This morning as we were getting ready to go to church, Michael was about to pick John up to put him in his car seat when John turned and ran away from him. Only a few seconds later John tripped and fell down in the driveway. Michael picked up the crying and now less resistant toddler and placed him in the car seat. He noticed John had skinned his knee and was bleeding, so Lydia put a bandage on it. When we were getting out of the car at church, Michael noticed that John had bled on Michael's white dress shirt when he was carrying him to the car after his fall. Michael was self-conscious and tried to cover up the blood stains with his suit coat and tie so no one would notice. However, as we sat in church, thinking about the atonement of Jesus Christ (and Michael thinking about John's blood on his shirt at the same time) Michael realized that we had a life lesson on our hands.
There are times in our lives when we walk--or even run away from God to follow our own path. He allows us to make our own choices and even lets us fall flat on our face. Still, He is always there for us when we fall, even if we bring it on ourselves. When our heart is broken and our spirit is contrite and we call out to Him for help, He will carry us to where we need to be.
He has taken our sins upon Him, and he suffered all so "that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7: 12) He has the power to heal us both physically and spiritually. He can heal the wounded knee as well as the wounded heart. Our sin-stained garments can be made white through the blood of the Lamb of God.
"...though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
John's knee will heal. For now, the bandage is a small reminder of what happened. We imagine it reminds him more of the tender care of his mother than of the painful fall. Michael's shirt has been cleaned and the stain removed (thanks to Hydrogen Peroxide), but hopefully this little life lesson will remain in our hearts and minds forever. We are thankful for the little things that remind us of our Savior Jesus Christ, His tender mercies, and His redeeming power.
