Grace sufficient

Wonderful thing for Friday, 6 February:

The fact that, even though we're up to our eyeballs in Pathway right now, and managed only a small amount of prep time to teach our class yesterday, it went well anyway.  This was due, I would say, to the fact that the Lord blessed Andrea, our prospective missionary, for her faithfulness in coming.  It may also be that He honored our earnest efforts to lay the groundwork for this amazing program (Pathway), and leant us his grace in our weaknesses.  It may have had something to do with the all-important subject matter - the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost.  Perhaps He was encouraging us all to persevere.

We are told in the Doctrine and Covenants that "if we receive not the Spirit, we shall not teach."  In the past sometimes , I have not received the Spirit because I judged myself unworthy in cases similar to this.  I know the lesson would have been even better had we managed our priorities just a little better; we can always work on that.  I  have learned too, though, to have more confidence before the Lord, despite my weaknesses.  I can acknowledge my imperfections before him, and still expect his blessings.

I believe that the Lord is really invested in our success and happiness, and is willing to do even the smallest things to encourage us along the path.  I am humbled and touched by his kindness.

Fun thing:  fun things often revolve around eating...nevertheless, I LOVE a salad made with yummy fresh greens (especially valeriana, never ate it in the States - anyone ever had it?), those incredible Sicilian oranges, extra virgin olive oil, toasted sesame seeds, and ground sea salt.  Those times when we don't eat till 9 and want something light - it's perfect.  Blaine is not a mix-your-greens-with-fruit man.  He ate a sandwich on schiacciata (kind of like focaccia only thinner, oilier and saltier) with pesto instead of mayo or mustard.  Something to be said for that too.