Last year our family was able to visit Portugal, where Todd had served his mission 20 years prior. When the temple was announced in 2010, we started dreaming about being able to go for the open house or dedication. So when Todd found some inexpensive tickets to Lisbon just after the dedication, we decided to make it a family vacation.
One late afternoon, about two weeks into our trip, after arriving in Colares from the Algarve, we unpacked the car. Todd had some work business to catch up on and so I went for a short run. I knew that there was a beach a short ways away, so I ran in the direction of what I thought was the beach. As I came up the hill and over the crest, there was the Atlantic Ocean, laid out before me. I ran down the hill, and saw the powerful waves crashing against the rocks, and washing up onto the beach. It was breathtaking! I looked at the horizon, knowing that the sun would be setting in about three hours. I ran quickly home, determined to bring my family back to that spot to watch the sun set.
We went to the grocery and made soup for dinner, then arrived at the stunning Praia Grande about 20 minutes before sunset. As we waited, along with a few other tourists, Savannah drew her name in big letters in the sand with her feet. I sat on the blanket with Grace, silently watching the sun sink lower on the horizon and gazing at the waves washing on the smooth sand. The sun set was every bit as I expected--thrilling, awe-inspiring, and glorious. The yellow, orange, and red color from the fading sun reflected onto the water and the beach. We left a short time later, grateful for the experience, with Savannah’s mark still on the sand.
The next morning, I decided to take my morning run back up to the same beach. This time when I came, the sandy beach was again smooth, as if no one had been there the night before. The waves again gently washed on the shore, not quite as large as the previous day. I pondered about the beach on my way home, and I was taught about the Savior. As we go about our lives, from experience to experience, sometimes we make mistakes, and it leaves a mark on our spirits, just as marks were left on the beach from the night before. But now the marks were all washed clean. Made new. It was as if no one had ever been on that beach before. As we repent, Christ comes and takes those marks away. He makes it as if we have never sinned. He makes us new. He makes us clean. And we can move forward and try again. And just like the water will come again, without fail, to clean away any marks that happen on the beach again the next day, Christ will forgive us each time we repent.
The next morning, I decided to take my morning run back up to the same beach. This time when I came, the sandy beach was again smooth, as if no one had been there the night before. The waves again gently washed on the shore, not quite as large as the previous day. I pondered about the beach on my way home, and I was taught about the Savior. As we go about our lives, from experience to experience, sometimes we make mistakes, and it leaves a mark on our spirits, just as marks were left on the beach from the night before. But now the marks were all washed clean. Made new. It was as if no one had ever been on that beach before. As we repent, Christ comes and takes those marks away. He makes it as if we have never sinned. He makes us new. He makes us clean. And we can move forward and try again. And just like the water will come again, without fail, to clean away any marks that happen on the beach again the next day, Christ will forgive us each time we repent.
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