Broken Things to Mend

Hi ladies,
Here's my article, Broken Things to Mend by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=2e89e2270ed6c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

I was struck by this article because of the title, "broken things to mend". I was thinking about the image of a broken bone being mended or casted. When a bone is broken, we take such good care of it. The cast is a customized fit to help it heal. It's often a long process and sometimes requires therapy after but most broken bones are healed in a matter of weeks.

I think of my life and my spirit over the last few years. It felt broken, disconnected from Heavenly Father. I made the choice to see the Master Physician and He diagnosed me, examined me, sent nurses to be with me so I wasn't alone in the 'x-ray room' and then He casted me until I was healed. I know I kind of took the analogy a little far but I really think it works.

Elder Holland uses Christ's phrase "come unto me" repeatedly. I struggled just as the Apostles because I was so afraid. I love how Elder Holland teaches us about how to come unto Christ. What a powerful lesson I am just really coming to learn :
 "reliance upon the merciful nature of God is at the very center of the gospel Christ taught. I testify that the Savior’s Atonement lifts from us not only the burden of our sins but also the burden of our disappointments and sorrows, our heartaches and our despair. 14 From the beginning, trust in such help was to give us both a reason and a way to improve, an incentive to lay down our burdens and take up our salvation. There can and will be plenty of difficulties in life. Nevertheless, the soul that comes unto Christ, who knows His voice and strives to do as He did, finds a strength, as the hymn says, “beyond [his] own.” 15 The Savior reminds us that He has “graven [us] upon the palms of [His] hands.” 16 Considering the incomprehensible cost of the Crucifixion and Atonement, I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now. (I LOVE THAT LINE!! He's not gonna back away from us now---yes!!) When He says to the poor in spirit, “Come unto me,” He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way."

I share this article with you my sisters to help empower you to continually come unto Christ. I am doing my best. I enjoy learning how to do it myself. His love is so real for all of us. It truly is a custom cast that wraps around our fragile spirits and strengthens and protects us. Hugs!