As I've gone through life, like many others, I have had my struggles and hard times. Recently some things have happened that seemed to have me very confused, but as I worked through these experiences I've come to realize my Heavenly Father's love for me.
At the beginning of October I was at Deseret Book with a friend (Deseret Book is a distributor of the LDS church publications). I had asked her to go with me because I wanted to pick up a copy of the latest Ensign Magazine that was all about the Book of Mormon. As we walked around the store we also found some cute journals on sale and ended up in the section of pictures. I could spend hours in the picture section of that store and Seagull Book, they just have a way of making me feel at peace.
This friend of mine wanted a picture and poem that she could place in her new journal. She found a copy of her favorite picture of Christ and we both looked frantically for her favorite poem, Footprints. As we were looking we both suddenly stopped-looked at each other and said "turn the picture over." On the back side of the picture there was printed the poem we had been looking for and wanted to find so badly. This was a tender mercy of the Lord. In that single moment I realized that I have always known my Heavenly Father loved me- my life has been so blessed- but I came to realize that I had just seen his hand in the life of someone else and realized that it's true that he loves you too! It was a testimony that I needed- the realization that his love encompasses all or it encompasses none.
Since that day I have thought about that single experience at least once a day and tried to live with the realization that everyone is deserving of God's love and deserving of my respect and acceptance.
Another experience that recently happened was on my birthday. My father had just had surgery and had been drugged and asleep most of the week, however I didn't expect that he would not call on my birthday. Well my birthday came and my birthday went without a phone call from him. He had never missed my birthday before and it really upset me. As I kneeled down to say my prayers that night I had thanked my Heavenly Father for the love and support of those in my life and asked him to bless my dad to feel better soon. As I was ending my prayer I just sat there for a minute taking in the peace I felt when I heard a voice say "Happy Birthday Nicole" I knew in that instant that it was my Heavenly Father and that he had not forgotten me.
My dad has recovered from his surgery and apologized greatly for "forgetting". I know that both my earthly father and my Heavenly Father love me so much and that neither wants to see me hurting. I am grateful for the family and friends that I have and know that I wouldn't be able to have these types of experiences without them.
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