7/21/2014
Well, this week nearly
gave us whiplash. We very nearly literally got assaulted with both heartbreaks
and miracles. Which do you want first?? Just kidding, you don't have a choice.
I can't believe we hit
the 9 month mark this week. That's absolutely incredible and insane. I truly
have loved my mission so far, and the Lord was really neat and iced the cake
for us by sending us a baby! That's right, a baby. Jhessika Carrillo, the mom
of the dear little girl Keyla we had a baptism for in January, had her baby
finally! I have been here for an entire pregnancy! WHOA. That goes a lot faster
when you are not the one pregnant, I think. It's a BEAUTIFUL baby girl named
Esmeralda. She's literally perfect. Jhessika asked us to come see her in the
hospital, and as we entered that room the Spirit was so strong. I was a crybaby
the entire time we were there. (My mommy senses are kicking in extra hard on
the mission I think. Maybe it comes from having to wrangle anywhere from 3-6
children every sacrament!) The hardest moment of obedience in my entire mission
(it's usually very easy to choose to be obedient,) was when Jhessika and Ramiro
asked me if I would hold that stunning little bundle. Oh my goodness, talk
about being torn in two. But I knew I couldn't, so I didn't. That was tough!
But worth it to have the Spirit and do the best I can so one day when I have my
OWN children, I will be able to be the best mother possible to them.
Something tough this week
was that, at the beginning of the week, Jessica and Benita were still skyrocket
progressing! (They were even studying Preach my Gospel and the Book of Mormon
daily!) And then yesterday neither one showed up to church, so we called
Benita, and she cancelled her baptism for right now. That tells you what taking
a break from the Book of Mormon for "just a few days" will do for
you. I KNOW that the power of the Spirit as we study that book protects us, and
that if we will read it just a little every day, we will never go astray. But
when we do, even though it does not seem like a big deal, it gives the Adversary
room to strike. In C.S Lewis' novel, The Screwtape Letters, the experienced
devil Screwtape shares this counsel with a younger one:
“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. … It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is toedge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. … Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts”
Those little things
really make all the difference in the whole world. I can't emphasize that
enough. I have seen so many tragic situations this week among people and it all
started because they started missing a day or two of scripture study or prayer.
If I ever do that when I get home (which I promise I won't,) somebody PLEASE
slap me upside the head with a scripture case. It's the little things that
count.
Well, I have to go. Time
is short. I love you all dearly, remind someone of the basics this week.
Love, Hermana Miller
Remember:
“Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.”
No comments:
Post a Comment