It Only Takes Three Days

My niece Brittani is on a mission ... (in the picture, she is on the far left, in front of her dad, my brother in law, James. Andrew is in the middle (he's on a mission in British Columbia)Hannah is next, she's 15. Kayleen, my sister is behind her, and Sam 11 is in the front) Anyway, Brittani is serving in the Halifax Canada mission to be specific! She has been on my mind alot today, mostly I think because I have not heard from her in a while and wonder how she is doing. I miss her cute little face and as I have thought about her today I was remembering a very funny conversation her and I had years ago that I would like to share:

One Spring afternoon I stopped by my sisters house to pick her up, she was a few month's shy of 4 years old. She and I were on our way to have some one on one time and she was very excited. I buckled her in the back seat and started down the road. We had only traveled a couple of blocks when I looked in the rear veiw mirror and noticed that she had unbuckled her seatbelt and was kneeling on the seat so she could see out the window. "Brittani," I said, "Please sit down and put your seat belt on, so you are safe." She ignored me ... I asked again ... she ignored me ... I pulled the care over to the curb, stopped and turned around. " Brittani, we are not going anywhere if you choose to ignore me and not keep your seat belt on ... you need to be safe in Aunt Jana's car or we will go home." "I'll be OK" she said sweetly. " Sweetheart, you have to wear a seat belt, what would I do if we had an accident and you were hurt so bad that you died? What would I do? "Oh,Auntie "J", " I would just get resurected and it only takes three days ...that's not very long , is it?" (Oh, well, she did grasp something of the Easter lesson from primary!) I smiled and buckled her up anyway.

Everytime I think of that memory I laugh ... she has always been headstrong and when she gets determined, she peirces her lips together and goes for what ever is on her mind! I hope she has that same determination on her mission! She'll be very successful!

An Answer to a prayer

In my personal scripture study, I have often been perplexed by what a broken heart and a contrite spirit actually is. I think I get it ... contrite is a need for atonement, and we all know that we are nowhere without the atonement of our Savior. It's the broken heart I have had trouble with understanding until I found this thought on the Daily Gems, on the church's web site ...


The Savior's Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit
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"What are a broken heart and a contrite spirit? And why are they
considered a sacrifice?

"As in all things, the Savior's life
offers us the perfect example: though Jesus of Nazareth was utterly
without sin, He walked through life with a broken heart and a contrite spirit,
as manifested by His submission to the will of the Father. 'For I came
down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent
me' (John 6:38). To His disciples He said, 'Learn of me; for I am
meek and lowly in heart' (Matthew 11:29). And when the time came to pay
the ultimate sacrifice entailed in the Atonement, Christ shrank not to
partake of the bitter cup but submitted completely to His Father's
will."

(Bruce D. Porter, "A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit," Ensign, Nov.
2007, 31 32)

A broken heart is complete humility, complete submission to the will of our Father
In Heaven.

I think that's where my problem is ... complete submission ... my pride gets in the way ... My pride is what keeps me from trusting that it will always work out ...my pride is what keeps me from walking His way without pouting and whining ... regardless of the path ... even if it means walking on pure faith alone and walking through things I don't want to because I can't see the outcome, Or even walking through something I must endure pouting and whining the whole way because the outcome I think I see is sooooo different from the outcome He really wants for me, and trusting that He can see it.
I think we all have trials to overcome..."crosses to bare" as it were, that we would just as soon pass on if we could. Complete trust in a loving Father in Heaven is a huge part of this life ... and free agency puts us either on His path or off of it, depending on each of us ...and those of us (like me) who want to walk on His path and strive to every day but can't seem to let go of that little bit of pride that keeps us miserable at times.
I have blogged recently about the "stuff" that weighs the heaviest on my heart at times. I have prayed with all that is in my soul to get over the frustration ... I received an answer to my prayers while searching and praying ...
I heard the spirit speak to my heart ... "trusting me with pure faith is a lot to ask sometimes, I know you are lonely ... but trust me with all the faith you have, I promise I will never let you down ... every dream you ever dreamed will be my gift to you."
Now who can argue with that?! All I have to do is trust Him completely, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and every thing He has is mine. And the beauty of it all is that He even allows for the occasional whine and pout and still loves me enough that the promises He made still hold true ... I am in complete awe of his patients with me.
Thank you, Father.