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Show Nettie, Page 69 special protege and friend. In her daydream she walked and ran and there was no pain to interfere. The daydream became a daily tradition with Nettie and along with the ever-present wheelchair in the corner, added to her resolve. "I've got to find a way to walk again." Nettie's prayers were filled with pleas to Heavenly Father to allow her thebrivilege of walking. In her bold way she reminded Him of the promises made to her at confirmation and when the elders administered to her. "If I always did what was right, I was to be blessed," she recalled in her prayers. "I've been a good girl, Father. I pray you will bless me with the desire of my heart. Help me walk again." Though she was maturing rapidly, her faith was still childlike. Nevertheless she did not leave the matter entirely to prayer. Somehow Nettie knew the secret lay in her own grasp. As she lay in her bed her hands traced the tightened muscles and ligaments in her legs; she could feel the answer hover elusively in the air. And one day the answer came. Papa came home from a long day at the post office. He was used to hard physical labor and was toughened to it, but this office work was harder in some ways. Papa was a big man and bending over a desk and counter for several hours a day caused him to know there were still muscles he hadn't known he had. On one particularly trying day, Mama began rubbing Papa's tired neck and shoulders trying to ease some of the tension he felt. "Ah, Margaret, that feels good, makes me feel loosened up somehow." |
