My Heavenly Father Loves Me...

I enjoyed reading Lindsey's comments and dads' as well about being a parent. I don't have quite as insightful thoughts about the Old Testament lesson on Sunday because I was teaching 10 year olds...and really how insightful can you be when they are having a contest to see how many sour smarties they can put in their mouth without gagging???

I do however want to share some thoughts about a sacrament talk given by a man in our ward. He talked about the fact that we can improve our lives and be better, but we need to be doing what God wants or needs us to do. There are many times when we want to be at a specific point in our life, and even though we are being richeous and doing the things we are supposed to be doing, God might have a different plan for us. He shared a story about a man who was walking down a road and saw a curry??? bush. Curry bushes are supposed to bring forth fruit, but this specific bush was all intertwined with itself, and producing no fruit. He tried to cut off some of the limbs, but in the end, decided the only thing he could do is cut the whole bush down to the roots. Once he had done this, he heard the bush say, "why did you do this? I was the biggest and tallest bush in the whole area, and I was doing just fine. I thought you were my Gardener...why would you do this to me?" The man responded that he was indeed the Gardener, and he new what was best for the curry bush, and that one day, when the bush is full of fruit, he will then realize that the Gardener was right. He tells the bush, I love you enough to hurt you.

The "Gardener" goes on his way, and joins the army. He works his way up and aspires to be a General. There becomes an opening to be the next General, and there really are only two people being considered...the "Gardener" and another man. The "Gardener" has had much more experience, is liked by everyone, and is very confident that his dream of being a General will come true. However, when he goes into the office to hear the news, he is told he was not chosen. As he is standing in the office reflecting on why he wouldn't get the position, he sees his file on the desk, and in big bold letters the word "MORMON." He realized then that the reason he didn't get the position was because he was a mormon. When he went home, he began to ask God why??? He had done everything he was ever supposed to do, been richeous, and all he ever wanted was to be a General. Why would God do this to him??? Just then, he heard a voice say, "I am the Gardener, and I know what is best for you curry bush, and one day, when you are full of fruit, you will then realize that I was right. I love you enough to hurt you." He then realized that being a General was not part of the Lord's plan for him. He went on to be a successful businessman, and eventually an Apostle of the Lord (I am not sure which apostle...that was mentioned as I was practicing the next organ song in my head).

So many times in life we don't see the bigger picture. God knows what is best for us...he will never betray us or hurt us for no reason. I find myself trying to figure out why I am so blessed? There have been times in my life when I have not done the things I was supposed to do. Even now there are days where I go without saying my prayers or reading the scriptures. For the longest time, and even now, I think of ways God is going to get back at me...The last year or so I thought it would be my ability to have children. I worried so much that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant, and that I would have to deal with that challenge in my life. When I found out I was pregnant, I was so excited, and humbled. I realized God is very forgiving, and he wants us to be happy. He doesn't sit up in Heaven trying to think of hardships we can go through depending upon what we did wrong in life. He loves us...he loves me. I am so thankful for the life I have right now....I really don't deserve to be so happy.

Another thing mentioned on Sunday was "the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago...the second best time to plant a tree is today." Now is the time to change our lives, and start doing the things we are supposed to be doing. There is no better time than right now. I have made several New Year's Resolutions, and I hope that I can commit and keep with them for the remainder of my life. I have so much to be thankful for, and doing the things I am supposed to be doing is my small way of saying thank you to my Heavenly Father.