So many times I brushed over, I think we all brushed over, this little verse in scripture not seeing the treasure it beheld:
1 Nephi 1:20But behold... the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
"The tender mercies of the Lord."
Because of Elder Bednar pointing this expression out to us, I think we all realize God's hand more in our lives. We all love this phrase.
I pondered a lot yesterday the tender mercies of the Lord. It was because of the strength He gave me to say no to living with my best friend after the mission, that I was able to move in with women that have deeply effected my life.
In particular, one of them whose life, comments in passing, and quiet observances affected and opened my heart.
One of my friends had mentioned in passing one day, not a deep conversation or confession, that she was in counseling. Prior to this comment, I thought counseling was only for the "crazy." Without this, I don't think I would ever have been open to the idea, and truth, that counseling is a gift and every single being in the world could benefit from it. It is not for the "crazy", but for all.
Without that counseling, I would not have started a journey to healing and discovery. I would not have enjoyed the blessings of the angels God put in my path along the way to help me move forward in this life. To help me cope, even survive.
So many things in life that happen in passing actually turn out to be hinges to major change and progress for me.
And that same friend, whom I spoke to for an hour yesterday, has given me priceless knowledge that someone else aside from my Savior, someone that I can talk to on the phone and that is living and breathing in recovery, has been where I am.
Someone to remind me, as I needed when I had postpartum depression after my second child, that this really isn't me. That I really will come back one day. That I wasn't always like this. That one day I will look back on this.
And in the middle of it, that is so hard to remember and believe.
And wow. Without that answer in the mission field, without the strength to follow through, without that best friend, who was sad and hurt we wouldn't be living together, giving up her own desires and finding me a place to live herself! Without all those pieces coming together because of the Lord's tender mercies. Where would I be?
"How merciful the Lord hath been."
Moroni 10:3
3 Behold, I would exhort you...that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
