Tender Mercies of the Lord

The Lord is so good to me and I have to stop and take a moment to write and express my gratitude for all that I have and for the many blessings large and small he gives me daily.  I have such a wonderful family and some of the most amazing friends who have always been here for me and who have helped me endure some of the most difficult times in my life.  I am grateful to be able to have the muscles work in my face that allow me to smile and to laugh.  I have hands to lift others, hold the ones I love, and to feel things around me.  I have perfect vision to be able to see all the people I love, to see the beauties of the earth that surround me, to be protected from danger, and to see color and detail.  I have ears to hear the laughter of a child, the giggles of a friend, the soft words of my mother comforting me, to hear music, to hear the voices that bring my soul so much happiness, and to hear the counsel of our prophet and apostles.  I have the ability to feel things deep within my heart and soul, to feel the warmth of the sun fall upon my face, the waters of the ocean rush upon my skin, to feel someones arms around me as they express the way they care.  I can dance and run and jump and play!  I have a heart that is healthy and strong!  I have a body that is beautiful and pure.  I have a testimony built upon my Savior.  I have the chance to repent and become clean each week as I partake of the sacrament and daily as I humble myself before the Lord and ask for forgiveness.  I have the blessings of the atonement in my life daily.  I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I have a home to live in, great roommates, running water, clean clothes, good food to eat, blankets, decorations to make my home welcoming.  I have a brain that never stops thinking about life, the eternities, my purpose here, and other people.  I have great talents and dreams for my life.  I have a future family to come.  I have hope!  I have the blessing of the priesthood in my life.  I have the ability to smell.  I have a creative mind and love for life. I have a spirit that wants to be obedient and to do what is right and that always wants to lift other people up and help them find there best selves.  I have a desire to always learn new things.  I have an family who I will be with forever.  I have a temple that is 3 minutes away from my home, where I can go and learn and become what God would have me be.  It helps me to always keep an eternal perspective.  I have a job that I have been waiting for and working extremely hard to get for the past 2 years.  I have my best friend back home.  I have the companionship of the Holy Ghost to comfort, guide me, and lead me back home.  I have trials in my life that stretch me and help me to become better.  I have so much to find joy in daily.  I have the ability to become perfected through my Savior.  I have the ability to love people as he does.  And most importantly I have a loving Father in Heaven who never leaves me alone, who continues to direct my life, who is patient with me, and who understands me perfectly.  I have so many more blessings than I can even write on here, but these are the ones I am so grateful for today!  I LOVE my life!