Sacramental Bread

 Because of COVID, my ward is doing the sacrament a little different. The bread is broken as usual, but then put into little individual cups so that the congregation only touches their own piece of bread. Today as I was taking the sacrament, the bread wouldn't come out of the cup. The more I tried to get it out, the further it squished into the cup. I was trying to dig it out with my finger, and feeling a little frustrated that I was holding up the young man in taking the sacrament to others. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the bread popped out, and I was able to take the sacrament. 

Almost immediately, I started thinking of how that experience relates to the Atonement. Sometimes, forgiveness and access to the blessings of the Atonement seem easy. Other times it takes a lot of work, and seems to take forever to be able to feel forgiveness or relief. In the end, it doesn't matter too much whether it felt easy or difficult. What really matters, is what the Savior did for us, and that He is there, with His hands outstretched to bless us, to forgive us, and to lift us up - because of His Atoning sacrifice.

I'm grateful that the bread didn't want to come out of its cup today. I learned something I might not have otherwise.