FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Mi Cumpleanos!

Well, it's here! My 30th birthday! As I woke up and studied this morning, I found myself reflecting on the principle of rebirth. I wondered to myself, have I ever really, truly, had a "re-birthday?"

As this thought occurred to me, I turned to Moses 6:59:

"Inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became the dust of a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of my Only Begotten, that ye might be sanctified of all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory."

I'm sure this scripture is nothing new, but thought I'd reflect a little further on the beautiful comparisons made in this simple, yet life-changing verse.

First, we were born into the world by water, literally immersed in amniotic fluid. Our first rebirth happens as we are baptized and are drawn from the water. Later, as we live righteously, the water of the sacrament can cleanse us again and again as we partake worthily.

Second, as babies, we are most definitely born of blood. (Ask any mommy who's given birth!) At our rebirth, we are renewed through the blood of the Savior, the very blood He gave as part of the Atoning sacrifice.

Third, our lives truly begin when the miracle of life begins with the union of a body and a spirit. Our spirits become born anew as we repent and turn our lives over to God. More specifically, our hearts are offered as a sacrifice, and we subject ourselves to His loving will for each of us.

Also noteworthy, is the innocence of an infant, newly come to the world. As we turn our lives over to the Savior, we too, become innocent and free of all guilt, just like a very small child.

This is really deep doctrine I'm attempting to understand and explain here, and I hope I'm handling it delicately and accurately. I hope that as I think of my birthday, and contemplate what I've done here on Earth up to this point, I will be touched to begin anew, the process of rebirth. I will pledge to remember Him and the atoning sacrifice He made so that I could be born again and I will never, ever take it for granted.