Yes, I know Heavenly Father Loves Me
Recently, my Mom and I traveled to southern Utah for a quick weekend trip. While there, we took a four wheeler to the top of a mountain. It wasn't a huge mountain, but from the top, we were able to look down on a large valley. It was breathtaking and it got me thinking about the primary song I love so much. It's called My Heavenly Father Loves Me and if you click on the link, you can listen to it. I actually started singing the song out loud because I was so appreciative of how loved I have felt lately.
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| Overlooking Richfield, UT valley |
Many years ago (10 years ago next month, coincidentally), when things felt very dark for me, I had a friend ask me how I knew Heavenly Father loved me and I emailed him the following:
I ask my children this question often, “How do you know I love you?” I get responses like “you say you love me a billion times a day” or “you hug me and kiss my nose.” I remind them that we show each other love through actions too or by appreciating the world around us. My family shows their love for me throughout the day like being quick to obey or doing things without being asked like brushing their teeth or bringing down their laundry. I tell them that when I see them reading their scriptures and saying their prayers I am reminded that they love me by when they are obedient to God’s commandments the way they have been taught. When they look around at their home, they can see thing things I provide them because I love them.
Knowing my Father in Heaven loves me is the same way but we can’t usually hear a voice telling us we are loved. I have struggled lately with some loneliness and sadness that I have never experienced before. It has been a constant struggle to remind myself that even when things aren’t going perfect in my life, my Father in Heaven loves me no matter what. Here are some ways I have tried to remember that His love for me is individual and eternal.
When I wake up each morning I ask Him to show me I am loved by simply praying for it. Then, I look for signs of His love throughout my day. Sometimes the love is obvious and sometimes I have to make an effort to find it but it’s always there.
I feel it when my children are quick to obey. When I am met with a smile or a hug at the end of the school day, I am reminded that my children are gifts from my Father in Heaven just for me. Texts from my adult kids telling me thank you for something I taught them are also reminders that my Father in Heaven loves me and he is aware of my efforts.
When I go out on my morning run and I feel a cool breeze and a light rain on my face or when the sun beats down on me and the sweat falls like a stream down my back, I am reminded that my body was a gift from my Heavenly Father because he loves me.
When I’m discouraged and sad and a friend calls me on the phone or sends me a text I am reminded that my friends are gifts from my Father because he loves me and he sends them to me to show He cares.
When I sit at my desk and write, I am reminded that I have a talent that is a gift just for me because my Father in Heaven knows that I need to write stuff down in order to process events in my head. Because of this talent, I have been able to provide some income to help support our family.
When I am at church and my heart beats out of my chest or the tears run down my cheeks as I listen to the primary children sing songs about the gospel, my testimony is strengthened that my Heavenly Father loves me because he allows me to learn from my calling in the church.
When the end of the day comes and I’m alone in my room saying my prayers, I think about all that happened to me during the day and all the things I witnessed that remind me of my Father’s love for me. I try to remember to thank Him for those things. When I do that, I think of even more things that prove that He is aware of me as an individual and He loves me.
While I still think those things are true, there is one thing I would add, now that those darkest days are past me (hopefully).
I know He loves me because Heavenly Father is a just God, and he gives me the trials that He knows will bless and benefit me the most. I'm not saying I appreciate the trials, but I genuinely feel blessed that after coming through them, I am able to recognize that there was something there I needed to learn, or a path I didn't know I needed to take until afterwards. Probably, most of the time I don't know the reasons, but my knowledge of a God who loves me infinitely and who allows me to struggle so that I can grow, shows His absolute love for me.
Life was never intended to be easy, and there are things I continue to struggle with, but I promise that when we put our faith and trust in God, He will never lead us astray. I'm grateful for good friends (old ones and newer ones) as well as my immediate and extended family who love and support me, who are truly angels sent from a loving Heavenly Father, proof of His love for me. -Stacy
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