A time to keep silence and a time to speak

 

Gardenias


May 23, 2022

 

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Gardenias caught my attention Saturday morning when I was out walking.  I was kinda wrapped up in my thoughts until I smelled the gardenias.  After that, I removed my earbuds and started paying attention to God’s creations.  Maybe that’s what it means to “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Cardinals, mockingbirds, and frogs were making a ruckus.    I even saw a couple blue tailed lizards.  I’m surrounded by forests.  I tried to take a photo of the trees, but my camera doesn’t do justice, and I can’t describe it in words.  It brought to my mind the words, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1Corinthians 2:9) Truly, we have a loving Father in Heaven who loves us and wants to bless us.

Forest


Trees

Saturday evening my friend Crystal caught my attention in a meeting when she spoke of her shockingly rebellious past and the positive changes she has made in her life.  She testified of the atoning power of our Savior.  When I spoke to her later about her frank words, she said, “Sometimes you have to heal loudly so that others don’t suffer silently.”  And I thought of our Savior who knows everything we are going through.  He especially knows what it’s like to suffer in silence.

 

I know many people who are suffering depression and other challenges in these difficult times which I call “the second pandemic.”  I hope we can seek out those who are suffering and in the words of the prophet Alma, “bear one another’s burdens that they may be light…mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort…” and in so doing, our actions will “stand as a witness of God.” (see Mosiah 18:8-9)

 

I love you all,

 

❤️Sister Manwaring

Blue tailed lizard



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