All Are Alike Unto God

This last week I found a newborn mouse in our garage. Courtesy of the cat I’m sure. To my surprise, it wasn’t dead. Its eyes hadn’t yet opened, but its hairless body still breathed in & out on the concrete floor.

Since she was a little girl, my 16-year-old has brought all sorts of critters & bugs into the house to care for them.

This was no exception.

She gently laid it in a soft, warm place.

She carefully fed it every couple hours- milk from a paintbrush.

She listened to it squeak & watched it sleep.

Then, after 36 hours, it died in her hands.

And she cried.

She took it outside to bury it. I watched her tears from the window, my heart tender for my sweet girl weeping over the tiny life of a rodent.

I saw God in it.

We recently visited Utah & went to the Church History Museum where artwork for the 12th International Art Competition is on display. The theme is “All Are Alike Unto God,” & I was touched by many pieces.

One drawing caught my eye called “Gathering Under His Wings” by Melanie Dugan.

It features a hen with some… interesting animals under her wings.

The plaque beside it says:

“In the scriptures, the Lord compares Himself to a hen wanting to gather her chicks (Luke 13:34). Dugan has included more animals under the hen’s protective wings—the porcupine, skunk, shrew, spider, snake, rat, mole, & cockroach—to represent those who are sometimes rejected by the world but are loved by God. ‘The Lord wants to gather us all.’”

❤️

When we feel forgotten, rejected, undeserving, unwanted, God sees us differently.

“The Savior’s mortal ministry was indeed characterized by love, compassion, & empathy. He did not disdainfully walk the dusty roads of Galilee & Judea, flinching at the sight of sinners. He did not dodge them in abject horror. No, He ate with them.​​​​ He helped & blessed, lifted & edified, & replaced fear & despair with hope & joy… He seeks us & finds us to offer relief & hope.” (Uchtdorf)

We MATTER to Him.

Each life. Each breath. Each heartbeat.

“God holds us in the palm of His caring & compassionate hands.” (Uchtdorf)

Or under His outstretched wings; Room for all.

“The worth​ of ​​​souls​ is great in the sight of God” (D&C 18:10)