Mysterious Ways

So it's been quite a long while since I've written in this ol' blog of mine. Makes me feel kinda ashamed since it's my new years resolution...but, unlike the norm, I will just fix it, start like a new day, and keep at it. No one learns by giving up, right?

If you are LDS, you might have a stab of a guess about what I will be writing about. This blog is supposed to be centered on things I am grateful for. So yeah...that's what it's gonna be about. It just amazes me each day how the Lord puts things in our path that we can be grateful for that we may not immediately recognize...or maybe we recognize them on different levels or from different perspectives that can touch each of our lives in a very individual manner. 

So yeah, here's some food for thought. About a month ago I had the influenza. I haven't really had the flu bad for a long time, so it was kinda strange to me. Anyway, I ended up dropping a date, missing about 4 days of classes, a bunch of work, and was down and out for a while. It took about 2 weeks to fully recover. Heck, I even passed out and hit my head on the tub and peaced on the floor for a while (that's the day I went to Instacare). I did that before getting a blessing to show my faith that I would do everything possible for the Lord to be able to heal me...but He had some plans to let me deal with it a little longer. I did not like this, naturally. It turns out that one of my friends was leaving to go on a mission in this time period, and I decided to go to the last talk in Church they gave. And that's where I had my first recent lesson. So I arrived right after the sacrament and slipped in the back to find a seat. As I was listening, I noticed a rather large concentration of individuals in the back who were in wheelchairs. Then I realized my pride of whining when I was sick for a few days while there were individuals around me who couldn't even walk or dress themselves. It was humbling to think that I was in the right place at the right time to realize in response to my prayers that while I was undergoing what I thought was a hard trial, I quickly was able to put it into perspective and see that my problem was something in passing. Also, being sick for such a long time (in my book) allowed me to have compassion on others. As my siblings know—especially at home—I'm not the nicest to others when they are sick. I don't get near them because I don't want to get sick...and I'm not very helpful. My sweet mother on the other hand dropped everything at a moments notice to make sure that I was taken care of. She made sure I had any nutrition I needed, helped me to the doctor, and watched over me like a mother chicken. She is a Christlike example to me, especially since she is also taking care of both of her parents at the same time, multiple days a week. I vowed when I was better that I would make a more conscious effort to care for the sick and the afflicted, as well as anyone in trouble that I could serve, and not let opportunities pass my by due to temporary "inconvenience". And it definitely made me have more compassion toward those who are sick or suffering from whatever condition it may be.

With that, another thing that dawned on me as I was driving to school is about being on time. The reason you show up to things early is not to sit at the location early, waiting for things to start (unless you're at the temple, and need time to ponder). The preparation for your commitment should always be made prior, leaving you to simply carry it out. The reason you leave to arrive early is so that you can help others on the way when the Lord may need you as an instrument. If you are seeking and asking for these experiences, He will give them to you. I've seen this countless times and think of all the General Authorities and stories they tell of being on time to things or stopping on the way to commitments where the Lord is able to use them at that time to bless others.

I love the Lord. Today I listened to a talk from a respected and charitable friend of mine, Sis. Walquist, who recently returned from serving a full time mission. In her talk, she touched on how the Holy Ghost can also help us break free of things that bind us down from reaching the presence of God. In it she mentioned pride and thought patterns as addictions. I never had seen thought patterns as an addiction, but I knew immediately that it was true. There are so many things I have been blessed with and am blessed with each day, but I still somehow manage to see the negative so many times in my life. This is a vicious cycle that kills potential, regardless of who you are. Faith is about progression. Fear paralyzes and damns. I know when I give in to hopelessness or fear, I am pitting my pride (my timeline, wants, etc) against the Lords and His infinite wisdom and eternally loving plan for me. Sometimes it takes me a little while to realize my mistakes and keep handing my will over to Him. But the crazy thing is that when you are on His team, He is always there, and He has everything at His disposal to help us succeed. He is plenty willing to do so and will as we ask. I love Him and know that He lives. I know the Atonement is real. I know the power of the Priesthood is alive and active on the earth. I love my Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and their partner the Holy Ghost and know that they seek all good for each of us.