Truth For Your Sunday... A More Christian Christian

This post is from January of 2013.

------------------------------------------------------------>>>>>>>>

I had an experience last week, then I came home and decided to read a talk from General Conference.  The two ended up going hand in hand and I'm always humbled and amazed when that happens. 

I ran to the post office after picking the boys up.  As I was walking in I saw a woman turned toward me, she looked a little closer at me and I at her... Darlene?

Oh, I sighed, 'How are you doing?'

I met Darlene in 2006, yikes!  I started teaching modern dance for her that year.  I taught for her a couple of years.  She is going through a rough life change right now.  Divorce, husband moved out with another woman... you know the story...

We hugged and she just started sobbing.  It was good to hear her story, I'd only heard rumors, second stories.

As I held her my heart ached a bit.  I don't even know this woman 'well', but this is not the woman I know.  She was so broken and weak.  This was not Darlene.

Those were my words for her... please remember the truth about you.  You are strong, you have an inner power and strength that shine.  You are creative, have brought joy to so many lives through dance.  You are giving and caring. 

You may be hurting... but you are NOT broken.

As hard and painful things hit us it is easy to get torn down by the pain.  Then we get depressed, we give our power away.  We loose sight of truth, the glory and divinity that resides in each of us.  We stop our progress when we forget our truth.

Every word of this is true for me, it's a good reminder.  Even though there is pain I am not broken.  I will not be broken by the things that hurt me.  I will remember the truth about me.

We hugged many times.  It was comforting to hear her say that she needed to see me today.  She needed the lift.  God bless me!

As we parted I reminded her that whether we are with someone or alone, we are in charge of our own happiness.  Remember your truth, start living like you believe it, happiness will come.

In addition to this I believe that we truly can heal completely through the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Any pain that is ours can be swallowed up in Him, quite literally.  I have felt this time and again as I turn to Him in my dark hours, when I am broken, and need Him to make me whole. 

For my study time later that day I picked up my General Conference issue of the Ensign.  I opened up to the talk by Elder Hales...

Being a More Christian Christian.  It totally fit my day, my experience.

A few things he says...

What does it mean to be a Christian?  A Christian has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the literal Son of God, sent by His Father to suffer for our sins in the supreme act of love we know as the Atonement.

A Christian believes that through the grace of  and His Son, Jesus Christ, we can repent, forgive others, keep the commandments, and inherit eternal life.

The word Christian denotes taking upon us the name of Christ. We do this by being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by those holding His priesthood authority.

He asks, how are we doing in our quest to follow Christ?  Always a good question to reflect on.

He talks about all of us being blessed to have difficulties and to pay attention to where we are going in them.  Returning to old ways, as he puts it, instead of turning to the Savior.

He talks about Peter and how, after serving with the Lord, after seeing Him crucified, went back home to fish.  We know that the Savior comes to Peter and asks him what he's doing.  He'd returned to what he knew, his old ways.  The Lord then admonishes him to go and feed His sheep.  He wanted him to go and serve.  To be lifted up in the Lord, he was an apostle... go preach the gospel... feed these saints with the gospel, these sheep.

This is a way we experience growth and become a more christian christian... feeding His sheep.

This is the call of Christ to every Christian today:

“Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep”—share my gospel with young and old, lifting, blessing, comforting, encouraging, and building them, especially those who think and believe differently than we do.

We feed His lambs in our homes by how we live the gospel: keeping the commandments, praying, studying the scriptures, and emulating His love. We feed His sheep in the Church as we serve in priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations. And we feed His sheep throughout the world by being good Christian neighbors, practicing the pure religion of visiting and serving the widows, the fatherless, the poor, and all who are in need.

The Savior has promised that He will make us equal to His work. “Follow me,” He said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

I love this promise.  As we follow Him, he will strengthen us to do His work.  He will provide opportunity... fishing for men.  Finding those who are in need.

I found one last week.  I hope that she felt lifted, blessed, comforted, encouraged and built up.  I love my Savior and that day I shared His love with Darlene, who felt broken. 

I didn't seek reward, but I know that as I listen and obey blessings are poured out upon me.  My reward?  An increase of love, for all.  A reminder of my truth.  A heart full of gratitude.  It felt wonderful.