The quiet nudges from heaven

One Little Leaf

by Emily Freeman

It was a typical busy Saturday. We were running late.  Again.

With all of the kids in tow we were rushing from game to game, trying to remember shoes, jerseys, jackets, keys.

We pulled up to my son’s game and started running in.  His shirt was inside out so I was trying to flip that around while running alongside him and making sure my daughter didn’t run into the street.

All the while, I was pushing him and the rest of the kids along with a “hurry, hurry.”

I felt like I was herding cats.

We were about to go into the door, which was being held open by a gentleman we didn’t know,

 mixing in with the swarms of people coming and going.

I think the door holding man got stuck in service for a good ten minutes

Right in the midst of all of that my son turned around in a jolt, like he had forgotten something, and ran back.

Before I could get the scold out of my mouth I saw him run up next to a single, solitary fallen leaf on the sidewalk.

He reared up his leg, gave it a good stomp, giggled, then ran right back into the gym at full speed.

I rolled my eyes with a smiling smirk.

I was so impressed with the lesson that he taught me to slow down, that I applied it right then and there.

I stopped the sea of pressing parents to take a picture of that little leaf.

And they all must have thought I was nuts!

But I like my picture of the little leaf that Christian crunched.

A little leaf that is going to remind me not be moving so fast.

Or I might miss the chance.

To see, or to hear, or to feel something.

The quiet nudges from heaven.

Divine errands that need running.

Compassionate detours.

Or maybe just the crackling sounds of fall.

Unlocks the doors of heaven

“Happiness…does not depend on obtaining all the desires of our hearts.

In large measure, happiness depends on our ability to feel gratitude for the abundance we already have.”

‘Too often we take blessings for granted, like the sun, the air, health, and opportunity. Or we accept favors, honors, and privileges day after day …, without a word of thanks. We would thank the person who gives us a seat in the bus, the person who offers a ride, the friend who picks up the check after dinner, the person who does the baby-sitting, or the boy who cuts our lawn, but do we express gratitude to Him who gives us all?

Spencer W. Kimball

“There is no feeling that is more Godlike than that feeling of intense gratitude and thanksgiving to God that comes when we realize and feel that God has blessed us… We should cultivate that spirit and that disposition to so order our lives that we will ever have a feeling of gratitude and of thanksgiving in our hearts, and a desire to praise God for His goodness to us.”

Heber J. Grant

‘God requires thanksgiving, praise and worship, not for His gratification as the recipient of adulation, but for the good of His children’ The good we receive by developing a thankful heart is immeasurable. It cultivates feelings of reverence for God and thereby opens our souls to the influence of the Holy Spirit. It allows us to find joy in the present time instead of in some future day when all our desires have been granted. A thankful heart allows us to face trials firm in the knowledge of Heavenly Father’s love for us.”

James E. Talmage

 

“The minute a man stops supplicating God for his spirit and directions just so soon he starts out to become a stranger to him and his works. When men stop praying for God’s spirit, they place confidence in their own unaided reason, and they gradually lose the spirit of God, just the same as near and dear friends, by never writing to or visiting with each other, will become strangers. We should all pray that God may never leave us alone for a moment without his spirit to aid and assist us in withstanding sin and temptation.”

Heber J. Grant

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings,

but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love."

Thomas S. Monson

Eternal Scorekeeper is understanding

 

 

"If your life is in disarray and you feel uncomfortable and unworthy to pray because you are not clean, don't worry. He already knows about all of that. He is waiting for you to kneel in humility and take the first few steps. Pray for strength. Pray for others to be led to support you and guide you and lift you. Pray that the love of the Savior will pour into your heart. Pray that the miracle of the Atonement will bring forgiveness because you are willing to change. I know that those prayers will be answered, for God loves you. His Son gave his life for you.

I know they will help you."

Richard G. Scott

 

"To all who are weary, let the comforting words of the Savior console you: 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Let us rely on that promise. The power of God can infuse our spirits and bodies with energy and vigor. I urge you to seek this blessing from the Lord. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you, for He has promised that 'they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'"

Joseph B. Wirthlin

 

"I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us."

Thomas S. Monson

 

"Each of us is a runner in the race of life. Comforting is the fact that there are many runners. Reassuring is the knowledge that our Eternal Scorekeeper is understanding. Challenging is the truth that each must run. But you and I do not run alone. That vast audience of family, friends, and leaders will cheer our courage, will applaud our determination as we rise from our stumblings and pursue our goal. The race of life is not for sprinters running on a level track. The course is marked by pitfalls and checkered with obstacles…Let us shed any thought of failure. Let us discard any habit that may hinder. Let us seek; let us obtain the prize prepared for all, even exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God."

Thomas S. Monson

 

 

"The divine reproach Jesus felt so exquisitely, because of His meekly standing in
for us, fulfilled yet another prophecy: 'Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full
of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for
comforters, but I found none'. His heart was broken, as He did 'suffer
both body and spirit'. He trembled because of pain, and yet He,
amidst profound aloneness, finished His preparations, bringing to pass the
unconditional immortality of all mankind and 'eternal life for all those who would
keep His commandments ."

Neal A. Maxwell

"Prayer in the hour of need is a great boon. From simple trials to our Gethsemanes, prayer-persistent prayer-can put us in touch with God, our greatest source of comfort and counsel. 'Pray always, that you may come off conqueror.' This is also a key to use in keeping depression from destroying us."

Ezra Taft Benson