"A Quiet Heart"

For the past couple of days I've been reading a wonderful book by Sister Patricia T. Holland (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's wife). The book is entitled A Quiet Heart. Last night I had the opportunity to sit in the Provo temple and read this book while I waited for my ward to finish their session (I'm not endowed so I got to do baptisms instead). As I read, I got very excited when I got to a poem she quoted! As I read the words, music came to my mind: this was a song that I sang in Collegiate earlier this year! The poem is entitled "Quiet Time" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; the song title is "Inward Stillness". The entire poem, I believe, can be summed up by the last line of the poem "That we may do His [God's] will, and do that only."

Via Elder and Sister Holland

This books has been such a blessing for me over the past couple of days! Another thing that has touched me in a way that I cannot express was a story that she had heard from a man by the name of Scott Kelly. I don't feel that I should/could sum it up, so here's the story:
"Years ago at a hotel swimming pool while vacationing as a family, my wife and I became distracted by the antics of our new baby. We turned back to the pool in horror to find that our 3-year-old son had walked off the last step of the pool into water over his head. He was standing with his head submerged and his arms raised and waving back and forth. I rushed over, grabbed his arms and pulled him out. He had been under water only a short time and was all right, but he said something that has since stayed with me. He said, "I tried to cry under the water but I couldn't, so I held up my arms and waited because I knew you would come'" (Church News, 7 January 1995, 4). Sister Holland went on to add: "If only we could remember, when the water of worldly sorrow and pressure is crashing in around us, that we don't need to give up, nor do we need to wildly thrash around strangling anything that looks like help. If we could just remember to peacefully hold out our arms to let people and God know we are hurting, the help will come. I promise it will come." (A Quiet Heart, pg. 24-25)

As I sat in the temple and read this story, I could feel my eyes fill with tears! What faith this young child had in his father. I then thought of the struggles in my life and how I sometimes feel as though I am "under water" and burdened so much that I cannot cry for help. But help will come! Often times, help has come, I just need to recognize it!

I know that God hears and answers our prayers, even if it isn't in a way that we expect or want. God truly does know me and how He can help me. All I need to do is raise my arms to Him and He will grab a hold of me and lift me up, He will save me!

One other thing that I loved (there are far to many to write, but I feel that this is important) is what Sister Holland said about when we are going through trials. She talked about how sometimes our lives fall apart and nothing seems to be going right! She said: "At those times, my first thought is often, 'He is angry with me. What have I done wrong? What sin did I commit? Why have I been moved out of my comfort zone, and who can i get back in it?' But I am getting older now--we all do that--and I am growing out of those reactions. I am not seeing God's stretching of me as a punishment but as reward because it has always led me on to a higher level of spiritual understanding and always--always!--has brought me unanticipated and seemingly un earned blessings. It isn't God's anger that allows change and upheaval and, from time to time, suffering in our lives. It is in fact his tenderest love that allows it."

I believe that, too often, people believe that "bad things happen to bad people". But was Christ bad? No! He was perfect in every way, shape, and form! And yet what happened to him? He as whipped, spat on, had a crown of thorns placed on his head, betrayed, and then killed. And what for? For being the Son of God, for healing the sick, raising the dead, loving everybody, and bringing others to Christ. Things happened to Christ because they needed to in order for Him to do the Father's will. He needed to suffer for all of our sins, pains, and infirmities. Bad things do not happen to purely bad people; it happens to everybody! God takes us out of our comfort zone so that we can become what He knows we are capable of becoming! He sees our divine potential, and He knows what we need to go through to get there! God is wonderful, and I am grateful for His faith and love that allows me to go through hardships and trials that make me a better person!

Via A Quiet Heart

If you ever have time, I recommend reading this book! It isn't a long book (130 pages) so if you're worried about not having time, it won't take up much of it! But, as you read it, reflect on what she's saying! I have only gotten to page 48 and I already feel as though I have been changed by it! The book is called A Quiet Heart by Patricia T. Holland if you are interested!