This talk was given by J. Devn Cornish of the 70 in General Conference a couple years back, but I remember it so clearly and think of it often. After you read it I will tell you why:
"My beloved sisters and brothers, God our Father is not a feeling or an idea or a force. He is a holy person who, as the scriptures teach, has a face and hands and a glorious immortal body. He is real, He knows each of us individually, and He loves us, every one. He wants to bless us.
Jesus said:
“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
“Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:9–11).
Perhaps a personal experience will help to illustrate the point. When I was a young resident physician at Boston Children’s Hospital, I worked long hours and traveled between the hospital and our home in Watertown, Massachusetts, mostly by bicycle since my wife and young family needed our car. One evening I was riding home after a long period in the hospital, feeling tired and hungry and at least a bit discouraged. I knew I needed to give my wife and four small children not only my time and energy when I got home but also a cheery attitude. I was, frankly, finding it hard to just keep pedaling.
My route would take me past a fried chicken shop, and I felt like I would be a lot less hungry and tired if I could pause for a piece of chicken on my way home. I knew they were running a sale on thighs or drumsticks for 29 cents each, but when I checked my wallet, all I had was one nickel. As I rode along, I told the Lord my situation and asked if, in His mercy, He could let me find a quarter on the side of the road. I told Him that I didn’t need this as a sign but that I would be really grateful if He felt to grant me this kind blessing.
I began watching the ground more intently but saw nothing. Trying to maintain a faith-filled but submissive attitude as I rode, I approached the store. Then, almost exactly across the street from the chicken place, I saw a quarter on the ground. With gratitude and relief, I picked it up, bought the chicken, savored every morsel, and rode happily home."
Isn't that just the best story? I love how it illustrates the love our Father in Heaven has for His children. I feel it truly describes how our relationship with Him can be. Last night I experienced this as I selected an institute class. As I stared at the long list of classes with professors I had never even heard of I said a quick prayer that I could be where I needed to be and one just seemed to pop at me. It was amazing!! I mean I had experiences like that all the time as a missionary - you walk past someone then you have to double take because the Spirit just prompted you to introduce yourself to them. Well, it was just a tender mercy for me to realize if the decision does matter the Lord does answer our prayers, even if it isn't as often as it is when we are involved in His full-time service.
Another one - today I went to the mall in search of a black skirt, just because I love black pencil skirts. Well, I found one at DownEast that I really wasn't all too fond of, and it was kind of expensive. I found one at Gap that was just what I wanted.....but it was $55. So I carried on with my day forgetting about my want of a simple, black skirt. Well, driving home from FHE tonight I passed "Goodwill" and thought "Hey, I'm just gonna stop real fast"It closed in 15 minutes anyways. I went to the skirt section and found numberless black skirts...in my size! I walked out with a perfect one for $5. I couldn't help but smile with my heart full of gratitude for the tender mercies of the Lord!
Whether it is a piece of chicken, an institute class, or a simple black skirt the Lord does know us and He does love us.
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