Courage, Dear One

Courage, dear heart.

- CS Lewis

We all have times that cause our heads to hang a little bit lower than normal, and cause our hearts to weigh a little heavier than what they should. Trials and challenges are all part of life, and sometimes they really hurt. Although always unpleasant, feeling pain in every sense is all a part of our mortal experience here on earth; it is through challenge and trial that we learn, grow, and become stronger.

Something I experienced again this week was the power of the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. I've been so grateful for the strength that prayer has brought me, the extra boost my mere 15 minutes of scripture reading have given me, and the comfort and peace He has provided me in my moments of ache. There's something to be said about feeling broken, completely defeated and down to our lowest lows. However, no matter how broken we feel, no matter how defeated and beaten we are, there is One who is the source of all healing, mending, and Who -- through His Atonement -- pieces us back together into a perfect whole.

This poem, taken from the General Conference talk by Jeffrey R. Holland entitled Broken Things to Mend pretty much sums up my thoughts on this topic. (listen to the poem here)

In Nazareth, the narrow road,

That tires the feet and steals the breath,

Passes the place where once abode

The Carpenter of Nazareth.

And up and down the dusty way

The village folk would often wend;

And on the bench, beside Him, lay

Their broken things for Him to mend.

The maiden with the doll she broke,

The woman with the broken chair,

The man with broken plough, or yoke,

Said, “Can you mend it, Carpenter?”

And each received the thing he sought,

In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;

The broken thing which each had brought

Returned again a perfect whole.

So, up the hill the long years through,

With heavy step and wistful eye,

The burdened souls their way pursue,

Uttering each the plaintive cry:

“O Carpenter of Nazareth,

This heart, that’s broken past repair,

This life, that’s shattered nigh to death,

Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?”

And by His kind and ready hand,

His own sweet life is woven through

Our broken lives, until they stand

A New Creation—“all things new.”

“The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,

Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,

Mould Thou into the perfect part,

O, Carpenter of Nazareth!”

I have the strongest testimony that broken things will be brought back together again. Hearts will heal, sins will be forgiven, and we can be made whole. Take courage, dear one. Take courage, dear heart. Have faith. Turn to Him, for He is there, waiting, with those healing wings spread wide open.

~Natalie