Meridian Magazine : : Print

“Out of Our Hearts We Paid the Cost”
By Steve and Claudia Goodman

In the normal course of events, most of us try on a daily basis to “let our light so shine” and keep our lives in balance with the teachings of the gospel. In this way we bless others and feel the joy of living up to our potential. We know the benefits of living the Lord’s law of health, of studying the word of God daily, and of keeping our homes and lives organized and positive. We rejoice in doing all we can to magnify our stewardships.

However, for each of us there are times when we must show just how much we are willing to pay for the things that mean most to us. The choice to sacrifice a Saturday night movie so that we can be prepared for an early church service the following morning might be challenging yet rewarding, but what about the dilemma of working with a rebellious child over the years, or caring for a child with Down syndrome for a lifetime? Some things we pay for in diligence, in magnifying our talents, and in self-improvement. Others we pay for with our health, our reputation, maybe even our lives.

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “My life is like my shoes—to be worn out in service.” (Petrea Kelly, “Spencer W. Kimball: He Did Not Give Up,” Tambuli, Mar. 1994, p. 26.) And Joseph Smith’s great-granddaughter Lorena Normandeau wrote, “Into our arms thou gave us children. Out of our hearts we paid the cost.” Sometimes that cost is very real—when our health is compromised and our opportunities are scattered. We may not look so impressive to the world at that point, but what are our actions saying? Perhaps that we love someone else more than life itself.

Our Savior Jesus Christ said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) In a very real sense His body was bruised and marred for us. His heart was broken, and in agony He bled from every pore.

So when we hit those times that we feel like an old pair of shoes worn out in service, with dark circles under our eyes because we sat up night after night with a sick child, or flabby muscles and varicose veins because of the children we have born, or poverty because of the pressures of providing for a family, may we pause to remember the price we are paying and count the cost.

And at this Easter season, may our hearts expand and begin to comprehend all that our Savior paid when His body was literally bruised and broken to pay for each one of us. “Into our arms thou gavest children. Our of our hearts we paid the cost.” May we be equal to the sacrifices required of us, and may our hearts always be open to pay the cost of love.

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