Loved 2 quotes my mom sent me. (See below.) I've been thinking a lot about hope lately. Hope is something I've always had plenty of---until lately. The economic issues myself, family and friends are dealing with is sometimes overwhelming. I feel frozen and helpless. (Not good for an action minded person.) I also see and hear a lot of very upsetting stories about young people in my line of work. Thinking about these things I take them on and have spent many hours crying over the pain and suffering of myself, my family, friends, and these children of God I teach.
As a child my mom would "pick" my worries off of my shoulders. It worked to ease my stress and make my worries seem smaller. I've taught this to Josh and it helps him. (Another worrier in the family.)
As I've grown older, picking the worries off of my shoulders still helps, but I need something more. That is when writing, prayer, scripture study, and great quotes like the ones below come to my rescue.
So have hope. Things will get better. Our economic times will improve. My students will grow up and make good choices. My boys will become happy, well-adjusted young men. I have hope.
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"[God] loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked. "What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us." ----Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 22–23.
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"Since 'God is love' (1 John 4:8), the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love. But because a veil separates this mortality from our heavenly home, we must seek in the Spirit that which is imperceptible to mortal eyes. "Heaven may seem distant at times, but the scriptures offer hope: 'Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart' (Jeremiah 29:13)." ----Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 23.
I love scripture quotes. I am reading the BOM and my goal is to finish by next Saturday (my Patriarchal Blessing Day) and we are on 3rd Nephi. I read Chapter 17 and I felt the spirit so strong, it was such an amazing chapter and it made me feel like that would be exactly what happens when Jesus comes again. I have always been so scared of the 2nd coming and worried I would not be worthy. After reading that chapter I felt an incredible amount of peace over me, so much that I cried happy tears. It was the most spiritual feeling I have ever felt. I loved it and will not ever forget it. Next up in my goals, the Temple:)
ReplyDeleteYES!!!! Kylie, that is so awesome!!!! Keep reading the BOM. 3rd Nephi is my favorite part. I love it when Jesus visits the Nephites. You ARE worthy! You are amazing! Keep it up. Let me know when you you go through the temple. I would love to be there for ya. :o)
ReplyDeleteKeep hoping! We want things in our life to be "perfect," but they never will be! My favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon is Moroni 7 where Mormon talks about hope. And he was facing the utter destruction of his people. Amazing!
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