I’ve done it three times now, and each time, as that due date approaches, the intensity starts to build.

I’m so excited to bring a new baby into the world.

But I know that I have to experience a lot of physical pain, uncertainty, potential complications, and sleeplessness in order to get to the other side.

It’s excitement, it’s anxiety, it’s trying to be peaceful and hoping everything will go smoothly.

And then, after the journey, the new baby is laid on your chest.

What a feeling.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:” (Isaiah 53:4)

I’ve carried and birthed sweet little babies.

And Isaiah teaches us that our Savior has carried and borne every sorrow, trial, and tragedy we’ve experienced.

He’s struggled and become fatigued with what we currently have to endure.

Which in turn, I believe, gives Him a special kind of love toward us.

“No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child.” – Elder Holland

I love this motherly imagery because I am a mother, and the relationship between brutal physical sacrifice and devoted love is one that I’ve experienced firsthand.

But I also know that you don’t have to be a mom to know this.

The Savior loved us and was willing to endure real actual physical pain to then love us even more wholly.

Which means that maybe, just maybe, when we willingly sacrifice on a much smaller scale on His behalf, we grow a special kind of love for Him, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Borne and carried first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That person who gave a great lesson about loving others but then said something rude.

That guy who talked about the importance of serving others but can’t show up to help at the ward service project.

That family member who tells you not to judge, and then says judgmental comments all the time.

“Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me”. (Isaiah 29:13)

We could all sit around and point fingers endlessly.

But what about if we turned that finger around and looked at ourselves for a bit?

Could you give a great spiritual thought about the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy by doing good things that bring you closer to Christ?

How does that compare with your actual Sabbath observance?

Could you talk about the importance of temples?

How does that compare with your feelings about your personal worship in the temple and your attendance habits?

Could you give lots of reasons for why it’s so easy and important to share the gospel with other people?

How does that compare with your willingness to bring up gospel topics with people who aren’t members of this church?

At the end of the day, we ALL are able to teach about certain gospel principles much better than we are able to live them.

But here’s what I’ve learned about what actually matters most:

Where is your heart?

Our lips and our actions aren’t always going to align.

But our heart can be aligned with our lips and our actions.

Our actions will fall short, even though we have good intentions.

We wanted to serve but got too tired, we tried to make the Sabbath a delight but the kids are crazy, we want to love the temple more but we haven’t gone in a long time.

“Jesus Christ blesses those who want to improve and who try to keep the commandments. We always get credit for trying.” -Elder Holland

We always get credit for trying.

…But we have to really try.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Lips and hearts first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.