Tender mercy of the Lord for Christmas 2013

Just wanted to share a tender mercy of the Lord for me this Christmas season. Every year as long as I can remember I have done a 12 days of Christmas for my children from All a Dollar so they could have a small toy present to open to count down the days until Christmas. This year my son left for his mission on Dec 11th and so I created with the help of his grandmothers a 12 days of Christmas for him to open in the Missionary training center. I used up the energy I had to do this family tradition on creating his and then once he was gone my mother heart had a hole in it that only he could fill. Christmas is a time for family and I have enjoyed for the last 2 years having my adult children come home for the holidays and be with our family. This was the first year that that would not happen and I was aching. Only knowing that the church is true and will bring great joy to others could I possibly tolerate his absence at this time of year.

I was unable to get myself to do a 12 days of Christmas for the rest of our family.

One day on about the 16th or so of Christmas a tender mercy was given to me. Some one left a 12 days of Christmas present on my door step. It was so precious to me and such a testimony that God knew me personally and my needs this year. The Lord was very involved in the details of my life this year and I was so grateful. Each day as we would gather for family scripture study and open one of the presents I was as excited as the children not knowing what was inside.  It was a joy to me!

http://www.lds.org/pages/tender-mercies-of-lord?lang=eng
“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” (David A. Bednar, April 2005 general conference).

Read Elder Bednar’s April 2005 general conference address, “The Tender Mercies of the Lord,” to learn how we can invite and recognize the Lord’s tender mercies in our lives.


O Remember, Remember  HENRY B. EYRING Oct 2007

"I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened."