Each Life That Touches Ours for Good

One thing I love about riding the train is that it allows me time to think. Truly is not having road rage every morning. This week I have been doing a lot of thinking on a few things. It all started Saturday when I was at Relief Society board meeting and from talking to a friend about what kind of life I live. This got me thinking about why I do live my life as I do.

The first question in my mind I nailed down was why I chose to live the life I do. This one was actually easy to come up with. In life there are a few things I want more then anything else in this world. As much as I like to be in control of my own life there are a few things I simply can not do on my own. There are times and things that on Heavenly Father and Jesus can take care and all we can do is live worthy of their help. This is why I live as I do.

I know the pain that comes from straying off the path, of living a life once consumed in sin. I know the pain of repentance and coming back. I know the despair and darkness when you lose sight of hope and the light of the gospel. I know this all like the back of my own hand. But more then this I know the feelings that come with repentance. I know what it feels life to receive hope to a starving soul. I know how it feels to have the Lord’s loving arms embrace you. I know the joy of repentance. I know both sides and I know the Lords path and plane are the easiest.

This is why I chose to live as I do. I would never willingly chose to return to the other path. I know that Heavenly Father’s path and plan are easier. I know that following Jesus example is the easiest way. Not only because this way to live is easier do I follow it but because why not. They are the only ones who can give me what my heart most desires. I would jump over barrels, skip backwards every day if they asked me to. So why not live the path and example they set. Its no harder, it makes our lives full of joy and it is the only way I can get what I most desire.

The other thing I have been thinking about is why Heavenly Father needs us to live by his example. He needs us to do so because he needs us to reach his children who are struggling. The Lord has entrusted in each of us the divine mission and role of bringing others to Christ. I truly believe that each of us has the ability to touch some one as others can not. We may be the only one who can bring a wondering sole back to him. This is the other reason to live by his example. If not for us then to save another child of God. Heavenly needs us to be his instrument. This comes to what I was thinking about this morning. Yesterday at our visiting teaching home teaching supervisor meeting we talked a lot about how Heavenly Father does not and never will give up on us. But he will never will force himself upon us. Our heart is the only thing we can truly defend. We chose who comes in and to whom we bestow our love. Heavenly Father knows this and he will never force himself upon us. But at the same time he will never give up on us. During the times when our heart is hardened against him, he will work through others to soften our hearts. But he will not give up. No soul is so lost that Christ and Heavenly Father can not find it. This is why we need to live a good life. So we can reach those that Heavenly Father cannot reach himself.

There is a hymn that explains what I am thinking. I actually thought about it today on my way to work. I love the words to the Hymn, “Each Life That Touches Ours for Good.”

1. Each life that touches ours for goodReflects thine own great mercy, Lord;Thou sendest blessings from aboveThru words and deeds of those who love.
2. What greater gift dost thou bestow,What greater goodness can we knowThan Christlike friends, whose gentle waysStrengthen our faith, enrich our days.
3. When such a friend from us departs,We hold forever in our heartsA sweet and hallowed memory,Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.
4. For worthy friends whose lives proclaimDevotion to the Savior’s name,Who bless our days with peace and love,We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.
This is why I live as I do. For it is the only way to achieve what my heart desires. More importantly as I realized this morning for it is the only way Heavenly Father can reach those who are struggling.