Easter

The celebration of Easter is different where we are living. Chrise and I were both surprised when it wasn’t even mentioned in Sacrament Meeting. When I asked some of the members about it, they confirmed that it isn’t a big holiday here. This is all the more surprising because the Mexican people love festivals and have many that I couldn’t tell you what they were celebrating.

Earlier in the week while I was preparing to teach an English class, a middle aged man, whom I had seen and greeted on other occasions but whom I didn’t know very well at all, came into talk to me. I sensed a tension in him and it was soon apparent why. He had just received news that a cancer, against which he had been battling for sixteen years, had relapsed. As he told me about it tears welled up in his eyes and he told me that he was very tired of the fight.  He asked me to give him a blessing.

I wanted very much to be the mouth piece of the Lord’s will as I knew this blessing was very important to him, so I paused for several seconds seeking inspiration. Then the words started flow. The blessing was one of comfort and direction for him. I told him of the Lord’s knowledge of his suffering because of what He had suffered. It was one of the longest blessings that I have ever given, and when it was over the man with tears still in his eyes gave me a long hug. I could not even say the word heal. Every time that I thought to say it, my mind had a stupor and I could not remember it in either English or Spanish, but the word’s I offered and Spirit I felt brought hope and comfort. He is in the hands of our Heavenly Father.

About 1, 984 years ago our Savior suffered all of our pains and worries and hardships, all of our sorrows, and burdens. We all hope that he will take them away and someday he will, but I don’t think that is why he suffered them. He knows more than we do that they these afflictions that come to us all at various times in our lives are an important part of our mortal probation. But as angels came to succor him in his pain in Gethsemane, so can he succor us and help us find meaning and hope in what we endure, and in so doing, he lightens our burdens.

How grateful I am to have my small knowledge of my Redeemer, and to have felt his love and guiding influence so many times in my life. I love Him.