A Priceless Gift

Remember Elder Bednar's talk The Tender Mercies of the Lord from April 2005 General Conference? It has been one of my favorite talks and I'm sure that I'm not alone. When contemplating the talk many years ago, I thought of several tender mercies that the Lord had blessed me with that had helped me in tough times.
One of them happened many years ago. Elisa, my second daughter, was in nursery and our oldest, Alex, was a sunbeam. We attended a married student ward. We had been married longer than anyone else in the ward except the bishop and Alex was the only child older than nursery age. Many couples didn't have any children yet. I saw all these women still in school, getting their education and feeling fulfilled and there I was, at home all day with two small children with all of the messes, unappreciation and sleepless nights that come with that. I loved my children so much, but I started to wonder if I had messed up. Maybe I was supposed to finish school and then have children. My patriarchal blessing spoke of both. Maybe I hadn't been close enough to the Spirit to follow Heavenly Father's plan for me. I didn't express this to anyone, but it started to weigh on me.
It was time for me to renew my temple recommend and I had already done the bishopric interview and then went to President Covey for the stake presidency interview. I had seen President Covey speak once or twice, but had never really met him personally. As far as I could tell, he knew nothing about me when we met. Why would he?
The interview was going along as always when we were almost to the end. Suddenly, President Covey was silent and looking down. I was wondering why he was quiet. I wasn't perfect, but I didn't have any problems answering all the questions the way I needed to so that I could have a new recommend. A moment later, he spoke. "Sister, Heavenly Father wants you to know that He is very pleased with you. You are a good mother, wife and member of the church. He accepts your offering." Not a second passed before I had tears rolling down my face.
That night and even today, I am so grateful for that tender mercy. I am grateful for that inspired leader who was close enough to the Lord to receive a message for me. I am grateful that Heavenly Father loved me enough to send that message to me. That was a priceless gift that is so precious to me.

I found this song which was in the New Era. You can listen to it by clicking on it at LDS.org.

Janice Kapp Perry, “Tender Mercies of the Lord,” NewEra, Apr 2007, 13

1. Tender mercies of the Lord
Come in quiet ways,
Not by mere coincidence,
But by heaven’s grace.
As we choose to follow Him
With full heart and soul,
We become His chosen ones
And tender mercies flow.

2. Tender mercies of the Lord
Come in times of need.
Gifts of faith and confidence
Fill us as we plead.
Words of guidance, hope, and peace
Help us feel God’s love.
By our faith, His mercies come
Like manna from above.

3. Tender mercies of the Lord
Come as we repent.
Sweet forgiveness, peace of mind
Follow, heaven-sent.
Faithfulness, obedience
Help us to discern.
Blessings sweet and personal
For which our spirits yearn.

4. Tender mercies of the Lord
Comfort us and guide.
In His time and in His way,
We receive His light.
As we yield our will to His,
Blessings freely flow.
We partake of love divine
Thru mercies He bestows.
****I would love to hear a (not too private) tender mercy that has touched you and lifted you up at a time when you needed it.