Tender Mercies

In the Book of Mormon, the ancient prophet Nephi introduces the term "tender mercies" when he speaks of the blessings the Lord kind of sprinkles around us.  Sometimes we see them right off.  Other times we have to open our eyes, become aware and recognize them for what they truly are.  They are definitely blessings, but we don't always see them immediately.  Those little coincidences that "just" happen,  or the "happenstance" that makes things work out for us, or the "serendipity" that find us better off than we were before are all examples of these tender mercies.

I love this idea of tender mercies, because at times it can feel like a hidden word puzzle--but it is like trying to find blessings the Lord has already given us.  Sometimes It is simply a mater of counting the things we notice as blessings, but other times there is no denying that we are blessed beyond what we deserve.  I think the Lord is just that generous with us. Plus, He will bless us as we do what He asks.

The reason this came up is that this past weekend we had General Conference.  I usually try to ponder some questions that I might have or issues I am struggling with or what have you and spiritual prepare myself to listen for answers to those kind of questions or conundrums.  When the kids were younger I felt like I had more questions that conference could even answer, but we all survive that period of family life and every is still speaking.  So I guess that worked out fine.  Lately my questions have been more inwardly directed.  "Am I doing all I can to show my love for God?"  "What else can I do to be a good example to those around me?" "How can I use my time better?"  "How can I be of better service to my neighbors, friends and family?"

This particular conference, with The Girl out of a full time mission, I had been mulling over how else I can represent my faith to others--on Facebook, on this blog, in my public interactions with people generally?  I discovered tender mercies for two days straight this weekend, and they primarily answered these kinds of questions.  Here is what I learned:

I need to speak out more boldly in my sharing of my faith with others.

I can put my faith out there without worrying what someone else may think of it, because it is MY faith.  I'm not coercing someone to convert or join.

Just because I haven't had great luck introducing my friends to the Church doesn't mean I haven't made any inroads.  I haven't heard of anyone agreeing to listen to the missionaries from something I said or wrote, but that doesn't mean my beliefs have gone unnoticed.

I want to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as I understand it, with others because I have felt a joy that comes from living it. It isn't a selfish reason, that is a completely UNselfish reason.

And, if something makes me happy, I would share that something with people I want to see happy--that is everyone I know and care about--so why wouldn't I want to share the doctrines of the Gospel with people when I know that God lives and loves me, and He answers my prayers.  His Son, Jesus Christ, is the Redeemer of the world--and my personal Savior as well. He was resurrected and gives each of us the chance to live again as well.  there is more to this life than just getting through it and He makes that possible for us. Because we have the restored priesthood of God--His power on the Earth today--we can be together forever with our families. 

These are the things that my faith has helped me recognize and unearth as tender mercies.  I see blessings all around me.  Why wouldn't I want to share this with others?  I want other people to be happy too? Recognizing that was a blessing too.

Living the gospel of Jesus Christ may not look or sound easy from the outside looking in, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  It is the source of happiness and joy to me--and I hope to my family.  But the best part is each person is able to ask and can receive and answer for themselves--if they sincerely ask, with real intent and having faith in Christ, God will make that answer known to them. I have nothing to do with them finding their own answer. You really can't get any more merciful than that.

God Protects The Stupid--OR--Tender Mercies From The Road

Three of us in the YW presidency returned at noon today from Fish Lake where we visited a Girls' Camp that did a bike trip there. 

(Tender Mercy #1)
They had a tremendous crash the morning before we arrived yesterday.  The YW that crashed had not done the same preparation as most of  the others who rode, but she wanted to participate and took a big hill on the up side, only to (naturally) want to do the easier down hill.  The downhill got the best of her as when we arrived she was in the hospital in Richfield.

By the time we left their campsite that evening, we had learned (thank heavens for cell phones) that she didn't have a concussion, and had only a couple of little spots on her face that required just a few stitches.  She had her banged up knees cleaned and wrappped  but after looking at her knees then the doctors didn't need to send her to the Provo hospital for further work that were originally suspected.  She was on her way home for resting and recuperation.

Heavenlyy Father loves His daughters and protects them at Girls' Camp.

(Tender Mercy #2)
As the three of us rolled back into to town I heard and felt a strange sound behind the driver's side wheel on my Durango.  It was a metallic clicking or snapping sound when I turned the wheels right or left more than about 40 degrees either way.  Once I  got the other ladies home, and The Girl to work, I dropped the car at the our local mechanic.  After a quick call to Mom and Dad at the shop back home, the suspected diagnosis is a wheel bearing gone out, a misaligned brake linkage, or a potential axel problem.  Lewis the Mechanic will give me a call when they figure out what it really is.

We were out in the middle of nearly nowhere.  If the damage was immediate, we could have been stuck out with out any help, cell coverage, or a way home.  Instead, God protects the stupid--(me!)--and allows us to get home safely and THEN have this be an issue.

I'll keep you updated as I know more--on either Tender Mercy story.

Another Tender Mercy

In sacrament meeting today we had a pair of guys in our ward Young Men's presidency speak on service. They are both great guys and the YM president is just delightful. He has a beautiful family and his lovely wife is The Girl's Beehive teacher--how can you NOT love that?

Anyway, as we were leaving the chapel today I stopped to tell Brother P., the YM president, what a great job he had done and he said, "Did you catch my reference?"

Confused, I thought, "Huh?!"

Seeing my dazed look, he began--as his wife joined him--saying, "that comment about the sister who was always helping someone when we first moved into the ward, that we called 'Sister Service' because we didn't know her name...that was you. I'm sure you caught that, right?"

I had thought he had meant Dear Friend Doris, who can consistently earn that moniker too. You could have blown me over with a feather.

On the way home, I was thinking out loud and mentioned to the kids that I am surely glad they saw me as "Sister Service" when they could have easily called me "Sister Snarky" on a given day.

It touched me that someone was watching and could recognize my efforts--though certainly not worthy of such a name. I was grateful to have been a good example, rather than what I feel like some days. I was grateful, not that he used that in his talk, but that is made a good impression, and that I was caught being good.

It made me more grateful to a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to prompt someone else to say something to remind me that He, as always, knows what I try to do. Even when I don't do it perfectly, or right, or even close. He knows the intents of my heart and all the things I wish I could do for Him to serve those around me more perfectly. For that reminder, I was humbled and grateful. It was another example of the tender mercies of the Lord in my life.