In Follow-Up, a Facebook Post

This is nothing new for Facebook friends. However, it was pointed out to me that it's hard to look back on Facebook posts when you have to scroll, so I'm just adding it here as well. 

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I wanted to take a minute this morning to thank the many friends and family that txt, messaged, and posted kind thoughts to me yesterday after my blog post was shared. Sharing such personal experiences like that generally goes against my nature, but yesterday I felt strongly prompted as I was going about my day. I told myself that if it helped at least one person, it was all worth it.
Today I wanted to share another small part of that story. I know that my Facebook friends list is made up of many different religious views; many share the same LDS faith that I have, many hold other religions dear to their heart, and some believe in no God at all. What I will say might be a little longwinded, but I promise you won’t hear near this much from me for a long while after this (ok, ok, after Mother’s Day & my firstborn’s birthday. Then it will go away!). It’s not often that I’m brave enough to share a testimony like this, so please, please, if you have something to say, just be gentle. No response is required if you disagree. I have no intention of offending anyone, I just feel that what I’m feeling needs to be said in this moment.

After my husband left our LDS faith over 2 year ago, I experienced a heartbreak wasn’t sure I ever could, or ever would be able to recover from. It crushed my heart and soul in indescribable ways, but it was during that time that I found within me an unshakeable testimony. It was my lifeline while I’ve quietly struggled, unwilling to share what I was going through. On one particularly rough day during my struggles, I had decided that enough was enough, and unless God did something to stop me, I was done. (What a loaded demand, am I right???) Immediately after my mind expressed that sentiment on that particular day, I felt a strong presence of guardian angels surrounding me. They encircled me and there was such an overpowering feeling of love and strength that I knew it could only have come from one person. Obviously, I didn’t see angels, but I knew they were there. I KNEW IT, and I couldn’t imagine it away. I felt distinctly that one of them was my Grandmother who died over 10 years ago. I have no idea who else was there, but in that moment, I felt in an undeniable way that my Heavenly Father knows me, loves me, and that HE EXISTS.

That day, a God from above heard my unspoken prayer and answered it. I testify to you that there is a Heavenly Father above and a Savior who understands every pain we’ve ever felt, whether or not you believe it. If you don’t, it’s ok. He still loves you and so do I. If you believe in a different version of God than I do, it’s ok, too. I think we can agree that one exists, and He loves us all immeasurably. What matters to me regardless of your religious beliefs, is whether or not you know of the goodness and mercy of a true God and His unfailing love for each of us. No matter who you are, where you are, or your feelings towards Him, I know that He has saved me. His love extends to all on this earth, and someday we will all see His face and know Him. We will recognize Him and He will open His arms to us with love and joy. That is my belief, and I will stand true to it until I return to Him someday.