Continuing from So Much More III,
For example, once they learned they were naked, they sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness. Have you seen a fig leaf, perchance? Did you know that they come with extremely fine hairs that are like needles and cause severe itching when they come into contact with your skin? (Who’s idea do you think the fig leaves were?) So here’s Adam and Eve, probably extremely uncomfortable with the choice they made to wear fig leaves, now they’re getting cast out of the garden and have to work hard for the rest of their lives and what happens? They are given protective coats of skins. The Lord gives them garments that protect them; He did not remove their consequences, but he eased their burden as they had to live through them. And that’s just speaking temporally.
The casting out of the garden also removed the presence of God from their lives, causing Adam and Eve to rely on heavenly messengers to teach them the gospel. Prior to making their way into the world as we know it, they were given instruction and hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that through obedience to the laws of the gospel, they may return to the presence of God.
So love teaches, love chastens, and love allows consequences. But in all of these, love gives what is needed in order to progress and achieve our eternal goals.
When we love someone, we are to teach them. Sometimes we must chasten them. And as hard as it may be, sometimes we must allow those we love to live through consequences without removing them. But we can give them the protective garments, we can give them the tools, we can give them the helping hand to learn from and rise above these uncomfortable learning opportunities.
Love Sees
God sees us as we really are. And Christ’s ministry taught us who we really are. And our job is to become who we really are. Sharing their vision and seeing what they see is a blessing of unparalleled marvels. Christ’s parables often began with the words “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:10). And this meant to understand what was actually being said. But I invite others who have eyes to see, let them see.
See yourself for who you are: You are an intentional, wanted, unique, needed, loved child of God. This world was made for YOU. Can you see it? The people in your life that taught you life-long lessons, whether of peace or of pain, can you see how they were placed in your life for a season and how you became who you are for it? Can you see the hand of God, guiding and influencing everything? . . . . Conclusion next.
For the start of this series see “So Much More.”
