Hope Amidst The Storms

I think this is the second time that I've brought this blog back to life. I'm sorry, readers or viewers of my blog, that I have not been more consistent with posting here. I've been feeling lately like I need to begin blogging again, and I don't think that prompting could have come at a better time.

When last we met I was discussing New Year's resolutions and musing about what life had in store for me and what I wanted to improve upon. You'll be happy to know that I was successful in my goal setting last year and I obtained what I set out to do, with some pretty great results that even I wasn't expecting. It's always nice to achieve something and have it turn out better than you could have imagined.

My life has changed quite dramatically as of late. Through many tests and doctor's visits they have been able to find the thyroid cancer again. They performed a biopsy on three separate lymph nodes in my neck and they all came back as cancerous. Now I will be going in to have another surgery; a bilateral neck dissection. I'm not looking forward to this procedure because it's much bigger than the first one I had about four and a half years ago and will require a more lengthy surgery, more time in the hospital, and a much bigger scar. Much bigger. I'll keep you all updated on this event and the healing.

I wish I could say that was the only major event happening in our lives lately, but that's not the case. You know the phrase, "When it rains, it pours"? Well, I feel like I am in the middle of a hurricane. Everything is falling apart all around me and I truly cannot see how or when this storm will end. My husband and I are hanging onto each other with everything we have and wondering how we are going to survive. To others, it may seem as if we have no hope of coming out of this storm, but they are wrong.

We have hope in Christ, who has made it possible for us to overcome these trials we are facing.

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." ~ Helaman 5:12

We know there are things we can learn from these trials.

"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." ~ Doctrine  and Covenants 122:7

And we understand that we can use our struggles and trials to help others gain hope and comfort in their own lives, as well as be strengthened to bear our burdens in peace.

"When Jesus and His disciples passed a man who was blind since his birth, His disciples queried, 'Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

'Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him' (John 9:2-3)

I do not believe our Father in Heaven causes the tragedies and heartbreak in our lives. But as the 'works of God' were made manifest in the healing of a blind man, so also the way we face our personal trials may manifest the 'works of God.'

From our sorrow we might seek out the sweetness and the good that is often associated with and peculiar to our challenge. We can seek out those memorable moments that are frequently hidden by the pain and agony. We can find peace in extending ourselves to others, using our own experiences to provide hope and comfort. And we can always remember with great solemnity and gratitude Him who suffered most to make it all right for us. And by so doing we can be strengthened to bear our burdens in peace. And then, the 'works of God' might be manifest." ~ Richard C. Edgley, April 2002 General Conference

No, our lives are not easy but there is a bigger picture to all this, a picture that I can't fully see yet. I only see my side of it, and it's not looking too pretty. However, I know that our Heavenly Father can see the whole picture and knows what is to come. And He knows we will get through this. I am most grateful for that. So, in the days and weeks to come I will be sharing more of our experiences, trials, and healing. Stay tuned, and we can all go through this together. I'm grateful for your support, love, prayers, and thoughts. Have a good day!