Hope for brighter tomorrows

Tonight, I went to the youth devotional with my children. For a little portion of it, I sat out in the lobby to listen from a soft chair. A girl of about 16 walked in late, and sat across from me.

When our amazing stake president got up to speak I had the thought to invite this unfamiliar young woman to walk in to listen with me. I felt somewhat awkward asking her, because I didn't know her. But, nonetheless, I stood up at the conclusion of the previous speaker and looked to the girl and said "Would you like to come in to the chapel with me? She said no. I said, "Well it's President D.. speaking, and you'd have me, so you wouldn't be walking in alone. She replied, "Well, yeah, okay."

As we walked toward the doors to enter she hesitated and said, "Can I sit by you?" I put my arm on her shoulder and said, "Sure, I'd love that." As I we stepped forward toward the doors, I had this sweet feeling wash over me, as we made our way into a large chapel of several hundred young people (with far fewer adults). We sat down together, and enjoyed a sweet talk by our wonderful stake president.

When President D had finished speaking, and the closing hymn, and the "amen" of the closing prayer was said, I turned to the girl I sat by, and made some small talk for a few seconds. I was going to get up and leave, then thought I should learn her name for future reference in my goal to get to know more youth in our stake.

Now this may not seem like much to you, but to me it was a tender mercy from heaven, when I asked her name, and she smiled and said, "I'm Hope!."

Wow! H-O-P-E.

I had symbolically used my energy to stand up and reach out my hand to "hope," then I willingly invited "hope" to join me in my walk forward to face an unknown future!! I feel thankful for the personal reminder that HOPE journeyed with me, when I made a concerted effort on my part!

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A few special notes (A more creative and visual approach! :) I see about HOPE:

Hope does not remove the pain, but HOPE can help us to find things to gratefully focus on, as we try to take comfort amidst confusion. I compare hope to an emerging view, as the terribly loud, frightening, and very long storm finally ceases. Hope for me is when the dark clouds part to display rays of light majestically revealing the beautiful and fundamental truths of life.

In the process those beams of divine light reflect and magnifies the moisture left from the storm, and a rainbow materializes and frames a vision of your new life.
You look out upon the glorious expanse only to discover a crystal clear ocean, previously unknown in your kingdom.

You now have waters to sail upon as you explore distant lands and people, or you may decide to simply walk along beside the shoreline to gather precious seashells of sandy dreams, or beach glass of misty memories. Indeed, the ocean is uniquely yours, for it was formed and nourished by your heartache, and cleansed through your tears, as you braved those frightening storms of life. Storms for which you rose victorious against!

Let us each allow the positive energy of our hearts and minds to make our best efforts to look forward to promises of a brighter tomorrow on the horizon- even during those times where life is the darkest, and much too cloudy for us to see with the limited vision of our natural eyes.

During those dark times, we must make a personal effort to reach out and take hold of the binoculars of hope (ooh, I think I just coined a catchy phrase;) --those binoculars will enlarge and strengthen our sight and help us to see our bright dreams and beautiful desires in the distance.

I feel thankful for my personal reminder, that HOPE decided to join me, even when I made an awkward, uncertain effort on my part! May we all invite "HOPE" to join us on our journeys, and especially as we face the sorrows, heartbreaks, and uncertainties of life!

Romans 8:2424 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Romans 15:1313 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

You've got the strength within you to succeed! Keep trying!
Hugs, Christine

P.S. I hope this makes sense! I wrote it when I was very sleepy!

A letter to write

Recently, I felt like God wanted me to write a letter to a friend, about a distressing event that he had some part in.  An event that occurred exactly one year ago on the date of Sept 16th.

After spending a good amount of time formulating the letter, I prayed to know if it was good to send. But, I could not get the Spirit to give me permission to send the detailed and clear letter, so I prayerfully slept on the matter.

The following morning as I was stretching to wake up, I asked a new question.  Instead of the previous questions of "What do you want me to change in the letter to make it acceptable to thee?" or "Can I please send what I've written?" ; I asked instead, "If you didn't want me to send these words, then why did you have me write it?" Immediately I heard, "Search it out in your mind." 

I knew the scripture well.  While laying there, I considered how the following passage might apply:

D&C 9:8

• Doctrine and Covenants

But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. 

I could not understand how it applied to the situation at hand.  I then asked, "What do you want me to learn from that scripture?"  There was not an audible response or defined impression, just a simple thought that perhaps it was more about it staying in MY mind (and not sharing all I had felt or experienced in corrosive consequence).  I wasn't sure, so I got out of bed with the determination and desire to learn Heavenly Father's will for me in that matter, as I prayerfully went through my day.

As the morning progressed, my 16 year old sent me a text.  I had not been very happy with how he'd been treating me those past few days, and I felt upset at him.  I always try to act with kindness (I don't always succeed, but I try!), so I approached my response to him with prayer. I replied to his question, but also added some Motherly direction, as follows :

" Sometimes in life, you will not understand others, and you may feel inclined to criticize them, but you really need to be humble and ask Heavenly Father to help you have his GIFT of charity.  It comes through the Savior, and cannot be earned or learned on your own.   You must seek it through prayer and diligence." (scripture reference: Moroni 7: 48)

As  I wrote the those words to my son, I received a very clear answer about my other, more pressing concern of the moment.  Writing about that distressing experience had helped me to assimilated and process my very complex, painful feelings.

Such intricate care and attentiveness to every feeling was as though I'd had hours of counseling/therapy. Except that my experience was far more healing and beneficial, because I had the "great physician" listening to the concerns of my heart.

Since that moment of understanding,my burden of fear and insecurity has miraculously been lifted from me.  The power of the Savior's atonement has unlocked the doors of my self-inflicted prison cell, and I am freed from a year long sentence of fear!

I was blessed, by the Spirit of God, to have remembrances brought to my memory of the many years of kind things this friend had done for me.  I could not overlook all the kindness, service, and sincere generosity of my friend's heart, just because of one miniscule moment in time.

Recollections of how Heavenly Father had brought me through on dry ground, and protected me from my figurative Goliath's in life, also gave me reassurance that God would continue to protect me, and lead me forward, if I remain walking in his pathways.

God has been trying to teach me this along my walk the past year, but finally I have learned to listen!  I will move forward, and I hope I can bless others with my improved empathy, and testimony of God's miracles and His love for each one of us. 

I will continue to seek to have confidence in the Lord, and not  "rely on the arm of flesh." God has repeatedly proven His power, might, and mercy in my life, and He always manages to bring me forth on dry ground, or unlock me from my self-inflicting prison cell, even where it seems there is no escape to safety .  I feel so grateful for His consolation in my life, and my many blessings!

2 Nephi 4:34 Book of Mormon

O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.
I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed
is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

John 14:18New Testament

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

There is hope, beyond the heartaches of life.  God does work miracles.  Believe him and seek after Him in everything.  God loves each one of us, and He wants to fill our minds and hearts with beauty, hope, and light. It's worth every sacrifice to know Him!

Christine

My Heavenly Father is the most perfect, tender &  loving father I've ever had.
But I am thankful that He has blessed me through other father
figures, who helped me see that there was more in me than I knew.
To those unnamed giants of men, I send my heart's deep appreciation.
Thank you for your willingness to lead and guide me in righteousness.