Recently, I taught a Sunday lesson about adversity and how it can help us to grow. As I prepared and taught the lesson I thought of all the adversity I have faced in my life. I know that the Lord loves me enough to let me go through these things so I can grow. Each difficult experience has brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and one step closer to what He wants me to be.
I can honestly say that I am thankful to have learned from the sorrows I have experienced. Eight miscarriages, many surgeries and illnesses, betrayal of those I have trusted, the loss of a child, fathers, neices, nephews, and several close friends, have all taught me important lessons.
"...how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, “Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!” ~ Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Real faith is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process.”--Elder Maxwell
If we want to become as He is, we must have these experiences to grow. Each sorrow and adversity we experience gives us a foundation of empathy and knowledge in which to share with others who are suffering similar hardships. Lord, I'm not asking for more, but thank you for all you have taught me through these experiences!
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
The Berlin Wall ~ 22 Years Ago
20 years ago today the Berlin Wall came down. (This Post was accidentally left in my Draft Folder. It should have been posted on November 9 2009. Now, in just 5 few days it will have been 22 years since the Berlin Wall came down)
The concrete barrier was part of the Iron Curtain erected by the German Democratic Republic after World War II and completely split Berlin in half, creating East and West Germany. It was guarded by towers and trenches where many people lost their lives trying to escape.
I had read about those who had dropped their children over the wall hoping they would have a better life on the other side and those who had lost loved ones trying to escape. Many people went to extreme measures to help others escape from Eastern Germany and had risked their own lives in the process. I had always felt empathy for those who were separated from loved ones on the other side of the wall and imagined the horror they felt knowing they had not escaped in time.
On November 9, 1989 after civil unrest and a feeling of revolution had swept across Eastern Europe the wall came down. I watched the events unfold on television as crowds on both sides of the wall flung sledge hammers at it and watched it crumble. Many grappled for something to cling to as they climbed on a portion of the wall to see over or cross it for the first time. People celebrated and cheered, and many jumped on the concrete pieces as they fell. It was an incredible feeling of euphoria.
I remember the joy I felt for so many people who were suddenly free to see beyond the Iron Curtain that had held them captive and separated them from freedom for years. For several weeks people chipped away at the wall and collected pieces for souvenirs and eventually it was mostly all gone. It was a great miracle in their lives and a wonderful piece of history to witness!
Ten years later my son James served a mission in Berlin. If the wall hadn’t come down he wouldn’t have been blessed to minister to those people who had previously been trapped on the eastern side of the Berlin Wall. He had the opportunity to visit museums and historical sites and on a P-Day he and his companion hiked to a place where a large portion of the wall had been. He learned much of their strength and fortitude and much of their suffering. I know it made him more grateful to live in this great land of America!
Learning what these people lived through has made me more grateful for my freedom and given me hope that with strength from God I too could survive something horrible and difficult. As I think about the history I have witnessed in my lifetime I am even more grateful to have a knowledge that the Lord is in control of all the events that unfold in the world. He has the power to free His people in His own due time. It strengthens my faith knowing that if we are required to suffer through difficult times like the people of East Berlin we can be assured that God has not forgotten us and will free us when He sees fit.
The concrete barrier was part of the Iron Curtain erected by the German Democratic Republic after World War II and completely split Berlin in half, creating East and West Germany. It was guarded by towers and trenches where many people lost their lives trying to escape.
I had read about those who had dropped their children over the wall hoping they would have a better life on the other side and those who had lost loved ones trying to escape. Many people went to extreme measures to help others escape from Eastern Germany and had risked their own lives in the process. I had always felt empathy for those who were separated from loved ones on the other side of the wall and imagined the horror they felt knowing they had not escaped in time.
On November 9, 1989 after civil unrest and a feeling of revolution had swept across Eastern Europe the wall came down. I watched the events unfold on television as crowds on both sides of the wall flung sledge hammers at it and watched it crumble. Many grappled for something to cling to as they climbed on a portion of the wall to see over or cross it for the first time. People celebrated and cheered, and many jumped on the concrete pieces as they fell. It was an incredible feeling of euphoria.
I remember the joy I felt for so many people who were suddenly free to see beyond the Iron Curtain that had held them captive and separated them from freedom for years. For several weeks people chipped away at the wall and collected pieces for souvenirs and eventually it was mostly all gone. It was a great miracle in their lives and a wonderful piece of history to witness!
