Cheering

Life as a sister missionary isn't always waffles and ice cream (try it! it is delicious). Some days I feel like throwing out all my skirts and heading home. But this past Sunday at church I was reminded of something very important things. First is I have an amazing group of family and friends cheering me on. Second is I have a great host of ancestors in the spirit world cheering me on. Finally and most importantly I have a Heavenly Father and a Savior cheering me on. I am not alone! I am going to make it! I can succeed! Oh how sweet this reminder is. I know that there is always someone cheering us on, even if it is only the Savior. And who better to cheer you on?

Make Their Hearts as Gold

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A few weeks ago I received a letter from my mom and in it she was quoting part of the song, "Consider the Lilies". I have always liked this song but until she wrote about it I have never really listened to what it was saying. The last part is my favorite.

Consider the sweet, tender children
Who must suffer on this earth.
The pains of all of them He carried
From the day of His birth.

He clothes the lilies of the field,
He feeds the lambs in His fold,
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.

The Savior lived for us and suffered for us and loves us. He is perfectly aware of our pains and sorrows. And we can be healed if we but trust Him. Then will our hearts be as gold, bright and beautiful and whole.  

Afflicted in Any Manner

One of my favorite stories in The Book of Mormon is when the resurrected Savior visits the people in the Americas. I have always wondered what it would be like to be there, to see Him, to listen to the teachings and to witness the miracles. I think of Christ's invitation to the people:

"Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy."

(3 Nephi 17:7)

Would I have gone up? Probably not. I don't fall into any of those categories..... but maybe I do? There is that last one, "afflicted in any manner". What does that mean? Is it simply to cover the rest of the physical ailments or did it mean all affliction, including emotion, mental and spiritual?

Yesterday as I considered one of my nonphysical afflictions I realized that it had been healed. It happened because I went to my Savior. Even though He is not physically here, that offer of healing still is. I took it and He did as promised. All of our wounds, physical or not can be healed. But it required that we go to Him. We must take that action and believe that He can heal us. Only then we can find the solace that only Christ can give.