The Nest

We were driving down to Payson when my husband saw a large nest up in a tree just off the road.  We came back later with the camera and the girls to walk around and look at the nest.  The nest was so large that we thought at first, it was an eagle's nest.  However, the bird flying in the air was slightly smaller than an eagle.  We had a wonderful time taking pictures, walking the dog, and watching the bird fly in and out of the nest. 
The next day, I talked with one of the rangers in town and they told me that is an Osprey nest.  They are sometimes called "Fish Eagles".  They are considered to be a large rapture and are beautiful to watch.  They are approximately 24 inches in length and their wings span up to two meters.  As their name would suggest, they live around large bodies of water and fish is the main part of their diet. 
The forest service has been watching the nests.  It takes a long time for wildlife to come back after a fire has damaged the habitat.  This is a wonderful thing to see them coming back.  It is a sign that the forest is healing. 

Just as the forest takes a long time to come back after a fire, so can our spirits take a long time to come back after sin has entered our lives and damaged us.  But, even though it takes awhile, it IS possible.  We have a very loving Heavenly Father who has not sent us here alone.  He knew that we could never be reunited with Him unless someone else was able to pay the price. 
This is the mission of our Savior.  He is the one that heals the forests of our soul and  helps us to change.  As we make the changes in our lives necessary to return to Him, we change inside our very souls.  Change is possible for each one of us, no matter what we think we have done, or not done.  Those actions have already been atoned for. 
I wonder if perhaps, the greatest obsticle standing between us and our Savior, isn't our own ability to forgive ourselves for our past mistakes. 
So what are you waiting for?  The trees of testimony are growing in your soul.  The nest is built.  All that is waiting is for you to wecome the Savior in.