Apologies

Today was our Taft's birthday. I started the morning by taking him "fishing" in the local pond. Wasn't very successful...especially when I got mad at him for tangling up the rods when I knew I should have asked him to do something different to prevent it. I had even had a spiritual impression that something was going to happen that I glossed over and ignored.

Anyway, today's life lesson has to do with apologizing ... Which I have been doing a lot of lately. I keep getting upset with my kids when they don't deserve it and then I end up having to apologize when I realize that I am almost always the one in the wrong.

After I got upset with Taft I realized my error and apologized to him while I was trying to fix up the lines. As soon as I did it then I was able to quickly fix the problem and move on. The same is true of our lives in general. Apologize and we will be able to move on with forgiveness​ and healing.

Answers to prayers

I determined to write a little each day about how I have seen the hand of God in my life. I was impressed to do this because of studying 1 Nephi 1:1-3,16-17.

So we moved to Davis county last week through a series of miraculous spiritual promptings and events. We have not been excited about it because of leaving a house, a neighborhood and a work assignment that we loved. However, we have had some confirmations that it was right for us to do. Today we received another confirmation as I studied 1 Nephi 4:6 and read this quote from Elder John Groberg: “Be willing to take reasonable risks. We live in an age of reason, logic, facts, and figures. These can be useful if kept in subjection to faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. But if they ever take precedence over faith in Him, then they are not useful and can be very harmful. I have found in my life that most of the good decisions I have made may not have been made if they were based solely on logic or reason. …  

“… Nephi was determined to do what God wanted him to do even with logic to the contrary. The scriptures tell us in 1 Nephi 4:6 that he went forth not knowing beforehand what he should do but knowing he should obey God and get the plates. …  

“I suspect had he listened only to reason, Nephi and his brethren would still be waiting outside the walls of Jerusalem. I sometimes wonder if by our listening to reason and logic too much, and not trusting God enough, we may find ourselves waiting outside the walls of His holy city” (“Trust in the Lord” [CES fireside for young adults, May 1, 1994], 3

This quote gave us the strength to continue pushing forward and is confirmation of 1 Nephi 1:20 regarding the tender mercies of the Lord which Elder Bednar says "are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men” (D&C 46:15).
Recall how the Savior instructed His Apostles that He would not leave them comfortless. Not only would He send “another Comforter” (John 14:16), even the Holy Ghost, but the Savior said that He would come to them (see John 14:18). Let me suggest that one of the ways whereby the Savior comes to each of us is through His abundant and tender mercies. For instance, as you and I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord."

God is real. He loves us. He is aware of us. Of this I have no doubt