My testimony of the Atonement and Christ's individual love for us has been greatly strengthened. I've had to face many significant trials recently which have seemingly all been heaped on at once (when it rains, it pours), and I've felt a more acute need to be closer to the Savior as a result. I think it is human nature, but I feel really terrible that it sometimes takes tough trials to make us 'snap out of it' and draw closer to God. This reminds me of the following scripture: "And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." -Helaman 12:3- Hopefully these trials will serve as a good wake up call for me to strive harder to improve my relationship with God and His Son.
I had to teach Sunday School 2 weeks ago and part of the lesson was about repentance. I was prompted to read the following poem from Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, "Broken Things to Mend." Reading this poem has touched me greatly, so I thought I would share it with those who still read this blog.
In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.
And up and down the dusty way
The village fol would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.
The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with the broken plow, or yoke,
Said, "Can you mend it, Carpenter?"
And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.
So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:
"O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that's broken past repair,
This life, that's shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?"
And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation - "all things new."
"The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mold Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!"
What a great message that poem contains. I love my Savior so much, and am humbled every time I think about all he went through - for us! "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." -Mosiah 14:5- He suffered for us so that we wouldn't have to if we but repent (See D&C 19)! But also suffered so that he could succor us when we are going through our Gethsemanes (see Alma 7:11,12). It's my testimony that Christ yearns to see us truly be happy. I know that such happiness is attained only when we are striving as best we can to live the gospel. He is quick to forgive, ready to comfort, and willing to mend our broken souls when we willingly place them on His bench. His love for us is more profound than we could ever imagine. I am eternally grateful for His grace and mercy. May we all include Him more in our busy lives, think about Him more during our hectic days, and show our thanks to Him who gave everything for us by obeying His commandments.
