"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days." Doctrine and Covenants 24:8I get so excited, when I think I'm getting better. Then it all comes back--shortness of breath, fatigue, pounding heart, pain, and more. Gone are my days of sun-up to well past sun-down efficiency. I'm not sure what lesson God wants me to learn here. I do know that I want to learn it well with patience.
As I continue to study about God, learn His ways, and pray, I feel closer to Him and more at peace. I'm learning to see the good in people and accept their limitations. The weaker I become, the more I see strength in others.
There is a woman in my ward that has always been an amazing go getter. Busy, busy, busy, wonderful woman. I did not know her this way, but I've learned about her. She got lyme disease, and it really messed her up. I think she almost died from it. She started to heal, and this is when I moved into the ward. Then, while volunteering, a young troubled woman, beat her up, severing muscles in her face (she can no longer smile, and was not able to talk for awhile), and again, making her very ill. I never heard a word about this until long after the fact. She has a lot of struggles, comes to church each Sunday sitting next to the wall with a pillow behind her head.
ReplyDeleteIn February, she bore her testimony, and said she thinks she's finally learned why God has given her these trials (which she is grateful for). She realized that she needed to know that God loved her. He doesn't love her only when she is doing things, but He loves her just as she is, even if she can't get out of bed, or if she needs help. Her testimony really struck me. God indeed loves us as we are, worts and all.
I mean, this is something we all know and say, but I think sometimes, deep down, we really feel like we have to be doing something, accomplish something throughout the day to be worthy of His love, but the thing is He loves us already.
I'm not saying this is the lesson you are supposed to learn, but your post just made me reflect on this woman, and think about her sweet testimony.
Thankyou for your thoughtful words.
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