Lessons I Have Learned Through My Trials

As a child if I did not like the results of something I would whine to my mother: "That's not fair!" And her reply would always be: "Life is not fair." I am learning, perhaps very late in life that life truly is not fair. After loosing a third baby, I have been doing a lot of contemplating and rhetorical questioning. I've asked myself questions like "Why is it that those who want to have children so badly have the hardest time conceiving?" and " Why do those who don't want children, or should not have children able to bear them so easily?" The answer I always tell myself is "Life is not fair."

Perhaps life is not fair and we must endure trials because there is something we are meant to learn. A deeper hidden meaning we can only learn in this way. In Doctrine and Covenants 122:7 it says: "And if thou shouldst be cast into the ^apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the ^bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to ^chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of ^dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee ^eexperience, and shall be for thy good. " 

The Prophet Joseph Smith endured many trials, but he had friends who supported him and even suffered with him. In good times and bad, he showed deep gratitude for his friends, and he showed his friendship through his firm loyalty, kind words, and selfless acts. Through all of this I have learned just how valuable friends and family are. If it were not for the loving, selfless service of my mother I am not sure what I'd have done. She was there beside me with in hours of hearing the sad news. She shuffled the kids to their doctor's appointments and cared for them, helped me catch up on house work, ran errands for me, took me into Boston for my appointments, and made sure I was okay. I can never thank her enough. My friends also served me in love. They were a shoulder to cry on, a caring friend to hug, watched the kids for two days, and made delicious meals for my family. Again nothing I could ever do or say could show my sincere appreciation.

"Regardless of our trials, with the abundance we have today, we would be ungrateful if we did not appreciate our blessings." - Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

If I were to count my blessings naming them one by one, right at the top of the list would be my friends and family. I am indeed blessed to have you all.