"It's easier to carry you when you hold on!"

June HAD to wear THESE shoes. SHE NEEEEDED TO WEAR THEM! Her outfit wouldn't be complete without the shoes that grandma recently gave her that were two sizes too big. I thought, "Well, she will learn quickly that shoes NEED TO FIT in order to be comfortable." I did help a little by putting a few cotton balls in the toes, so she wasn't sloshing around in them the whole time at church. 

We happen to live right across the street from the church and walk every Sunday to our services. Literally in the middle of the road June said, "Oh man! These shoes ARE too big! Well it's too late now to turn back! I guess I will just have to wear them!" I giggled to myself because we were about 10 minutes early and could have easily turned around to get her shoes that did fit her, but thought instead to let her learn and suffer through it. (Man, I just realized, I am REALLY mean!)

It turned out she was a great sport and suffered in silence, until our short walk home. About three seconds out the doors of the church she said, "Mom, my ankles are really red, they hurt, I AM NOT WEARING THESE SHOES until they fit." I gave in a picked her up. She is about to turn eight in a couple of weeks. She is small but still an awkward size to carry. She couldn't hook her legs around me because of her dress. I was carrying her like a queen and all that was holding her to me, were my arms around her. She started to lean back, and I had to lean back a little to maintain the balance. She was watching others file out of the church as I was holding her like a damsel in distress. I finally said as I was crossing the snow packed street, "June, you've got to hold on to me. It's harder to carry you if you're not holding on."

As she slipped her arms around my neck it was instantly easier to hold onto one of the most precious things I have in my life. My mind started going a million miles an hour with the words I had just said, "It's harder to carry you if you're not holding on." I thought about the Savior carrying me though my life, and how much easier it would be for Him, if I would hold on tightly.
My mind remembered the beautiful poem "footprints in the sand."

Footprints in the Sand

by Mary Stevenson

One night I had a dream.

I dreamed I was walking along the beach

with the Lord..

Across the sky flashed scenes from my life..

For each scene, I noticed two sets of

footprints in the sand,

one belonging to me, and the other to the Lord..

When the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life

there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest

and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me 

and I questioned the Lord about it:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,

you'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most 

troublesome times in my life 

there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why 

when I need you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied:

"My precious child, I love you and would

never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering,

when you see only one set of footprints, it was then

that I carried you." 

------------

I couldn't help but think of Christ saying something to me like what I said to June.
"It's easier to carry you when you hold onto me." 

I know the Lord has carried me through many times of my life. Even when I wasn't holding on as tightly as I should have. 

He carries us. He holds us. He asks us to hold onto Him, and trust Him. He knows the way because He IS the way. He will guide us, help us, and carry us. We just need to HOLD ONTO HIM.

Theres a beautiful song called "Hold On To Jesus" by Erin O'Donnell. It made me think of this and what I would want my children to know and do. Here are the lyrics...

You're a little piece of heaven

You're a golden ray of light

And I wish I could protect you

From the worries of this life

But if there's one thing I could tell you

It's no matter what you do

Hold to Jesus, He's holding onto you

The world will try to tell you

That might is more than right

And beauty's on the outside

And being good's a losing fight

But remember what I've told you

'cause the world will make you choose

Hold to Jesus, He's holding onto you

Hold on to Jesus, and cling to his love

Rest deep in his mercy, whenever things get rough

And don't recite of his goodness

And don't ever doubt this truth, that when you hold onto

Jesus He's holdin' onto you.

Hear me dear Jesus

Rock this little one to sleep

Keep her close when she's scared, and

Give her grace when she is weak

I know she'll stumble, but I know she'll make it through

If you hold onto her just like you said you do

Hold her Jesus so she'll hold on tight to you

------------

Here's my thought of the day. Hold on to Jesus. He's holding on to you as He carries you through the life you have. He is the only person who knows what you are going through. He knows you and He loves you more than you will ever know.

Are your hands cold?

Just the other day Connor was riding his bike. Nothing unusual, but the weather has turned quickly from summer to fall. It was a rather chilly morning. He bundled up with an extra jacket and pants instead of shorts (a huge feat for him, shorts are his life!). He went on a bike ride and then came quickly into the house where I was doing my hair and getting ready for the day. With helmet still on his head he simply said, "My hands are cooooold..." I held his hand to my cheek and felt his cool fingers. My warm face wasn't enough to penetrate deep into the tissue. I then rolled up his sleeves and put his hands in the sink. I turned the water on cold and slowly increased the temperature. Feeling came back into his fingers and hands, we dried them, hugged and he bounded off onto his next adventure. We both know that he will be wearing gloves next time he rides his bike. 

As this simple action kept coming to my mind, I thought about our activity level and enthusiasm in church callings and priorities. Are our hands getting cold without us even realizing they are getting cold? Are we becoming chilly in our callings? Are we doing all we can to help our families testimonies grow and burn with a desire to know more? Are we doing ALL we can to further the gospel and keep our own personal testimony burning?

Sometimes you hear people or missionaries and say, "WOW! They are on FIRE! I wish I could be like them!" Well, the simple truth is, YOU CAN!

Isaiah 50:11

Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled.

You can be on fire! You can live life sparking other's testimonies and spirits. 

We need to be careful in realizing when our hands are getting cold. We need to keep them warm with work and service. We need to keep our hands close to the fire of Christ, so we can warm others around us. 

Sometimes we think that warming our hands can be done only once, and they will magically keep warm though the whole winter. If I go to church once a month I can stay warm. If I read my scriptures once in a while I can still feel that fire. If I pray only when times are hard I will keep from frost bite. 

That's just not so. It takes time and continual effort to remain warm.

Be aware of the cold world around us. It creeps in through cracks and through thin walls. Stay warm. Keep your fire of faith going as you go through life!