If we could be lifted up out of our life to look down from above to see ourselves, what would we see? What would it be like if we had a good look at our life from birth to when we left this earth? What would we think of ourselves? What is the grand picture of our life?
The interesting thought to this idea is that we might be surprised to find ourselves unable to see our own destiny. We might be lost in our focus to raise children, succeed at employment or live out a passion we finally were able to start. Gordon B. Hinckley, past President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (LDS Church) said “We must never lose sight of the divine destiny of God’s work and the part we play in it.” What is our divine work in this life?
We just have to live our own life to mean something to another human being.
Our own goals and aspirations are personal messages to ourselves. Whether we realize it or not or even like it or not we are all part of a divine plan in motion since Adam and Eve were put on this earth. We don’t have to live grandiose lives from an entertainer’s point of view or discover something instrumental in saving the world; we just have to live our own life to mean something to another human being.
More words from President Hinckley: “Sometimes in our day, as we walk our narrow paths and fill our little niches of responsibility we lose sight of the grand picture.”
Sometimes our life presses forward with or without us realizing our potential for good. We can realize our own importance to others around us or ignore the divine messages. We are our worst enemy in negative thought but we don’t have to listen to those negative thoughts. We can lift ourselves and others up when pessimistic thoughts flood our minds.
President Hinckley has a lot of great things to say: “Each of us has a small field to cultivate. While so doing, we must never lose sight of the greater picture; the large composite of the divine destiny of this work. It was given us by God our Eternal father, and each of us has a part to play in the weaving of its magnificent tapestry. Our individual contribution may be small, but it is not unimportant…”
Gordon B. Hinckley
Tapestries were first made during the middle Ages and originally designed to protect medieval rooms from the damp and cold weather. They covered large walls of huge castles and insulated big rooms to make them more comfortable. Tapestries were a thick fabric with intricate pictures and designs formed by weaving colored threads together. They were also embroidered on canvas used as a wall hanging or furniture covering.
The reference used in the above quote helps us to visualize our intricate or complex lives as seen in a tapestry. If we observe from the point of a few inches from the great weaving, we might not appreciate the designs the creator had meant for us to see but if we back up and take in the whole tapestry from a distance we understand much better what is meant to be seen in this grand wall covering. Our lives are just like these tapestries. We just have to find out what that divine destiny is.
One more quote from President Hinckley: “While you are performing the part to which you have been called, never lose sight of the whole majestic and wonderful picture of the purpose of this, the dispensation of the fullness of times. Weave beautifully your small thread in the grand tapestry, the pattern for which was laid out for us by the God of heaven. Hold high the standard under which we walk. Be diligent, be true, be virtuous be faithful that there may be no flaw in that banner.”
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What encouraging words we have to live by. Something I read on Facebook the other day tells it well: “An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming.”
Focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the grand picture of our life and how we all touch the lives of others in our own way. Our life will mean much more to us.
Valerie Steimle has been writing as a family advocate for over 25 years. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she promotes Christian living in her writings and is the mother of nine children and grandmother to twelve. Mrs. Steimle authored six books and is a contributing writer to several online websites. To her, time is the most precious commodity we have and knows we should spend it wisely.
To read more of Valerie's work, visit her at her website, The Blessings of Family Life.
