Having compassion on ourselves, as Christ would, when we have experienced trauma

If you have experienced pain and trauma in your life, this is for you. If you hurt, are pained, or can't seem to shake mental illness, this is for you.  

Try to have more compassion on yourself during your journey here on earth. You are glorious.

Compassion is what Christ showed to others. He must want us to have compassion for ourselves as well.

It's hard though. It is true that we are often hard on ourselves.

Sometimes that can come from trauma we have experienced in the past. When people have hurt us, we sometimes believe that is what we deserve. 

Nothing is further from the truth. We are our Father in Heaven's little children, no matter how old we are. And he would never take advantage of his little children. And we do not deserve bad things to happen to us. 

The Lord is the ultimate safe place. His temples are there so we can feel of his love and have more hope with the rest of our lives. 

You are entitled to all the love that the Father has for us, which is literally everything, as we will endure to the end. 

I believe that bad thoughts about ourselves can come from a couple of different places. Sometimes they are from the adversary, but sometimes they come from our own minds as we painfully relive some of the trauma we have experienced from other people who have hurt us. 

You are loved. You are worthy of compassion and care. You are a beloved child of God, who sent his Son to lift your burdens. And though they seem heavy now, he can strengthen us to carry them, and can even make them light.

Yes, sometimes we have to go through bitter trials, and sometimes the pain is there, but we can take comfort in knowing we are not alone. 

He felt it all. All. And he offers hope to us. He who felt the most despair offers us hope, peace, comfort, safety, and salvation.

I hope and pray for all of you who read this that you can find peace, hope, and strength from the Lord through the spirit, and through showing compassion to yourselves. For that is what Christ would do. 

I also hope that you will know that you are not alone in your trials. There are many more of us out there who understand. 

Find out more about the Restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the Church website
Find mental health resources at the Church's Mental Health Resource page on the internet or the Mobile App. 

Picture is a tree in winter, taken in 2024 

Hold On, Bring Fruit, and keep Faith in Christ

As I have been in my own little world, I have found it collapsing (later I came back, that sounds so dramatic, but it sometimes seems that way). I have loved Family History, but now am finding it more difficult to find more names to share with the temple over the last little bit. As I try to write, I find that my creative flow seems a bit hindered due in part to some medication I now take. And for other reasons. 

But I still have Faith in Christ. He lives. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. And he is still helping me. I'm so full of imperfections, and yet he still loves me. 

After these past five years, that is the single most meaningful thing to me. That he loves me. I feel it through the spirit now, even if I have times that I feel alone.

I still find names to take to the temple, and even if it's not as many, it's still an offering, and it still is fruit. As I'm writing this I had the thought that even if it is not as much, it still is acceptable to the Lord. 

Each of us brings fruit, whether by a kind thought, a smile, or by using our talents, we bring fruit. Any good thing can be Fruit to the Lord.  

So for me, even if only one person was touched by this blog, or the other things I post, it would be worth it. Because the Lord thinks it is worth it. And that means the world to me. 

I hope and pray that wherever you are, whatever trials you may be facing, I hope you know that God does love you. You are his child. He will ever be there to strengthen, lift, and encourage you. And if you are in misery, you are not alone. He has felt that before and understands completely. 

So Hold on. Keep Trying, as Elder Holland has said (An High Priest of Good Things to come, January 2000). 

It will be worth it. I have faith in that.  

You can find out more about Christ at the website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or read scriptures, watch videos, and listen to talks on the Gospel Library Mobile App.