This man also spoke about Jesus Christ and His Atonement, he said, "Christ died for our sins and bore our griefs." I KNOW this and yet the word griefs really got to me. I recently wrote our Primary Program (which is coming up in 3 short weeks) and have the 3 year olds talking about the Atonement and saying how Christ suffered for our fears, our disappointments, our pain, our loneliness, our frustrations and our sadness, but the word grief just stuck out for me today.
I know we can't comprehend how it was physically possible for Him to suffer for everyone who will ever live (consider your own life alone), but I know He did and I am so thankful for that. That means I can hand it all over to Him, so if I find myself being consumed by sadness and and frustration it is because I am choosing to hold onto it and haven't fully given it over to Him and taken advantage of His atonement.
**Thoughts??**
Comment Window Tidbit: I'm just wondering if I will ever NOT feel totally overheated at church? I know many women are freezing while there, but I have never been one of them. Oh the shame...
13 comments:
Very profound thoughts missy. I can't even begin to comprehend his love for us. Who would do such thing, such nobel thing, such love he must have for us. We need to be more conscientious and repay him in kindness by following his commandments. So true, and still when we go through trials we feel sooo alone, so emptied of hope and faith at some point, remembering we have him to help us.
ps...I shared some of your wise thoughts in RS today...about writing down our testimony and strengthening our spirit.
They should pass out little blankets at church for those in need and hand them back at the end, however I feel like if they lowered the AC as low as it felt comfortable for you, some people would have been frozen by then!
I have lots of thoughts, but it is so hard to sum them up let alone express them. All I can say is I am very, very, very grateful.
I think it's a balancing act as far as sharing your beliefs goes. Sometimes when I meet new people out in DC, something will come up in the conversation that would allow me to pipe up and say, 'Oh, I don't believe in that,' and then begin explaining my beliefs and on and on. Sometimes I do open my mouth, but then sometimes I think that laying the basis for a new friendship is more important at that particular moment. In one on one situations at least. I think the Lord wants be to befriend people without bending my morals. I don't think that means I always need to be preacher teachin'.
I absolutely believe in missionary work. Completely and totally. But I believe that many times I can do more with my actions and behaviors than with my words.
And then I think that my personal relationship with the Savior shines through more than any words I could ever speak. That's what people always find fascinating -- how these beliefs of mine are woven through my entire life.
Oh, that was a long, rambling one.
Didn't get to go to church today- sick kid- so I appreciate having something spiritual to contemplate today. Thank you.
Lovely thoughts. Grief is quite possibly the hardest thing to bear. And shame. And sickness. Well, it's all hard, and it gives me such comfort to know that I can give it over to the Lord.
I've been the chorister in our ward for almost two years and I am sad I have missed preparing the children for the performance - good luck with yours!
I think grief for whatever reason can take old of anyone either by choice or by circumstances. I think that Christ can take away our sorrows and does - but there has to be a resolution and release before this can happen - and often this can take a very long time.
Sorry about your warm sundays! That's not good!
The Atonement is something that I don't think that I will ever really understand or be able to wrap my brain around. The concept is so huge. I am SOOO thankful for our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ and what he means to me in my life daily.
Grief is such a hard word. Isn't it interesting to have one word stand out? Something that you think about all day?
We had a great testimony meeting yesterday and I have felt totally uplifted and renewed because of it.
All I can say is that I am SO grateful for the understanding of the gospel and for His plan of happiness. How lucky we are to know that if we repent, forgive, have hope and faith, trust, love and serve - we can truly be happy.
It's funny- I just read Michelle's post about service and the same hang-up applies to the atonement! For some reason we think we have to do things ourselves, that we should be stronger, tougher, wiser... so we hold on to grief and disappointment and anger instead of just turning it over to the Lord who is waiting for us to do just that! It is also funny that something so confounding can be so comforting.
Thanks so much for this, Jill. I've had a rough week, and I've been thinking a lot more about the Atonement (why don't I think about the Atonement all the time, instead of just when I'm having a rough time?). It does lift my burdens when I realize that Christ knows *exactly* what I'm going through. Exactly. The Atonement is there to lift my pain, and I just need to figure out how to let go and allow myself to be healed. The Atonement is so much more personal than I think we realize.
What a nice way to end my day,with these thoughts. I always look forward to your Sunday Thoughts.
And for the record, I could take 4 pashminas instead of my regular one every single Sunday and not be too warm! My primary girls are always trying to steal mine away from me! It seems nearly impossible to me that anyone could honestl be hot in any of our buildings. It seems to be as universal as the course of study for the world-wide Church: COLD!
Enough said. It's just as much a pet pieve to be cold as it is to be hot! I guess at least I can anticipate and take warm things to make me comfortable,where you can hardly keep taking things off!
I love your Sunday thoughts, and this was a beautiful one. I have no doubt that He can and will take our burden. The hard part for me is knowing how to hand it over.
I really love that we can allow the Savior to take care of all of our pain, sorrows and griefs. This doens't mean that we sit by and wait for Him to make us feel better, which is how I sometimes mistakenly see it. We place our well-being into His hands when we do all the things we know we should be doing and exercise faith that if we keep on the strait and narrow, we will be okay. It is not a complacent, but a courageous act.
I'm not sure why we would ever choose to hold onto our griefs and sorrows except maybe it's because it's easier. I think it takes more work and effort to be happy because changing is uncomfortable...and using the atonement will definitely change a person.
Great reminder of something I need to continue to work on.
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