I’m almost 31 weeks pregnant now, currently surrounded by tissues, Tylenol, and Tums this morning as I wait for little feet to come down the hallway and crawl in beside me. So in this short window, I wanted to share just a couple thoughts with you—hardly my own as I think Sister Wright said it best…

First, your life cannot be understood “by one magnificent moment or one regrettable public disappointment.” That’s just not how it works, nor is it how the Savior or our Father in Heaven work. And YET—we often go about our lives as if the small stuff doesn’t count! We strive for grand gestures and high achievements as we chase after the approval, recognition, or validation of others—even of God, thinking surely He will notice me now! Same goes for when those big mistakes inevitably happen or that poor choice was made. We think our lives are forever marked—stained—by such deep disappointment that nothing we do will ever make up for a moment so low. My friends—and I’m speaking to myself here too—Our Savior looks at a much bigger crosscut of our lives and so should we.

Even more, He tells God about it. As “the great Mediator and Advocate with the Father, Christ sanctifies and restores.” He gathers up the good, the small efforts, the consistent moments where we are trying because He knows they count too. Question is, do we know how much they matter and plead our cause? You’re doing better than you think you are. He doesn’t just notice the days of perfect obedience, nor does He hang the days of imperfection over our heads. “He knows our complete story and exactly what we suffer, as well as our capabilities and vulnerabilities.” And He loves us still, the same.

Second, we must “put our faith and trust in the Lord as we assume accountability for the condition of our hearts.” If all of us are on the same journey as the one discussed above—trying, failing, realigning, then failing again, and so on—shouldn’t we offer the same grace to others as we are so freely given? Instead of assuming we know the whole story based on one of their chapters or the small moment where your paths intersected, can we look at their life with the same big picture understanding that we hope is used when our lives are evaluated?

I love how Sister Wright so poetically said, “Here lies the significance and power of our agency.” To choose to forgive. To choose to listen and to seek understanding as we sit with them in their story, just as Christ sits with us in ours. This is perhaps one of the truest “easier said than done” circumstances, but what does it hurt to try? “Extending forgiveness can take tremendous courage, humility, and time. Unburdening our hearts through forgiveness isn’t always easy, but through the enabling power of Jesus Christ, it is possible.”

And wouldn’t you know, with perfect timing, I now have a little snuggler in the crook of my arm. So I wish you a beautiful Sunday and leave you with a gentle reminder to let Christ’s healing power be realized in the big stuff and the small. It all matters. And most importantly YOU matter to Him.

READ THE FULL TALK BY SISTER WRIGHT HERE

AFFIRMATION

Christ notices my small efforts, not just the days of perfect righteousness or deep disappointments. He knows my whole and complete story as He pleads my cause to the Father.

PRINT

SCREENSAVER