We have a flower bed right off our front porch that I didn't plant anything in this summer, and so it's just all full of weeds. Last week was kind of rough for me with lots of different little worries. One morning I opened up the living room curtains and looked down into my "weed bed" to see this:
a beautiful little pansy growing strong right in the middle of all those weeds. I do have pansies planted about four feet away in another flower bed, but this one took me completely by surprise! Pansies are one of my favorite flowers. I first planted them at our old house in Provo where we lived when we were first married, and I was so touched how they stayed so colorful and pretty even when the weather turned cold and it started to snow. I'm not a big fan of winter, so I loved those little pansies.
I was so touched to see that little pansy growing strong and tall right among all the weeds. I am not in any way comparing myself to that flower, but I do think that it was just a little sign from my Heavenly Father to remind me of His love. I have always loved Elder Bednar's talk about the tender mercies of the Lord. He shared how the conference hymn sung just before he had to speak happened to be his favorite:
My mind was drawn immediately to Nephi's phrase "the tender mercies of the Lord," and I knew in that very moment I was experiencing just such a tender mercy. A loving Savior was sending me a most personal and timely message of comfort and reassurance through a hymn selected weeks previously. Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them. Since last October I have reflected repeatedly upon the phrase "the tender mercies of the Lord." Through personal study, observation, pondering, and prayer, I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits "his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men" (D&C 46:15).
We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord's tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live.
I am thankful for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith and for the knowledge we have today about the Lord's tender mercies. Our desires, faithfulness, and obedience invite and help us to discern His mercies in our lives. As one of His servants, I declare my witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior. I know that He lives and that His tender mercies are available to all of us. Each of us can have eyes to see clearly and ears to hear distinctly the tender mercies of the Lord as they strengthen and assist us in these latter days. May our hearts always be filled with gratitude for His abundant and tender mercies.
I look back and see that even though last week was hard, there were plenty of tender mercies along the way:
--my kind and loving mom who shows her concern for me and is always willing to listen and help. I'm also so grateful for the way she cares for the sisters in her ward and spends so much time caring for and serving them in her calling. What an example to me!
--the kids are doing well in school so far in spite of my worries!
--we found a wonderful therapist to work with DJ, a man I had heard of before who happened to be just one of 4 therapists our insurance would cover.
--the wonderful people I work with in Primary, especially Jessica, Jane, and Mia, my counselors and secretary who have to deal with my horrible organization habits, but have become such great friends to me and help me so much in Primary.
--that little pansy, my favorite flower, that just happened to show up in a bed of weeds. What a sweet tender mercy!!
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