My arm is semi-working today, so I was finally able to wash my hair! A big deal when you are in
excruciating pain in your right shoulder! I still have pain, and it hurts to rotate my arm, but if I take things slow, I'm okay! Hooray!
It's been the usual morning... breakfast, stories, homework, and play time with my 6 year old son. A lot of times we also tidy up together around the house... but today I am more concerned with my finals, and apparently with reading!
I've really become fascinated in reading These books called "Women of the Old Testament," and "Women of the New Testament." It seems that whenever I sit down and randomly open in either one of these books, I open up to something which I can relate to, or need to read.
Today I have been reading about Hannah, from the Old Testament. Two paragraphs stood out at me.
I loved reading this, because it is so true that we may be misunderstood or unfairly judged- yes, even
by long time friends, and church leaders. It is important to act with grace, even where we are wronged and no apology is forthcoming. It is far more important to confirm our testimony of God, through our words and actions in each day of our life- than to worry if we receive credit for what we do right, or to have apology for what others may wrongly accuse of us.
How true are the following words from this same book:
We grow from childhood to adulthood with ideas of what we envision for our life. When those things don't happen we often fail like failures (as did Hannah), or we think life has nothing happier to offer us. But those pressures and lies of the devil and society are not true! Each one of us can "Bloom where we are planted," no matter what the circumstances we are in. Each day is a choice to change our reaction to our attitudes, and consequently we can change many circumstance. BUT, if some things are not able to be changed, we can find peace through the Lord.
In this process of looking to God and our Savior for solace, we will discover that our empty fountains are being filled with the sweet, refreshing and satisfying water of divine and purifying love. Love which flows freely into our spirits through the gift of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and which love surges through us, and heals us of our infirmities and afflictions. There is no wound too deep, or sin so scarlet that the Savior cannot bind us up and heal.
Take comfort and accept that you are loved as an individual, and a divine child of promise!
Christine
It's been the usual morning... breakfast, stories, homework, and play time with my 6 year old son. A lot of times we also tidy up together around the house... but today I am more concerned with my finals, and apparently with reading!
I've really become fascinated in reading These books called "Women of the Old Testament," and "Women of the New Testament." It seems that whenever I sit down and randomly open in either one of these books, I open up to something which I can relate to, or need to read.
Today I have been reading about Hannah, from the Old Testament. Two paragraphs stood out at me.
"....Hannah manifested here sorrow in frequent crying and a loss of appetite. Her husband, Elkanah, cherished here, but his attention and love did not fill the void in her life. Her priesthood leader, the high priest Eli, misunderstood her and accused her falsely. Hannah came to realize that no one could assuage the emptiness in her life but the Savior. Her despondency and awareness of her nothingness therefore became an important catalyst that led Hannah to discover the Lord's teachers for her. Through His compassionate acceptance and limitless strength, God helped this Israelite woman recognize that she could contribute to the Lord's work and have a fruitful life whether she ever gave birth or not. In the apostle Peter's perspective, one is not barren unfruitful if she abounds in faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, brotherly kindness, and charity. These Christlike attributes are available to everyone and will fill every void in one's life (2 Peter 1:5-8)"
(Women of the Old Testament by Camille Fronk Olsen.Deseret Book 2009, page 127)
I loved reading this, because it is so true that we may be misunderstood or unfairly judged- yes, even
by long time friends, and church leaders. It is important to act with grace, even where we are wronged and no apology is forthcoming. It is far more important to confirm our testimony of God, through our words and actions in each day of our life- than to worry if we receive credit for what we do right, or to have apology for what others may wrongly accuse of us.
How true are the following words from this same book:
"Eventually, Hannah was blessed with several children; however, she was filled with the grace of the Lord before she bore any. When she found the power of the Atonement in her life, she was full and fruitful and could give back to the Lord all that she possessed. Without vanity or complacency, Hannah's sacrifice revealed her independence as well as her awareness o the need for God. Some of us will never bear children, some will never marry, some will never have a happy marriage, and some will never have good health in this life. But every one of us can be fruitful and filled with the power of Jesus Christ. When we find Him, like Hannah, we will lose our life in doing His work. That is His promise to all of us."
(page 142-143)
In this process of looking to God and our Savior for solace, we will discover that our empty fountains are being filled with the sweet, refreshing and satisfying water of divine and purifying love. Love which flows freely into our spirits through the gift of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and which love surges through us, and heals us of our infirmities and afflictions. There is no wound too deep, or sin so scarlet that the Savior cannot bind us up and heal.
Take comfort and accept that you are loved as an individual, and a divine child of promise!
Christine
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