This past Sunday the Relief Society lesson fell through so our Relief Society President, Whitney, invited us to have a musical testimony meeting. We were invited to share our favorite hymn and why it was our favorite. Then we would sing the hymn. The spirit was so strong in that meeting....it was incredible. I want to share what my favorite hymn is, and why it is so important to me.
My favorite hymn is 124--"Be Still, My Soul". I LOVE this hymn. I have always loved it, but throughout this past year it has truly become my favorite hymn. I have gained so much peace and comfort from the words and the message that this song provides. The lyrics speak for themselves....but between each verse I still want to add what each message means to me and bear testimony of the infinite and eternal love of our Savior.
Be Still, My Soul
Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
This message offers assurance that the Lord really is on our side. He understands the "cross of grief and pain" we are bearing.....he understands it perfectly and is there to help us to bear it patiently.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
This is where faith has to come in. "Leave to thy God to order and provide." I don't understand the reasons behind why Brian and I have had to face this trial.....but I know that my Heavenly Father does. He also knows what I need most in order to make it through this trial. He has "provided" for me by blessing me with an incredible and sensitive husband who has been by my side every step of the way. Brian is there for me when I need to talk, he holds me when I need to cry, and he makes me smile and laugh and keep pressing forward every day with hope for a bright future. Heavenly Father has also "provided" for me by blessing Brian and I both with incredible families, a wonderful bishop, and many great friends. They have all been a huge support to us. We are so grateful for all of the people who check in on us, who talk to us about Tace, and who help us to keep his memory alive. One of my greatest fears after losing Tace was that others would forget about him. Thank you to all of you who have remembered him and have remembered us. We are so grateful for all of you. And above all, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and Savior who have "faithfully remained" by my side through this unexpected change.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
I love how this passage refers to Heavenly Father and our Savior as our "Friend".
And the second line gives me hope. I know we are in the midst of some thorns right now between losing Tace and struggling to have another baby....but I do know that as we press on through these thorny ways we will learn and grow and we will make it to the "joyful end".
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Heavenly Father has a plan for us. He has guided our past, and I know that He will continue to guide our futures. He has many great things in store for us if we will continue to press forward with faith through the sunshine and the storms.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
"All now mysterious shall be bright at last"---one day, we will have all of our "why's" answered. One day we will be able to see all of the "strokes in the masterpiece" (from Charlie Jenkins song) and we will understand how all of the strokes, both light and dark, fit into our Heavenly Father's plan.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
Before I know it, I'll be reunited with my Savior and with my sweet Tace. I am so grateful for the blessing of temples and eternal families.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
One day all of our disappointment, grief, and fear will be gone. All of the unexpected changes and tears will be past. When that day comes our sorrows truly will be forgotten and love's purest joys will be restored as we are reunited with our loved ones. And on that day we will at last be in the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Savior. I can't wait for that day and the joyful reunion it will be.
As I said before, I love this song and the message it portrays. It has given me strength and comfort more times than I can count. It helps me to remember that my Savior is aware of me and the trials I am facing. He understands the grief and pain we have gone through and He is there to comfort us and guide us through our own individual Gethsemanes. I know that He has a plan prepared for us and I know that He will guide us through and strengthen us along the way. We just need to remember to "Be still and know that [he] is God."
