Parable of the knotted shoelaces

“Sometimes, I think I try to deal with challenges like my little son with his knotted shoelaces. … All the while, my Savior stands ready to show me the way if I will only turn to Him.”

When my son was 5 years old, he didn’t want to learn to tie his shoes.

Well, that’s not quite right. I think what he really wanted was to ALREADY know how to tie his shoes. He would get so frustrated when I tried showing him the loops and knots. “I can do it myself,” he’d say angrily, and just like that, the lesson would be over.

So he went maybe a year twisting the shoelaces around each other and then stuffing them down inside his shoes. Sometimes he’d trip on laces that had worked their way out of the sides and were dragging on the ground. Sometimes he’d end up making painfully tight knots, and it would take me forever to untie the laces so he could take off his shoes. It was all so hard to watch because I could have taught him — he just wasn't ready to learn. Now, you’ll be glad to know that my little boy eventually learned to tie his own shoes. He’s a grown man now and walks around all the time with his shoelaces tied. But he went a long time, and dealt with a lot of frustrating, painful knots, before he was willing to listen.

I thought of those shoelaces this week when I saw a beautiful music video on the Gospel Library app. The video opens with a petite young woman running as hard and as fast as she can. Then you see an older, long-haired man running with all that he has, in the same direction. And the music starts:

“Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden, Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed. He’ll safely guide you unto that haven Where all who trust him may rest. ...”

Sometimes, I think I try to deal with challenges like my little son with his knotted shoelaces. Maybe I think I have to do it myself, or that I should already have it figured out. Maybe I just can’t imagine that there’s a better way. All the while, my Savior stands ready to show me the way if I will only turn to Him.

Wouldn’t it be better if, instead of insisting on doing it myself with my limited understanding, I would run to Him who loves me perfectly and knows how best to help?

I know Jesus Christ lives. He suffered for our sins, and experienced all our pains, sicknesses, weaknesses and temptations so that He could redeem us and know perfectly how to help us. He wants to heal us if we will come unto Him.

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P.S. The music video I mentioned also tells a beautiful story about how to come unto Jesus Christ, and the healing He offers. It made me cry three times. I hope you’ll watch it.

No matter what situation in life we are in, Jesus Christ always invites you with open arms. We can follow his example by loving those around us.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — John 13:35

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Sister Julie Howard serves as Graham Oaks Ward newsletter specialist.