Be of Good Cheer

Today, my day started out really hard, and as the hours progressed, they didn't get any better.  My mind was heavy laden with challenges, worries, and lots of unknown, as I tried to get myself dressed to go to church.  I wondered if I could hold back the tears in church, and keep it together and not give myself away.  I caught the glance of the Bishop, sitting on the stand, and he smiled at me, knowing full well what challenges I was going through. 

I was fine during the opening song, but when the sacrament song was sung, my eyes welled up with tears, as I thought about the Savior, His atonement, and how it could bless my life, if I would accept his offering.  Tears began streaming down my cheeks, and I quickly reached for my kleenex tissues inside of my purse. I made quick work from the first one, and replacing it with a second and third.  For some reason, my tear ducts have a direct connection to my nose, and I was so stuffed up, I grabbed for tissue number 4, 5, and six and also made quick work from those.  Embarassing to blog your nose that much from just a few little tears.   I told myself... "Get a hold of yourself, people are looking."  They probably weren't but I felt like all eyes were on me, especially when I blew my nose.

After the Sacrament, the member of our Bishopric who was conducting stood up and began to share his testimony.  He paused, and I could see his mind going in a different direction.  He then spoke and told the congregation, that he had prepared a message, which went with the theme for the new month, however he didn't know why, but he just decided that he would follow the inspiration he was receiving.  As I listened, a warm feeling covered me, almost feeling like someone had wrapped their arms around me.  I knew that I was receiving a tender mercy from my Heavenly Father. I knew that the new words that were being spoken, were meant for me, and that God had made him a messenger.  Once again, the tears welled up and began to drip down my cheeks.  This time, I knew I had wiped enough of my make up and mascara off, that everyone would know that I had been crying, but this time, they were tears of joy  and gratitude for the knowledge that Heavenly Father was blessing me through one of his servants.

After Sacrament meeting, I told the Bishop that I may go home because I didn't know if I could make it through the rest of the meetings.  He once again smiled, and didn't judge, but just told me that he understood.  As I walked down the hallway, toward the doors of the chapel, I felt like I would just try to stay a little longer, and I did.  Sunday school was great, but I knew that I couldn't  possibly make it through Relief Society, but somehow I stayed.

I was so glad that I stayed in Relief Society because the lesson today was another inspired lesson, and if I didn't know better, I would have thought it was written for me.  It was about dealing with adversities, and trying to be of good cheer, through them.  I needed that lesson and felt once again that a tender mercy had been sent my way for the second time that day.  After the lesson, I met eyes with my R.S. President, who had presented the lesson, and I gave her a thumbs up and motioned that the lesson was for me.  She smiled, and thanked me.

Is the Lord mindful of us in our affliciton?  Yes, and yes again.  He knows all that is going on, inside and outside of us.  He knows our troubled minds, our aching hearts, and feels the hurts that make us tremble.  He is a God of tender mercies, and works through His servants, to helpHis children to be of good cheer, as they all go through these challenges that afflict their lives. 

The R.S. President handed out this quote, that I retyped and added a lovely picture of Jesus Christ that I found at LDS.org images.  I wanted to share, and thought that you too might want to share this with someone who needs it.  You know, we need this message, from time to time.

Enjoy.  Katie G