The tender mercies...

"Recall how the Savior instructed His Apostles that He would not leave them comfortless. Not only would He send “another Comforter” (John 14:16), even the Holy Ghost, but the Savior said that He would come to them (see John 14:18). Let me suggest that one of the ways whereby the Savior comes to each of us is through His abundant and tender mercies. For instance, as you and I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord." - Elder David A. Bednar


Being away from my family, close friends, paying job and from school, it gives me a little more time to think and reflect about things. I'm sure you have heard of the analogy of the fish in the fish bowl where the fish can't seem to comprehend life outside of that small glass container until he is removed and he is able to see that there is much more to life than what he had previously known. 


I feel like being removed from the usual hustle and bustle at home has made me see the importance of families, how lucky I am to have opportunities to make something of myself, and more importantly how aware our Heavenly Father is of each of us both collectively and individually. 


I have come to understand that he knows my strengths, my weaknesses, my potential, my frustrations, my inadequacies, and the lessons that I need to learn. Everyday I still have to fight those natural tendencies to put my trust in the arm of flesh, but how grateful I am to have that divine guidance in my life. 


Well - tonight we get on the 11:30 train to Bucharest where we will do some traveling for the next week. I will post more next week. Pray that we are safe!