kindness shall not depart
- Shelbey Townsend
- Jul 8, 2024
- 3 min read
I watched as young siblings on bikes zipped past on the little trail through the canyon.
Big brother leading the way on the biggest bike going the fastest.
Younger sister on a slightly smaller bike doing pretty well to keep up. I heard her offer a, “C’mon Austin, you’re okay!”
Then the littlest brother and his tiny legs trailing behind, big tears forming in his eyes.
It’s hard to be small and feel left behind.
It’s hard to be left behind and feel small.
Not because I have tiny legs or a helmet a little too big for my head, but I felt like Austin and I could have a few things in common.
The day left me feeling quite hopeless.
A mix of those feelings I saw on that little boy’s face.
Tired at the load.
Inadequate at my ability to bear it.
Frustrated at how well others seemed to carry.
Afraid of being left in the dust, and devastated when it seemed that I was.
During that small but heavy moment, some inspired verses read only in guilty, halfhearted obligation taught me a truth that has largely shaped who I am and what I believe.
3 Nephi 22
“Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.”
The truth entered as a feeling in a way nothing had ever done so in quite that way.
He wants to be kind to me.
And I knew it.
I wasn’t the first to feel - and be - left behind.
That time and those feelings could teach me something about Him.
Most importantly, they taught me to let Him be kind to me.
“C’mon Shelbey, you’re okay!”
I testify of a Savior with kindness that never departs,
of the Book that houses His words and invites His confirming Spirit in a way no others can,
and of a God, who always keeps His promises- particularly the merciful covenant of His peace.
“Please know this: if everything and everyone else in the world whom you trust should fail, Jesus Christ and His Church will never fail you. The Lord never slumbers, nor does He sleep. He “is the same yesterday, today, and [tomorrow].” He will not forsake His covenants, His promises, or His love for His people. He works miracles today, and He will work miracles tomorrow.” - President Russell M. Nelson
And the truth that keeps me going - "Our Savior, Jesus Christ, knows everything about us we don't want anyone else to know, and He still loves us." Elder Gong
Keep pedaling.
