I have always loved to write. I have found one of my callings in life in the last several years, and that is to life others with hope, help and happiness. I combined these two loves in three other blogs, but this is one of my most exciting adventures!
I am a firm believer our Heavenly Father and that He knows each one of us, completely and individually. I see His amazing grace and tender mercies all over my life and the lives of those around me. "Tender Mercies", that is a phrase used by many in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, mostly well known as being defined by Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church as the following: "I believe I he 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)." [General Conference, April, 2005]
I was reflecting on this a few weeks ago while trying to drum up blog post ideas. I had major writers block and was about to give up the brainstorming session for the day, when suddenly these three words came into my mind: "Tender Mercies:101". I literally stopped moving for several seconds as ideas immediately began to flow freely in my mind. I can tell you, those words did not come from me, it was divine inspiration!
Tender mercies are things that I didn't really recognize in my own life easily. I've lived for the past 14 years with chronic pain and illness, and went through a great amount of that time in frustration, bitterness and misery. It's hard to feel happy when you are hurting and sick all the time. I thought my state of health was because I was being punished for doing something wrong, or for not being good enough. I was hard on myself and didn't have a very good relationship with my Heavenly Father. I saw all the things going wrong in my life, and counted them like I should have been counting my blessings.
In time I realized that was dragging me down was focusing on what I thought was the Lord punishing me in my life (which was sooooo not true), instead of where the hand of the Lord was for good in my life. I realized that it was the little things, the "tender mercies" that God was giving me to help me get through the hard circumstances, one day at a time, that helped me feel the love, support and happiness I was missing. I started focusing on the ways the Lord's hand was in my life, and therein, my outlook changed. This took lots work: asking for the Lord's help to recognize tender mercies, reflecting upon them as I did and expressing gratitude for them. That work was so worthwhile! And in this idea lies The Tender Mercies:101 Project.
Here is the project and the promise:
I was reflecting on this a few weeks ago while trying to drum up blog post ideas. I had major writers block and was about to give up the brainstorming session for the day, when suddenly these three words came into my mind: "Tender Mercies:101". I literally stopped moving for several seconds as ideas immediately began to flow freely in my mind. I can tell you, those words did not come from me, it was divine inspiration!
Tender mercies are things that I didn't really recognize in my own life easily. I've lived for the past 14 years with chronic pain and illness, and went through a great amount of that time in frustration, bitterness and misery. It's hard to feel happy when you are hurting and sick all the time. I thought my state of health was because I was being punished for doing something wrong, or for not being good enough. I was hard on myself and didn't have a very good relationship with my Heavenly Father. I saw all the things going wrong in my life, and counted them like I should have been counting my blessings.
In time I realized that was dragging me down was focusing on what I thought was the Lord punishing me in my life (which was sooooo not true), instead of where the hand of the Lord was for good in my life. I realized that it was the little things, the "tender mercies" that God was giving me to help me get through the hard circumstances, one day at a time, that helped me feel the love, support and happiness I was missing. I started focusing on the ways the Lord's hand was in my life, and therein, my outlook changed. This took lots work: asking for the Lord's help to recognize tender mercies, reflecting upon them as I did and expressing gratitude for them. That work was so worthwhile! And in this idea lies The Tender Mercies:101 Project.
Here is the project and the promise:
- Project: Ask the Lord for help to recognize the tender mercy the Lord gives you in your life. Count each and every tender mercy until you reach one-hundred-and-one. Keep track of them: write them down in a journal, in the Notes section on your phone, whatever way works best for you!
- Promise: You will notice how the number of tender mercies in your life have increased, and how much your gratitude, feeling of love from your Heavenly Father and joy have increased also.
I know this can be true for you! I know it because it has been fulfilled for me, and because it is also the Lord's promise, and He does not lie!
This blog is here to chronicle the journey of the 101 Project. I will post 101 Tender Mercy stories in about as many days. They will not be just mine, but mostly those of other's who see the hand of the Lord in their lives. Please join us on this journey, and share your own tender mercy! Try the promise, I guarantee you will change because of it :)
