Incomplete but not Broken

Have you ever felt broken? Have you ever gotten to the point in your life where you aren't sure if you can do anything right? Or that there must be something terribly wrong in your genetic make up that makes your imperfections not only numerous but painfully noticeable? I know I have felt all of these things at one time or another. But my Dad showed me an analogy once that has really stuck with me. He showed me a picture of a line of cars being assembled. Much similar to the cars in this picture. His message was along the lines of: "Look at these cars.  They are missing doors, seats, wheels and a bunch of other things..... but would anyone in their right mind say these cars were broken? No, that would be a ridiculous statement. In fact when finished these cars will be sold for thousands of dollars. Once finished they will have all the parts necessary to perform and function for the purpose they were designed. Though they are incomplete right now they are not broken by any definition of the word." He related this to how we are all on the "assembly line" of life. All of us focusing on what we are missing and mistakenly thinking we are broken or damaged when in fact we are just incomplete. I know this is so true! Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be successfully assembled. So the next time you feel broken remember who can make you feel complete. He knows everything we have ever or will ever go through. He can give us peace and comfort and guide us literally day by day! I know that this happens as we daily and diligently seek Him through word (Bible, Book of Mormon ), prayer and action. The next time you feel discouraged remember that He is waiting with arms wide open for you to allow Him to help you put together the pieces.
                                                    

                                                      And believe me.... we need His help!

Talk about a leap of faith!

Have you ever stopped to think about the faith of a child? The complete trust they have in those around them? Think about the simple example of when you place them on a counter or a table and then step back and say "okay, now jump!" That table is most likely twice if not three times their height, and the impact of their fall would be very painful; but almost every time, they jump. They throw caution to the wind, relying on the fact that you have caught them before, and they jump.
 We learn in Matthew 18:3-4 about being childlike:

 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 I know that in one way, becoming childlike requires us to trust Him like a child! No matter where you are in life at one time or another God lovingly places you on the table of trial or the counter of uncertainty and says "Okay, now jump". I testify that it is those times we can choose to grow closer to our Heavenly Father! He is waiting with open arms to show us the way. I know that it is only by following in his way that we can be truly happy in this life and in the life to come!

“When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.” ― Edward Teller

Life is But a Weaving

 Life is But a Weaving

My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colors

He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

And I the underside.

Not ‘til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas

And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.

I love this poem! It is so true! I love the imagery that it gives and how well that applies to our lives! We all have times where all we see are the dark threads of trial and adversity and we all hope for the times when the gold threads show up again. But the end result needs both to make it a masterpiece. And like the poem says it is up to us to turn it over to Him.