In light of our fifth Sunday conversation concerning the Church's resources to help with some of mortality's more oppressive challenges, I thought this quote from Elder Maxwell was both fitting and insightful:
"There are clearly special cases of individuals in mortality who have special limitations in life, which conditions we mortals cannot now fully fathom. For all we now know, the seeming limitations may have been an agreed-upon spur to achievement--a "thorn in the flesh." Like him who was blind from birth, some come to bring glory to God (John 9:1–3). We must be exceedingly careful about imputing either wrong causes or wrong rewards to all in such circumstances. They are in the Lord's hands, and he loves them perfectly. Indeed, some of those who have required much waiting upon in this life may be waited upon again by the rest of us in the next world--but for the highest of reasons."
http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6197&x=117&y=4
I hope we all can become a little more compassionate and less judgmental towards those with needs and challenges are different from our own, not only during this Christmas season but also throughout the upcoming new year. Myself included.
May we pray to be filled with love. (Moro. 7:48)
One little practical tip to help us in this regard: When we encounter someone towards whom we are having a hard time feeling or conveying love, we can ask ourselves mentally, "How does my Heavenly Father feel about this person? How do this person's deceased relatives feel for this person as they look down on them and yearn for their well-being?"
Merry Christmas,
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Bishop Macdonald
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