So here’s today’s post.
God is in the details.
Since the beginning of this year, my life has taken a 180 turn.
Like a flip where all the blood goes to your head and then you’re okay again. BREATHE.
I won’t go into the details because they’re not important, BUT, despite the hardships that everyone experiences…
I absolutely have the strongest testimony that Heavenly Father is so aware of His children. We are His divine creations with such potential. He knows what we need and how to help us. And, as hard as life is, we are to trust in His will and be happy with the life we have because… you guys…
it’s a good life.
Recently I have met some pretty inspirational people who have taught me the value of hope.
HERE’S WHY I BELIEVE THAT.
First, last week I met the sweetest lady named Beryl. She’s a sweetheart. My roommate was an aid to her before her mission and so we went to go visit her. This woman touched my heart.
Beryl welcomed me into her home, asked me various questions to get to know me and her smile, ahhhh her smile. She is happy.
Later, Beryl shared a little of her story with us and told us that she had an aneurism in her brain years ago. She lost the ability to move the left side of her body. Completely paralyzed. She’s gotten a few vertebrae fused together taking away her ability to stand up straight. She shared with us that after the aneurism and the brain surgery that followed, she woke up unable to move anything but the one thing she was still able to do…
Was speak.
She was so happy that she could just speak. Her body was paralyzed but regardless, she found gratitude for the fact that she had the strength to move her lips and speak.
I met her that day and I was so grateful to hear her story and to love her even though I didn’t know her, her strength and happiness inspired me to know that first…..
Be cheerful. Like drink a diet coke and laugh because, life is so good. Don’t let the life take away your hope. Trust that what is happening is for a reason.
Second, everyone has challenges but what matters is how we choose to face those challenges.
And third, laugh and smile because YOU are so blessed and so loved. And remember that with this life, you have a best friend walking beside you with EVERY step. Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
But let me reiterate that second point...
I feel like we have this habit of going through life looking through tunnel vision. We’re so preoccupied with our lives and what WE are going through - so we fail to recognize that others are going through hard times too, if not worse. Now, this isn’t to say that because they’re going through something worse we should feel better about ourselves. NO. But perhaps this lesson is there to teach us that we are all going through some sort of hardship and we’re not alone.
I’ve tried to keep this in mind this week, especially as I walk by people at school. I don’t know their names, I don’t know their life story, but what I do know is that every single person I see has had to, at one point or another, exercise the faith to trust that things will get better and that God has a plan better than our own.
Now for some apostle GOODNESS.
“There may be times when we have been hurt, when we are tired, and when our lives seem dark and cold. There may be times when we cannot see any light on the horizon, and we may feel like giving up. If we are willing to believe, if we desire to believe, if we choose to believe, then the Savior's teachings and example will show us the pathway forward."
Now to meet, Zach Sobeich.
I didn’t know Zach personally; I always wish I would’ve known him because who he is radiates from his story. Zach was diagnosed with a rare and malignant form of cancer called osteosarcoma at a young age. He was told from doctors and specialists that he had six months to a year left of life.
Anyone given that news would be devastated. Some even question God wondering WHY it’s happening to them. Well, I don’t know the answer to that question, but what I do know is that God’s plan is always greater than our own. But what you must know about Zach is how he handled the news he was given.
“Death is just another thing on the agenda, kinda. It’s scary and kind of like sitting in the dark. And so you can either choose to be freaking out in the dark and thinking “okay what’s out there” or you can just relax and fall asleep. And just be happy and content with everything.”
Zach’s life “isn’t a story about a boy who dies, it’s about a boy who lives.”
Lately what I have learned about life is it’s uncertain. One day you have all your life planned out and you feel really good about it….
and the next day, all your plans change.
You can never know exactly what’s going to come into your life or to your families, or really to anyone. You’ll never be able to fully control what happens, whether you want to or not. You can’t control others and their decisions.
BUT
You can control your happiness.
“It’s really simple actually. It’s about trying to make other people happy. Maybe you have to learn with time or maybe you have to learn the hard way, but as long as you learn it… you will make the world a better place.” - Zach
In this world it is all about going to work, making lots of money, buying a car, wearing the trendiest clothes, being noticed, listening to the “good” music and having lots of friends…
But that’s all wrong.
It’s not about the job you’ll get when you’re older, how much money you’ll make, the clothes you buy, the grades you get in school.
It’s about what you did for others.
How you loved them.
How you served them.
Connecting with people.
Making a difference in the world.
Relationships with other people.
How you treat people.
How you love them.
“We all hunger for the same thing”
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” -Hellen Keller
We’re all working to be better at this. Yoke yourself to Christ and you will always have joy in those hard moments. Keeping our hope will in turn strengthen our ability to trust Heavenly Father’s plan which will create joy and happiness within ourselves.
Just some food for thought this week as I sit here drinking some inka cola.
PERU.
And as I am so tempted to watch step up with Sahara instead of homework...
BECAUSE THEN WE'LL FEEL LIKE WE'RE PART OF A DANCE KR3W.
Yes, I spelled that with a K and a 3.
With that... time to dance.
Love you guys.
