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Norah’s Splinter

Norah is four-years-old and somehow, just recently, she got a splinter in her foot. Mom tried to take it out but Norah “would not let [her] anywhere near it.”

“I could barely look at it,” Mom said, “and my first attempt to take it out with tweezers was unsuccessful. I let it stay, hoping that it would come out on its own or inch closer to the surface so I could take it out easier.”

Well, it didn’t and now Norah’s foot was starting to get infected. Mom tried to explain to the little one “why it needed to come out, again with no success.” It got so bad that now Norah was walking on the side of her foot.

“Please let me take this out of your foot,” Mom begged. “It is hurting you. Please, let me help you.”

Norah refused. I mean after all, why wouldn’t she? All she had experienced to this point because of that splinter was pain. Why should she expect any different?

But her dear mother loved her too much to leave her that way. She knew it would only get worse. So, with her husband holding Norah still, Mom set out to remove the splinter. Evidently, it was quite traumatic. Mom said, “You would have thought I was doing the worst thing on the planet to this poor, sweet four-year-old.”

But, it took less than a minute and the tiny splinter was gone. Mom marveled how it was that something so tiny could cause so much pain, and how quickly Norah was able to walk again once it was removed.

Mom reflected on the experience and realized that Norah’s situation is so much like all of us. She wisely shared this,

There are little things in our lives that … seem insignificant, but are wreaking havoc on our spirits and keeping us from being able to walk with the Savior. Satan lies to us, making us think that it will hurt more to let go. He convinces us that we need our sins more than forgiveness, that we can’t live without them…. But, oh, the relief is immediate. Right away, we can feel the love of our Savior, overjoyed that we have chosen to let Him help. His atonement is healing and sufficient. The things we thought were so big, really aren’t big at all to the one who has overcome all.

And she is correct. President Nelson has asked us to take stock and repent daily of our sins and distractions—indeed, to endure the small momentary pain of repentance.

Sources:

Lauren Durrans 10/10/2021