It was one of those days... One of those days that happen a lot to a young mother of young kids, all of which are boys and under the age of five. It just happens that every night, while I should be in bed getting the 8 hours of sleep I need, I stay up, cleaning, writing and getting everything done that I can't get done during the day. I always think I am doing myself a favor but in the morning when the kids wake up and I roll out of bed, the grumpies take over and I am less than placid with the kids. I yell, when I should and usually have more patience. I cry when it really is just spilt milk. And being the over analytical and dramatic person that I am, I get really down right hard on myself and almost forget, if it weren't for the scriptures, that there is no reason for me to do that to myself and the Christ has already paid for those weaknesses and imperfections... that I just need to keep doing my best and learn from when I don't.
The one hanging in my stairwell it just of Christ and was painted by my cousin Juan Carlos. When I have a chance I will take a picture of it and replace this one.
There is a painting hanging in my stairwell of the Savior coming down from heaven with arms stretched out. I love this painting because it always gives me a reason to forget my problems of the day and just be happy that I am live. And over these past few days, when I have been less than patient with the kids, the thought comes to me as I pass it, "Love your kids with out stretched arms like I love them." It really softens my heart and I am able to see the kids with more loving eyes... even after they have demolished the game pieces that I just spent 30 minutes putting back together. But today, maybe because I was getting more down on myself than usual, it seemed to beckon me even more. And so, as I sat down to read my scriptures, a thought came to me that what I would read today would be exactly what I needed to hear. And it was.
Mosiah 16:9, 12-13
9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.
13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?
Can you believe it? "the arms of mercy were extended towards them..." How much more perfectly could this scripture have been? Isn't it such a testimony that if we seek the Lord he will answer us? Those outstretched arms can say so much. In this scripture it is calling on some to repent...maybe me for forgetting to call on the Lord before I lose my temper;) I know it's not funny, I just don't want to publicly admit my faults;) In another scripture his arms are extended when He says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28) And for me at that moment the thought came to my mind, "Wendy, I accept and love you with outstretched arms no matter how imperfect you are." How perfectly the Lord did comfort my heart. I joke with my husband sometimes, saying, "I wonder if Heavenly Father knew...?" I will never look at that painting in the same light again and I will forever know that that scripture was meant for me today. It was a few versus down from the one that I looked up to study and I was meant to find it.
His light is truly is endless and I was beaming from it all day, after I let the Lord take away my shame. I need to be quicker about it though. Who likes being in the shade? I'd rather run in the light:)
Can you believe it? "the arms of mercy were extended towards them..." How much more perfectly could this scripture have been? Isn't it such a testimony that if we seek the Lord he will answer us? Those outstretched arms can say so much. In this scripture it is calling on some to repent...maybe me for forgetting to call on the Lord before I lose my temper;) I know it's not funny, I just don't want to publicly admit my faults;) In another scripture his arms are extended when He says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28) And for me at that moment the thought came to my mind, "Wendy, I accept and love you with outstretched arms no matter how imperfect you are." How perfectly the Lord did comfort my heart. I joke with my husband sometimes, saying, "I wonder if Heavenly Father knew...?" I will never look at that painting in the same light again and I will forever know that that scripture was meant for me today. It was a few versus down from the one that I looked up to study and I was meant to find it.
His light is truly is endless and I was beaming from it all day, after I let the Lord take away my shame. I need to be quicker about it though. Who likes being in the shade? I'd rather run in the light:)
0 comments:
Post a Comment