The past few days were a lot more happier than the days before – mostly due to my weird mood swings. I slept the Christmas holidays away, but I won’t let my troubles get in the way of ruining my New Years.
The quote on the top banner says, “Endure it well”. I don’t think I’ve been enduring the hard times quite well lately. Financial difficulties, family challenges, struggles with my education, and in particular, a Vital choice between two good things have been at the forefront lately – and it got in the way of enjoying Christmas. It’s that vital choice that has really put me through a lot.
But I feel better now, due mostly to my patient wife and a kind and understanding Bishop. My bishop helped me clarify a few things and taught me to leave things we can’t control to our Father in Heaven. If I am faithful, care for my family properly, pray regularly, read scriptures daily, pay an honest tithe and continue to persue my education… essentially the things that I should REALLY be worried about, the Lord will help me through the difficulties and challenges in my life in the way they SHOULD be resolved.
There are somethings that we just can’t control. For me, one of my weaknesses is that I tend to lose focus and get very discouraged when I’m placed in those types of situations. Talking with my Bishop helped me realize that I can’t control everything in my life and that I should leave those things in the Lord’s hands. The Lord has so much more perspective that I have and has the ability to bring good things to pass. I just need to do my best and expect the Lord to fulfill the rest. And that has brought me so much comfort in the past few days.
My wife has an insatiable talent for this; she has the ability to endure the challenges extremely well. I am so glad that she decided to marry me. I hope that some of her faith and ability to “Go with the Flow” will rub off on me.
Our Bishop gave us some wise counsel: “Your first priority is to ensure the temporal and spiritual welfare of your wife and your Son. Your next priority is your extended family.” Not a direct quote, but that’s my undersatanding of what he said. We need to contribute in some way to help our family in the Philippines, but not to the point where it will put us in extreme difficulty.
The last time I was faced with something like this was when I decided to serve a mission. It was one of the most difficult choices I had to make – to complete my education or to serve a mission for the Lord. I knew in my heart that serving a mission was what the Lord wanted me to do. I made the choice, leaving the things I couldn’t control in the Lord’s hands. He used me as an instrument to spread his Gospel. And now, He has blessed me with a loving wife and adorable son. Although things didn’t work out the way I planned in many ways, I know that I am in the place where He wants me to be – and I am happy.
If the Lord can do that on that difficult choice, I know that the Lord can help me on this one. I don’t know what’s going to happen the next little while in the challenges that we have. But I know if we face it faithfully and do the best to control the things we CAN, the Lord will bless us and bring us to the place we should be. Possibly, not the place where we would LIKE to be, but where we SHOULD be. I know that he can do this. and I just need to leave it up to him.
Kinda reminds me of this famous quote from the New Testament:
Come unto me, all ye that blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you crest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.