Look for the tender mercies

Recently Natalie had another birthday.  I haven’t seen this good friend of mine for a few years, but every year without fail I always text her “Happy Birthday.” After all, this friend was a great tender mercy from the Lord.  Let me explain.

Some years ago I pursued a woman romantically.  Given my age I thought I’d be single forever if I failed.  As it so happened, she was seeing behind my back someone else that she really wanted.  But she continued to give me hope in case she needed Plan B.

But Plan A worked.  She called on my birthday to let me know.  Happy birthday.

Within a month she was engaged and called to tell me I wasn’t invited to the wedding.  Gee, like I really wanted to show up and watch my last bastion of hope walk away with someone else.

Needless to say, a huge depression ensued that was so deep my work performance suffered.  My boss threatened to fire me I didn’t turn things around and quick.

That’s when Natalie came in.

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Tender mercies always come

I knew Natalie from work and admired her greatly.  Though not LDS, she was a very good friend.

One day she invited me on an extended lunch.  Apparently Natalie thought I needed a cat.  I accepted the invitation, and on the appointed day we went to the local animal shelter to find my new friend.

And find her we did.  As I held her for the first time, something electric passed from this animal to me.  I knew this animal was meant to be with me.

That was the start of a beautiful relationship that helped me to heal from the death of my hopes to marry the woman I had loved with all my heart.  Tashi (pronounced TAUGH-shee) helped me to do that in so many ways.  Space won’t permit me a full explanation, but I can share a couple of memories.

One year for Christmas I bought two stockings to hang over the fireplace.  When I returned from the store, I showed Tashi the stockings and told her, “Now, look.  There’s two stockings here, one for me and one for you.  Which one do you want?”

Tashi looked up at me as if to say, “Seriously?  I have to pick between two miniature socks?  You can’t even fit a whole bag of catnip in there.”

“OK,” I replied.  “Let me know when you decide.”  I then procured a couple of nails and a hammer with which I hung both of the stockings.

No sooner had I completed the task than Tashi jumped onto the mantle and start batting ferociously at one of the stockings.  “Alright,” I said, “I guess that one’s yours!”

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Tashi looked up at me as if to say, “Seriously?  I have to pick between two miniature socks?  You can’t even fit a whole bag of catnip in there.”

“OK,” I replied.  “Let me know when you decide.”  I then procured a couple of nails and a hammer with which I hung both of the stockings.

No sooner had I completed the task than Tashi jumped onto the mantle and start batting ferociously at one of the stockings.  “Alright,” I said, “I guess that one’s yours!”
Earlier that year Tashi saw her first fire in a fireplace.  Seeing the flames flicker really mesmerized her.  No surprise there.  She once almost burned her paw while trying to touch a candle flame.  So I thought that she would enjoy watching a fire from behind a screen.

That she did.  But little did I know how much.  About two hours after the fire had died out, there she was still sitting there waiting for the fire to come back!  Ah, good times.

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Tender mercies come to all

The Lord provided me a tender mercy in a friend who guided me to another tender mercy the Lord had prepared for me at a time in my life when I needed it.

And what God does for one, He’ll do for anyone.  God provides many tender mercies for each of us.  If you don’t see them, then you just aren’t looking around you.  They are there, and you don’t have to look very far to find them.

Elder Bednar’s first Conference address after being ordained an Apostle is one I’ll never forget.  That address about tender mercies is an all-time classic.  If you haven’t read it in a while, or if you never read it, it’s worth the time.

God is so good and expansive that miracles abound around all of us.  Some of those miracles are tender mercies.  Reflecting on mine fills me with goodness that turns my heart in gratitude to God.  He knows me, He loves me, and He’ll walk with me through my life and never forsake me.

What tender mercies has He provided you?  If you can’t see them, pray to have your eyes opened.  God will answer that prayer because He loves you very much and wants you to know how very much He loves you.  When you come to know that for yourself, your heart will turn to Him in gratitude for the miracles that truly surround you.

How grateful I am for the greatness of God!

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