Not a Hair Shall Be Lost

Every Thursday morning I go to the temple, often with a concern on my mind. This particular day I had all the usual worries but I was also melancholy about how much hair I have lost since April when I stopped taking Pembro. It falls like rain sometimes! 
I like to spend time in the peace of the celestial room, praying and listening for God's word to me. When I randomly opened the scriptures, my eyes fell on these words in Alma 40:23 from the Savior through His prophets about the resurrection. 
"Not a hair shall be lost!" 
Now, how can that be a coincidence! I am constantly amazed at Heavenly Father's ability to comfort me with His very own words in scripture. I love the Scriptures! Why Not Believe?

Be Still

0ne of my favorite fall traditions is going to visit my Minnesota grandchildren over Halloween. This year my only granddaughter came to visit and join in the fun with her four cousins! I took my two beloved four year olds out to play in the backyard forest, surrounded by all you would ever want in the way of fall color. The bright green maple leaves had changed to the most welcome of reds and yellows as the temperatures dropped, but today was the perfect temperature between summer and winter. We were having a blast with three rakes, trying not to hit each other with our vigorous strokes. "I can make a BIG pile now because I am FOUR years old!"

We made a pile big enough for them to take turns running and jumping in the most interesting and unique ways they could think of: "This is my Ninja run!" "This is MY Ninja run!" I took many minutes of hilarious videos to enjoy later when I'm at home and only the memories remain.

"Bury us in the leaves, Nana," they cried! I delighted in their adorable faces framed by picture perfect fall leaves. I gently put a leaf on each of their foreheads and told them to "be still" while I took a picture. It tickled and they thought it was the most hysterical thing to sit there trying not to move. The leaves were SO inviting I had them cover me up as well. Childhood memories flooded in as I smelled the crunchy leaves and peered up at the sky through the leaf mosaic. I took a mental picture of the moment and thought about the words, "Be still." The phrase came into my mind with this scripture I read recently:

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord. 

Psalms 4:4-5 

This is all I can do. I am in awe of the election outcome. I am hopeful for the country and trust that our prayers are reaching the ears of the Lord. I am hopeful for greater understanding between family and friends, cities and towns, and state to states.
I do not know the future nor can I change it, but I'm physically doing really well without any medications at all, truly a medical and spiritual miracle. I don't know how many more Halloweens I will have. Maybe a lot! But for now, I will "be still" and with the Spirit's help, commune with my own heart. I will continue to trust in God as the light draws me forward, offering the sacrifices of righteousness, as best I can to my understanding. 
It's really just a little thing, but over time it has become a big thing. Each month that I still live and breathe increases my trust in God and the reasons I am finding to make my life meaningful. I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and Brother as companions throughout my life. I hope my heart can "commune" the love and gratitude I feel for them and convey their love to others. I'm praying this for all of us. Why not believe? 

Elder David Bednar -Personal Revelation -click here to view

"To the degree that we reject Him or His teachings we are on our own."

Perspective

The congregational chorister was swinging her arm back and forth so enthusiastically she nearly knocked the hymnbook out of her left hand. As a visitor, I struggled not to draw attention to myself by laughing at the dear young woman scrambling to get the hymnbook settled back down again. My daughter leaned over and whispered, "She's handicapped. Isn't she darling?"

https://www.instagram.com/p/uoFsA_KgN3/?taken-by=bharding15

Suddenly, my perspective changed and I saw her in a whole different light. Same young woman, same enthusiastic swinging arm, and yet I could really SEE her. My focus had changed. I had admired her exuberance until she accidentally lost control of the hymnbook and I thought to myself that she should lead more carefully. I humbly realized that she WAS leading the music most carefully and as well as she possibly could.

As so often happens, the Lord allowed me to learn the principle of perspective again, quite soon. I was helping a friend take her elderly parents to a government office appointment early one morning. When we opened the door to their shared apartment in a local assisted living center they were both asleep. Oh boy, this was going to be a little more complicated than we thought. As I quickly glanced at the framed family photos on the bookcase in their room, I had a rapid overview of their lives and the things they cherished. How far they had come! From being leaders in their home, church and community to at last, everything fitting in a single bookcase.

My friend introduced me to them but because of dementia they had forgotten in seconds who I was as I tried to help them without infringing on their privacy. They cheerfully got dressed to go without argument and I was touched at their innocent acceptance of a stranger's help. The kitchen staff got them a quick breakfast ready asking, "Do they want the usual?" and we were off. After getting all arranged and buckled in, her mother softly said a prayer before taking a bite. My friend and I exchanged a knowing glance over the seats and said nothing out loud, but so much with our eyes. This was the heritage she came from and we both knew the meaning of her simple but heartfelt prayer. So many things forgotten but not this...

Fortunately, we were able to park right in front of the huge municipal building and I was so glad I was there to help get two elderly parents, one with a cane and one in a wheelchair, through the tight security with the least amount of confusion. We waited our turn with reassurances repeated to them every so often. Her father was quiet, napping off and on, keeping his newspaper carefully folded on his lap; but her mother would ask about the "doctor" we were seeing and make comments like, "I haven't been to this office before."  My friend repeatedly told them in as simple terms as she could what we were doing that morning. Finally, their number was called and through much maneuvering we were able to finally seat them where they could see and be seen at the help window. My friend began to explain what she needed and some lengthy discussion followed. Her parents were being exceptionally patient and compliant but eventually her mother, getting a little annoyed at how long it was taking, asked loudly, "Does he know everything about us there is to know now?"

Family photo

Her father, with head bowed, so quiet through the whole event, slowly reached out his hand to her, which she then tenderly clasped with the hand not resting on her cane. They stayed that way until all the forms were completed and we were able to make our slow but steady way back to the car with huge sighs of relief.

Earlier I had felt to mourn their loss, but after spending the morning with them, my perspective had changed. Nothing of great importance had been lost. They still had each other and the love a lifetime of relationships can bring. They look forward to having the same breakfast they always have without even remembering that it's the same breakfast they always have! Focusing on the present, every day is a new day for them. No loss, just lucky indeed!