Ten years later my son James served a mission in Berlin. If the wall hadn’t come down he wouldn’t have been blessed to minister to those people who had previously been trapped on the eastern side of the Berlin Wall. He had the opportunity to visit museums and historical sites and on a P-Day he and his companion hiked to a place where a large portion of the wall had been. He learned much of their strength and fortitude and much of their suffering. I know it made him more grateful to live in this great land of America!
Learning what these people lived through has made me more grateful for my freedom and given me hope that with strength from God I too could survive something horrible and difficult. As I think about the history I have witnessed in my lifetime I am even more grateful to have a knowledge that the Lord is in control of all the events that unfold in the world. He has the power to free His people in His own due time. It strengthens my faith knowing that if we are required to suffer through difficult times like the people of East Berlin we can be assured that God has not forgotten us and will free us when He sees fit.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Miracles and Blessings
Just in case you’ve ever wondered, miracles do still happen! I have witnessed several things this week that I consider to be a miracle and I thank God for blessing us with miracles in our lives! I know that as we pray in faith our prayers are answered and that the temple prayer rolls are a great resource and blessing to us if we will use them and believe!
First, last week someone I am close to had a really bad infection with serious symptoms. She knew she would have to see a doctor and get on an antibiotic to get better, but having no insurance she requested a Priesthood blessing first. In the blessing she was told that the infection would leave her body quickly. She was ill for several hours and then without any medical care she was healed through the power of the Priesthood. A marvelous power is at our fingertips if we just have faith and call on the elders to bless us. I wonder how many times in my life I have suffered through illness when if I had first asked for a blessing I may have been spared so much suffering. Not that we won’t have to go through illness or take medicine—because it’s often necessary—but I know that God does have the power to heal all that ails us if necessary!
Second, I know a young man who knew he might lose his job. With faith he and his wife fasted, prayed, and attended the temple. His name was placed on the temple prayer roll. In an unlikely turn of events he was blessed with the work of his choice and offered a benefits package. With all those who are losing their jobs right now I know this was a blessing and a miracle for this faithful young couple!
And lastly, this may sound really strange, but last weekend on a little vacation I saw a teenage boy who was horribly disfigured. His head was shaped unlike any I have ever seen. His face was frightening to look at. If a human being could resemble a monster, that is what he looked like. He was with his mother and I could tell that he was very important to her and that she loved him dearly. He seemed gentle and kind in his communication with her. Some might say he was a freak of nature, an accident. But when I looked at him I realized that he was a miracle. I could tell that the very fact that he was a living, breathing soul was a miracle to his family and all who loved him. I knew that God loved him just the way he was!
It is comforting to me to remember that God does love us. He knows what is going on in our lives and what we need, and He can perform miracles to help us in times of need—if we will just see—and believe!
First, last week someone I am close to had a really bad infection with serious symptoms. She knew she would have to see a doctor and get on an antibiotic to get better, but having no insurance she requested a Priesthood blessing first. In the blessing she was told that the infection would leave her body quickly. She was ill for several hours and then without any medical care she was healed through the power of the Priesthood. A marvelous power is at our fingertips if we just have faith and call on the elders to bless us. I wonder how many times in my life I have suffered through illness when if I had first asked for a blessing I may have been spared so much suffering. Not that we won’t have to go through illness or take medicine—because it’s often necessary—but I know that God does have the power to heal all that ails us if necessary!
Second, I know a young man who knew he might lose his job. With faith he and his wife fasted, prayed, and attended the temple. His name was placed on the temple prayer roll. In an unlikely turn of events he was blessed with the work of his choice and offered a benefits package. With all those who are losing their jobs right now I know this was a blessing and a miracle for this faithful young couple!
And lastly, this may sound really strange, but last weekend on a little vacation I saw a teenage boy who was horribly disfigured. His head was shaped unlike any I have ever seen. His face was frightening to look at. If a human being could resemble a monster, that is what he looked like. He was with his mother and I could tell that he was very important to her and that she loved him dearly. He seemed gentle and kind in his communication with her. Some might say he was a freak of nature, an accident. But when I looked at him I realized that he was a miracle. I could tell that the very fact that he was a living, breathing soul was a miracle to his family and all who loved him. I knew that God loved him just the way he was!
