...life...

I look all around…and all around there are good things happening. GREAT things happening…to me, to those I love…it’s wonderful.

In that same glance, though, I see horrible things happening. Trials, adversity, sadness…to me, to those I love…it’s heartbreaking.

At any given moment in time, we can look around and view the trials and blessings of life and we are given the opportunity to choose. Choose to see the Lords hand in all things.

Our heartbreak at the moment: I had a miscarriage. I, sadly, join the club of many of my dear family and friends who have experienced this and now I truly understand, no matter how you slice it, it really, really sucks. BUT…I have so many ways to look at this and even though I squint through swollen eyes, I recognize the Lord’s hand. His timing is impeccable…because He knows all, He see’s all.


“The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith means trust—trust in God's will, trust in His way of doing things, and trust in His timetable." ~Dallin H. Oaks

And after we accept His will in our trials, we can choose how they will affect us. This trial of ours is truly small, in my own comparison, to things I know others are going through. I can’t imagine enduring some of the things that others have had dealt in their deck, but I find comfort in the words of our Prophet, who reminds us why these trials come about:

“Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea “Is there no balm in Gilead?” We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face.” ~Thomas S. Monson

Experiencing this hiccup in our lives, family plans and feelings has taught me something very important about acceptance of the opportunity to learn, actually learning from it and recognizing the immense blessings in our lives. Instead of pitying our VERY COMMON situation, I have truly felt for those who have dealt with and continue to deal with super challenging trials. Things, as I mentioned before, that I can’t even fathom experiencing.

We live in a time and economy where pretty much the only thing we can be certain of is uncertainty. I am grateful for a testimony that gives me a firm foundation to stand on and a sure knowledge that throughout trial, we can be blessed through our faith.