Just some thoughts...

I have been studying Christlike attributes lately and felt impressed today to listen to the talk by Elder Holland, an apostle in the Church, called "Broken Things to Mend". I am always struck by Elder Holland's talks and the emotion with which he delivers them. Tonight was no different. As I read this talk, though I felt discouraged, I came away with a bit of comfort and renewed faith that the Savior will always be there and that He will lighten our burdens if we go to Him and do as He would do. He has "graven us upon the palms of His hands" (2 Nephi 21:16). What an incredible gift He has given us to repent and become better day by day and to not only repent of our mistakes, but also to help us overcome trials and difficulties in our lives. I know Christ is our Savior and that He loves each one of us with a love that we can't even fathom and because of that love, He sacrificed His own life for us so that we could one day live with our Heavenly Father once more if we live according to His plan. Elder Holland quoted this poem in his talk, written by George Blair, entitled "The Carpenter of Nazareth", and I copied it below:

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 am grateful for the peace and bit of comfort I received tonight. I am truly blessed!