Trending 2018: Tenderness

This first week of 2018 has been frigid.  

Covered in a fresh blanket of white.  

Beautifully fitting for the start of new.

2017: The Year of Growth. 

 For every one of us.

Eden commenced kindergarten and realized the frustration of learning to read.

Tessa was baptized and became accountable, cried her way through a week of roller coasters, and felt the bruising (of knees and ego) that came with learning to ride a bike (we're late bloomers here, it's fine).

Linley migrated to middle school and found herself navigating friendships.  She perceived the pain of braces. She felt the pangs of procrastination and is learning the importance of time management and proper preparation.

Ryder lost a friend over his stance on homosexuality, and spent all his days and nights in a pool or in a book, pursuing preparations for high school and becoming an eagle scout.  He also surpassed me in height.

I became a board member on the kids' swim team, highlighting every last one of my insecurities.  And to ensure I was kept sufficiently humbled, I was made first counselor in Young Women's, working with the Mia Maids. 15-year old females are scary.

Allen was sustained a member of the Bishopric, exacerbating his endeavor to encounter balance, all while facing a work culture that cultivates discomfort.

Last year was hard, oftentimes awkward, and sometimes stinging.

This year of growth required stretching and straining.

But always after a period of stretching and straining, comes a feeling of tenderness.

 A sensitivity.  

And so, 2018 has become our year of tenderness.

Augmented by the passing of our dear prophet, Thomas S. Monson, on January 2nd.

 May we approach this special year with a sensitivity to the Spirit of God.  May we feel the tenderness of our testimony. 

May the slightest touch of Christ's hand deeply pierce our souls.

 May we be sensitive to the feelings of others.  May we treat one another with tenderness.  May we be gentle with our words, mild with our thoughts and kind in our actions.

May we appreciate the tenderness that comes from our trials.

May we welcome new strengths.

May 2018 be the year "Each of us can have eyes to see clearly and ears to hear distinctly the tender mercies of the Lord as they strengthen and assist us in these latter days. May our hearts always be filled with gratitude for His abundant and tender mercies (Elder Bednar)."

May we trust the counsel of our beloved prophet, "Of this be sure: you do not find the happy life...you make it."

May we make it.