The Night Harriet Couldn't Move

How a Mother's Desperate Plea Broke Through the Darkness

Have you ever been up all night with a sick kid? Multiple nights in a row?

That’s exactly what was going on for my girl Harriet Weaver Taylor way back in 1894. Her 8 year old daughter Mary had scarlet fever, which was raging through the community of Salt Lake City.

Harriet had been waiting on her around the clock for 3 weeks, along with her other responsibilities. Her husband, Henry, was away on a mission, so taking care of the house and 5 kids was all up to her. Poor Harriet was exhausted.

One night, her sweet daughter Mary saw her mom’s exhaustion and told her mom that she would pray that she could get some sleep that night. Harriet was able to doze off, but she wasn’t asleep for long when she was woken up by Mary screaming in pain.

Harriet tried to get up from her bed, but found that she could not move her head. She struggled but eventually was able to sit up.  However, she still couldn't get out of bed to go wait on Mary. It was as if there was a wall around her, blocking her from moving.

Harriet cried out to Heavenly Father in despair, “what have I done to deserve this?”

Then she heard the spirit whisper, “Fear not, I am with thee”

Immediately, her strength returned, and she was able to break through the invisible wall and take care of her daughter.

I love this story because I have definitely felt the “what have I done to deserve this?” sort of frustration and desperation.

It shows me that the Lord is with us, always.

Even and maybe especially in the moments when we are at the end of our rope. 

Primary Source here.