I met with my wonderful bishop on Sunday and since then I've been praying to have the proper perspective on certain things because I just feel like maybe I've been looking at things wrong. The reason I met with the bishop has nothing really to do with this post, but it does have to do with perspective, so here goes...

A few weeks ago I wrote about how Rhett had asked me how I saw the tender mercy in everything and I have to say that his question has been a great blessing in my life because I can't forget it - I keep looking for tender mercies in everything and really, that's an awesome way to go about the day. :) 

When mom was diagnosed with cancer four years ago and I realized that it meant she wouldn't be here anymore, that there was a tangible expiration date to our earthly time together I was so scared. I can still remember exactly what it felt like with the thoracic surgeon came out and said that they had found "suspicious cells" in her lungs and that it looked like she had an abdominal mass, but that wasn't his "area of expertise" so he'd done a biopsy. It was the most suffocating, crushing, unable-to-breathe pain I'd ever felt. The worst panic attack I've ever had. (Also, the first one.) BUT, it didn't take long for me to start seeing the tender mercies that were so prevalent in everything. And in the years since, I can look back and see things that happened that serve as tender mercies to me now.

And when I struggled to keep breathing (quite literally) in the year after she died, I also witnessed so many tender mercies. However, it wasn't until I moved back and things really started to happen in my life that I realized that I could see them everywhere. And having dad pass away has just increased that evidence exponentially. Tender mercies aren't just coincidences. They are evidence that Heavenly Father knows us as individuals and blesses us as individuals. To an outsider these random instances of good fortune or happiness or friendship might mean nothing, and that's okay because to the person who sees/hears/benefits from these "random instances," they are miracles!

You should read this... even if it's not new to you, read it.