trials?
I attended church today in a different ward and it seemed I was surrounded by people with problems. Big problems. There was a mother in a wheelchair who had 3 sons about 2, 5, and 7. She held the 2 year old on her lap in her wheelchair for all of the meeting. There was an older woman in a wheelchair with bright yellow safety glasses on. There was a set of twins who were born at 28 weeks and struggle with a variety of disabilities. There was a young man, 12 years old, who has been battling cancer in his knee for the last several years and could hardly walk as he passed the sacrament. There was a woman about 55 years old who hobbled down the hallway on crooked feet. There were two children with autism. There were numerous older people trying to get around with their canes. It was quite humbling to be in the midst of so many physical struggles, which I know are accompanied by emotional and spiritual struggles as well.
I spent much of my worship time pondering how the Lord teaches us and why we have the struggles we do. Why do I struggle with pride, personal prayer, prioritizing, and pregnancy (wow, 4 P’s in a row, completely not on purpose) and others struggle with cancer, divorce, resentment, or anger?
I learned (relearned to be more exact) that I am grateful for my trials. I wouldn’t really want to switch places with anyone else. I want to learn from my trials, to come closer to Christ by giving my heart to him, and to help alleviate other peoples suffering.
I'm Tracy, a mama with big dreams, crazy ideas, loads of laughter, an insatiable desire to learn, and enormous piles of laundry.
Well said, Tracy. Well said.
I found your blog through sugardoodle and saved it in my blog roll so I could help with the pencil rolls. When I saw your blog post I was curious.
Isn’t it incredible the things other go through? I am always amazed at what we as sons and daughters of Heavenly Father have to endure. We receive incredible blessing though as we hold to the rod and continue on, no matter what. How much easier would that mother of three in the wheelchairs day have been had she stayed home where she didn’t have to hold a two year old for an hour and a half? How much easier would it have been for the young man to stay home or even stay seated rather than pass the sacrament. It’s always a testament to me of their faith, or their love and of their testimony!
Thank you for this great post.
Welcome Amber!
You hit the nail on the head. I told my children today that the boy was a hero. I know some of his struggles with cancer and have been told how he has endured diligently and has kept on fighting even when life has been completely miserable. He has spent much of the past 2 years in the hospital and now that he is supposedly cancer-free, he still can’t really walk well. He went from being a healthy, active, energetic 10 year old boy, to a frail, weak, crippled young man. And he is still smiling. Still carrying out his priesthood duties. Still trying his best to get up each day and give the world his all.
The mother? Wowsers, I was so impressed by her. She easily could have stayed home. Instead, she brought her boys to church, by herself! She had no husband there with her. Somehow they were all dressed in suits and ties, had their hair combed, and were there to worship the Lord in spite of difficulty. I would love to go meet her and learn all about her life’s joys and struggles. I know I would learn much.
Are you doing pencil roles for us? If so, yippee! How many?
How was my blog on sugardoodle? That would be amazing to be featured on there!
What a facinating blog. I’ve bookmarked it and added your feed to my RSS Reader