It is comforting to me to remember that God does love us. He knows what is going on in our lives and what we need, and He can perform miracles to help us in times of need—if we will just see—and believe!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
A Mother's Love
A mother’s love is in every fiber of her being, every strand of her heart,
It hurts to see her child struggle and it hurts when someone breaks their heart.
A mother’s love can heal most sorrow, comfort, nurture, reassure,
It can take away the pain life brings, because it’s greater than anything.
A mother’s faith is also great and can heal, if it’s the Father’s will,
But when it’s not, her faith is still true, and she does as the Father expects her to do.
She submits to one on high who knows all things, the reasons why,
And gives her child back to Him, who calls us home when He sees fit.
But still she doubts, and her heart stings, she wishes she could change some things,
The sorrow of a broken heart like this, a mother should not have to bear.
To love a child, to nurture, to care, then to be asked to let go,
Is more than one should dare to ask, a mother who loves her child so.
But since it’s Father up above who asks of her in His great love,
A mother says, “Thy will be done,” and says goodbye to her son.
In faith she knows she will see him again, because of the Father’s plan,
So she will wait, and pray for the faith to go on, until she will meet him again.
(Written by me for my sister after the death of her teenage son)
It hurts to see her child struggle and it hurts when someone breaks their heart.
A mother’s love can heal most sorrow, comfort, nurture, reassure,
It can take away the pain life brings, because it’s greater than anything.
A mother’s faith is also great and can heal, if it’s the Father’s will,
But when it’s not, her faith is still true, and she does as the Father expects her to do.
She submits to one on high who knows all things, the reasons why,
And gives her child back to Him, who calls us home when He sees fit.
But still she doubts, and her heart stings, she wishes she could change some things,
The sorrow of a broken heart like this, a mother should not have to bear.
To love a child, to nurture, to care, then to be asked to let go,
Is more than one should dare to ask, a mother who loves her child so.
But since it’s Father up above who asks of her in His great love,
A mother says, “Thy will be done,” and says goodbye to her son.
In faith she knows she will see him again, because of the Father’s plan,
So she will wait, and pray for the faith to go on, until she will meet him again.
(Written by me for my sister after the death of her teenage son)
Judge Not
In Luke 6:37 we are taught not to judge. I was just reminded why. It’s very painful to have someone place judgment on you or how you are living your life. They seem to think that the decisions you are making are the wrong ones or that the things you are doing should be different.
It hurts so badly because they have no idea what you have been going through. They have no idea how hard you have tried to find the right answers and do what is best. No idea how many tears you have already shed or how many prayer you have constantly said. No idea how many sleepless nights you have had.
We all have things so difficult to deal with that we have no idea what to do, so we just do our best. To some our best just isn’t good enough. Even when we lay it at God’s feet and try to have faith there are those who think we should be doing something else.
Unfortunately, some think they have the right to judge. They think that they know things that they don’t actually know at all, things that they could never, ever possibly know without being in your shoes, or in your head, or in your heart; they could never know unless they were living your life.
So after all the tears I see it as a lesson and a blessing. To be reminded to try my best to never think I know someone’s intentions, or motivations, and most especially their heart. It’s impossible to know any of this without being them. I feel grateful to know that there is only one who is qualified to judge; one who is perfect enough to do it. One who suffered all this sorrow for us and with us, so he truly knows how to be the perfect judge. And it isn’t you or I.
It hurts so badly because they have no idea what you have been going through. They have no idea how hard you have tried to find the right answers and do what is best. No idea how many tears you have already shed or how many prayer you have constantly said. No idea how many sleepless nights you have had.
We all have things so difficult to deal with that we have no idea what to do, so we just do our best. To some our best just isn’t good enough. Even when we lay it at God’s feet and try to have faith there are those who think we should be doing something else.
Unfortunately, some think they have the right to judge. They think that they know things that they don’t actually know at all, things that they could never, ever possibly know without being in your shoes, or in your head, or in your heart; they could never know unless they were living your life.
So after all the tears I see it as a lesson and a blessing. To be reminded to try my best to never think I know someone’s intentions, or motivations, and most especially their heart. It’s impossible to know any of this without being them. I feel grateful to know that there is only one who is qualified to judge; one who is perfect enough to do it. One who suffered all this sorrow for us and with us, so he truly knows how to be the perfect judge. And it isn’t you or I.
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