketable skill, so my time at home ended and I went back to work. It was 10 months before HH found meaningful employment, but he went from job to job until 1991 when he finally found his present job. There have been so many challenges and an equal, if not greater, number of blessings through the years. There were things like money coming from sources we didn’t expect, little gifts being left by the front door, kind acts of friends, and little events that reminded us that Heavenly Father was mindful of our struggles and continued to love us.

Miraculously, through all that time we were never late with our house payment, never went hungry, always paid our tithing, and had all we needed. Wants were put aside, but that was OK. We all learned many lessons.

I pray that this trial will soon be over for your family. In the meantime, I think you understand what to do. I loved the video of “Count Your Blessings”!

By: mormonsoprano

mormonsoprano — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:42:02 +0000

Deliveryqueen – thank you for sharing the wonderful ways you count your blessings! I love the little jar idea – and writing them down is so important, too! Not only do we leave something positive for our future generations to learn from, but we also personally benefit as over time we can look back and see clearly how the hand of God worked in our lives.

Tim – thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement, and sharing your personal perspective! You have painted a very vivid description of our current reality. HH and I have actually been down this road before a few times during our 19 years of marriage (the longest stint was actually 8 months!) We have also found that a better job was always waiting on the other side. Luckily, I have employment this time around which provides health insurance benefits (another blessing for my basket) – so there will be no outrageous COBRA payments.

We each will get assigned “character building” experiences in our lives. I truly believe the key is to keep a positive attitude! Things have a way of always working out in the end, as your own story so beautifully illustrates. There are so many tender mercies which come during these journeys. What a wonderful opportunity we hve to fill up our “Baskets”!

By: Tim Malone

Tim Malone — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:12:11 +0000

My heart goes out to you. I wish I could share from my wife’s point of view how she felt and how she dealt with this as we went through seven months of unemployment. The fears are real. The heartache is real. The worry, disappointment and frustration take their toll. It can easily cause one to become a basket case. Like you, we had to let some things go. But in the end, the reward was more than worth the struggle.

I would take temp jobs at less than half of what I used to make while continuing to send out resumes and search the online job sites. Carol continued to work and was blessed with additional sales and commissions that helped to make up the loss of my income. Unemployment benefits did not nearly compensate for what I used to make.

Every day for six months I made phone calls and sent out resumes. Every week I went to the temple and then went to the local LDS employment center for training on how to conduct a job search and how to interview well. I thought I already knew how but it was an act of faith on my part to show the Lord that I would do all within my power to obtain employment.

I could not understand how I could have good interviews one after another and not get offers. Then one day, after six months, just when we were ready to give up and go live elsewhere, out of the blue, I received a call from the same man who had helped me get my last job. He had another opportunity and wondered if I was interested.

The phone interview went well, but they wanted to meet on a Sunday for the in-person interview. We thought and prayed about it and felt that it would be OK. It was. I got the offer and started work a week or two later. The job has turned out to be the best ever because I get to work from home most of the time to support Carol in her journey that she is dealing with right now.

I never would have imagined a company paying me a good salary to do work that I enjoy and let me do it from my home the majority of the time. I think the Lord knew that I needed this blessing but it took seven months of constant effort on my part to be ready to receive the blessing. The Lord knows what we need and is willing to provide it for us as long as we are faithful in asking for it.

All I can recommend is that you continue to do all the things that keep everything together – prayer, gospel study, temple attendance, magnifying callings and lots of fasting and acts of service to others. I had just been called as the High Priest group leader when I was laid off. The Stake President promised me that I would be able to provide for my family as long as I magnified my calling. He was right. It all worked out.

God bless you and your family as you pass through this trial. I know what you are going through and yet I can’t appreciate it exactly because of the frustration and feelings of being powerless as you depend on another and wait on the Lord. I am so looking forward to General Conference next week and will be thinking of you and your situation as I hear the choir sing. I know we will all be blessed. You are in our thoughts and prayers. You will be stronger for this.

By: deliveryqueen

deliveryqueen — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:15:58 +0000

I have learned to count my blessings each and every day. I have a little jar in my curio cabinet. It says the words blessings on it. I remember years ago reading a book about writing your blessings down in a gratitude journal. I have a journal That I write down both the good things and the bad things that have occured in my life. I am grateful for lots of things in my life. Most of all I am grateful God spared my life last year when I was rear ended by a semi. My life is full of pain but I am alive. That is a blessing within itself.