On Being Certain

Spring is CERTAIN in Harrogate, as it is everywhere. Here we sit, social distancing/self isolating/in self quarantine while all the world moves on. ⁣

I remember the simple joy of buying 4 bunches of daffodils every week at Morrison’s for £1.50 to brighten up my home.  There were more daffodils covering the fields and banks than I had ever seen in my life when we lived there.  Just the memory of it makes me happy!⁣

I’ve thought often about how life is carrying on while at the same time the whole world is stopped right now.  There are things that are certain, no matter what. Am I one of those things? Are you?⁣

I love what Linda Burton shared about being a “CERTAIN woman”:⁣

“The New Testament includes accounts of [certain] women, named and unnamed, who exercised faith in Jesus Christ [and in His Atonement], learned and lived His teachings, and testified of His ministry, miracles, and majesty. These women became exemplary disciples and important witnesses in the work of salvation.⁣

Consider these accounts in the book of Luke. First, during the Savior’s ministry:⁣

‘And it came to pass … that [Jesus] went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,⁣

‘And certain women, … Mary called Magdalene, … and Joanna … , and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him.’⁣

Next, following His Resurrection:⁣

‘And certain women … which were early at the sepulchre;⁣

...When they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had … seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.’⁣

I have read and passed over the seemingly unremarkable expression ‘certain women’ numerous times before, but recently as I pondered more carefully, those words seemed to jump off the page. Consider these synonyms of one meaning of the word certain as connected to faithful, certain women: convinced, positive, confident, firm, definite, assured, and dependable.⁣

We learn from these sisters that certain women are disciples centered in the Savior Jesus Christ and have hope through the promise of His atoning sacrifice.”⁣

Spring is certain.  I’m grateful for daffodils to remind me.  And YOU AND I CAN BE CERTAIN through whatever adversity and life circumstances come our way. ⁣

XO,

Dayna