Trying Times

I am reading a book called An Ordinary Man. It is about the man who harbored refugees during the Rwanda holocaust--the movie Hotel Rwanda was inspired by his story. I had to put it down after a bit--it's not terribly graphic just very sad. He is an amazing man and I really like the book. But I was also pondering on our current economic and political situation and thinking about how discouraged a lot of people are, me included. But what gets me through or have hope in the future when there are people being harmed senselessly and times are uncertain here and abroad? It is my faith in Jesus Christ. It doesn't mean bad things aren't going to happen to me because I have faith. What it means that I know he will be there to guide my life and carry me when I can no longer walk on my own (and that might mean literally right now). It means I can be comforted when my heart breaks at the inhumanity or lack of charity in the world because these victims will be compensated, "Every tear will be answered." (Elder Q. Cook). It does mean I need to try to make a difference in my part of the world like Christ did (of course not on that scale) and try to reach out in the ways I can and hopefully my children will help change the world for the better.

Here is a quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley (Emily brought this home from church and it has been on our fridge), "If as a people we will build and sustain one another, the Lord will bless us with the strength to weather every storm and continue to move forward through every adversity."

A favorite scripture he used to quote a lot was from 2nd Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of a love and of a sound mind." This has become a favorite of mine as well. Fear and faith can not co-exist but we must choose as we have heard. But it can be a challenge to choose some days to have faith, but we can and it frees us from worry and unnecessary stress (Tim, my husband is a great example of this).

President Thomas S. Monson's talk at the end of last conference he said that Heavenly Father is mindful of our challenges and that we would be blessed as we strive to keep the commandments. He also asked us to work together to alleviate pain and suffering and to think of the lonely and lost and be mindful of the needs of those around us--I wonder if that might mean those within our own family as much as those in our community!

Anyway, those are my thoughts on trying times, hopefully this makes sense if not blame the pain meds. Please know that you can always pray and ask Heavenly Father for you to feel his love and the love of his son Jesus Christ and I promise they will bless you with it if you truly desire it!