Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love. — D&C 6:20.
After my father passed away last December, I slipped into a period of debilitating grief. My children are grown and on their own, and my husband was working long hours, late into the night. My youngest was serving a mission in Bolivia and it seemed forever since I'd seen his smiling face.
At times I felt as if the whole world had abandoned me. One particularly difficult and lonely afternoon, I found myself questioning whether the Lord had also abandoned me. Tears fell down my cheeks as I imagined the pain of being completely alone in the universe.
My wallowing was rudely interrupted by the sound of the mail carrier slipping letters through our mail slot. Hoping for a letter from Bolivia, I got up to investigate. Sure enough, there was a letter from my missionary son. Along with the letter were some photo negatives, which I quickly had printed. Among the many photos was one of Jason and his companion standing in front of the Christus statue. It looked as if Christ had His loving arms gently around the two elders. As I peered at the photo my mind was suddenly filled with this scripture.
My heart filled with peace as I re-realized that our Savior is always with us. He stands with His arms outstretched waiting for us to receive the tender love He has for each one of us. How grateful I am to know that my Savior loves me. He is there for us in our sorrow, and wants nothing more than to encircle us in the arms of His love. — Karen Daddow-Dougherty, Gilroy, California.
"Living by the Scriptures" is another in a series of Church News reader response articles. Was there a time when a particular scripture touched you, when it offered comfort, guidance and much-needed support? If so, please describe your experience in 250-300 words, giving the scripture reference and telling how it affected you. Send your submission to Church News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110. Fax No. (801) 237-2524. Internet E-mail: churchnews@desnews.com.
