Tender Mercies

As I was reading tonight before bed I came across a conference talk entitled, Wilt Thou Be Made Whole, by Elder TImothy Dyches.

At the end of a painful day, I was reminded as I read; that this life on earth is meant to be difficult and that "opposition in all things" is not a flaw in the plan. But instead it is where our will is strengthened as we turn our hearts unto Him. As we turn ourselves unto God-and engrave His image upon our countenance all that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

I believe this will all my heart and have felt this many times especially these past few months. On days where the difficulties seem so unfair and I sometimes feel as if my old life has been ripped away from me, the Lord seems to send me a tiny tender mercy that reminds me just how much he really does love me. On these days I seem to feel the closest to Him as he strengthens me and  I feel him blessing me and my family in other ways.

Today's tender mercy was the opportunity I had to baby-sit my sweet little Ireland while her mommy ran some errands. As I held her today she slept on my chest. Although I had horrible chest pain I could not nor would I let her down. She laid on my chest and her sweet little hand held onto my chest as a reminder just how much the Lord loves me through this tiny little one.

(Sorry about my face and hair, on my bad days this is the reality of what I look like. I thought about cropping my face out so that you could only see baby Ireland's but oh well, this is the reality of my flare-ups. I actually kinda scared myself with this picture! haha!)

I know that everyone struggles and no one is immune to them. I know that as I try to remember this and know that the Lord will never give me more than I can handle helps me to feel peace throughout this process!