Sewing the Perfect Dress

     Lindsey asked me to make her baby a white dress to be dressed it.  It frightened me because I wanted it to be beautiful and perfect for this perfect little baby who didn't need to be on this earth for very long.  Of course, I said that I would do it, so I went and purchased the fabric and lace and trims and all that was necessary to make this dress that wouldn't be seen by many, but needed to be the best thing I had ever made.  It was a labor of love and as I worked on it, I was able to ponder life and eternity like I never had before.
      I wanted to do my very best work.  I didn't want any stray threads, I wanted the seams and hem to be straight.  I would do a lot of handwork to make sure everything came out just right.  This was my offering and I wanted it to be good enough.  I wanted it to be perfect. 

     I shed a lot of tears as I pictured this little infant wearing the dress I was creating.  I thought about her perfect little life and the imperfection of my efforts in spite of how hard I tried. Then, I thought about my imperfect life and realized that living my life is somewhat like creating this beautiful dress. Even though I try really hard to follow my Savior, there is no way I can reach perfection without Him. Because of his redeeming love, I can become perfected.  I can one day be perfect like Him and like my beautiful little granddaughter. My Savior, Jesus Christ, is the one who makes my efforts enough. 

     While I tried very hard not to make any mistakes, I know that there are probably imperfections in this dress that I am not even seeing. I examined it and searched and trimmed and pressed the dress, but I'm sure there are flaws that I missed. And, as I go through life, I am sure that I have imperfections that I am not seeing in myself.  I pray for eyes to see them and the willingness to correct them.  There are 1 or 2 flaws in the dress that I do know about, but I had to fix them as best as I could, but ultimately they are still slightly there.  I have flaws that I am working on the best that I can.  Some I have worked on consistently for years, but they are still slightly there.  I know if I exercise faith in the redemption of the Savior, those flaws can be forgiven and wiped away. I pray to have greater faith and ask my Heavenly Father to "help my unbelief."  (Mark 9:24)

     One last lesson I will share with you is this lesson:  As I said, making this dress was a labor of love. And that love is what motivated me to do my very best.  My love for my granddaughter and my desire to see her one day, resurrected and wearing my offering was a wonderful motivator.  In my life, my love of God and the Lord Jesus Christ is what motivates me to strive to do better.  Not only that, I am learning each day to love my fellow women and men as children of God.  Love is and should be the great motivator in each of our lives.  That lesson has been brought forward to me profoundly lately.  That is the main reason that I am sharing this incredibly personal message with you with a little trepidation and hope that you will receive it as I intend it.  Let's be a little more loving and kind and full of faith.  The world needs it more than ever.  Let's be forgiving and patient, wise and prayerful.  I don't know each of you personally, but If I did, I want you to know that I love you. God loves you.  And, in spite of the sorrows and trials we have to deal with now, we can return to him because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 
     If you want to know more of what I believe, you can check out this website. 
   Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are doing well and coping together as a family. We are expecting to resume our normal posts soon.  Thanks for your patience. 
Helen