Keep Hope Strong

A question was asked in our missionary mom's group this week. It was what, or how much we should tell our kids about our struggles while they are away on missions. This was my answer.

We recently received a phone call from our son's MP. He started out putting me at ease with the tone of his voice (WHEW was I ever relieved, he wasn't hurt or worse!) telling me that our son was doing an amazing job and would be a wonderful Branch President for his branch in Russia. He said that our son had been concerned about how we were doing and about our present struggles. Even though I had only told Matt the basics about my health problems and not necessarily how extensive they were--the spirit whispered to him that they were extremely serious.

We have to remember that our kids are very in tune with the Holy Ghost and will know when something is wrong. Some of our sons and daughters MP's don't just concern themselves with our kids, but with their families as well. WE are all in this together as we support our kids. I'm grateful for Yekat Russia's MP--President Allen . He was deeply comforting to me that week. It was a boost to my spirit to know that Matthew is doing an amazing job and obeying all of the commandments and that President Allen knows he is who Father wants to serve in that position. I know Matt never aspired to that calling--he's just willing to do anything he's asked.

I needed to hear President Allen's words to keep going that week. I was able to tell him the details of my illness and our and that we are faithful and full of hope for the future. We will stay positive for our Elders in the field and for our third son who will be joining them soon.

I think Matthew has a friend for life in President Allen. He has shown an amazing capacity to love our missionaries under his stewardship---and their families as well. He is an example of the fact that we can do more than we think we can and that Heavenly Father is mindful of each of our struggles and of our needs. We are never alone!

Share with your kids prayerfully about your families struggles. Your hard times as well as your good times will bond you together as eternal families. Sandwich bad events between good things that happen and things you've learned from situations that have made you stronger as a child of God. Keep hope strong in your families. I have a testimony that the opposite of hope is fear and without hope, it's very difficult to have faith. Read Moroni chapter 7, it says it all. For more encouragement read Matthew 14:30-31. There are two more that I'll list later on. Do read them all. Your heart will be lighter for having read them.

Share the ways you overcome and handle obstacles in your life with your kids. I have found that it moves us to make good choices in our own lives and to handle the negative aspects of situations life throws at us so much better. May God bless each of you as you press forward through life's challenges.

Here are some "Tips" that might come in handy in the days ahead.

Survival Tips for Faith

• Call on your Heavenly Father for help.
• Avoid anything addictive.
• Let faith and reason work together.
• Leave the dark side alone.
• Wash away sin with repentance.
• Prepare for a long and happy life.

Faith Proceeds the Miracle

"The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He has shown the way to gain strength during our struggles. With His assistance, we have the ability to succeed."

--L. Lionel Kendrick

I know this statement to be true in my own struggles in this life.

I'm so filled with gratitude today. I truly have gained strength through all the obstacles I've overcome in my lifetime. Though they were hard and long and I'm still going through many of them. I am comforted daily by the Lord. I have learned a great deal about my own spirit and about my strengths and weaknesses too. It's been a learning time. The past fifteen years have brought our family so close to one another that if I could go back through time--I can honestly say, I would do it all over again.

One of the byproducts of overcoming obstacles, is gaining an inner ability to sift out the important from the unimportant. The ability to decipher between wants and needs. The ability to be able to tell the good from the bad is gained. "It's all good" as my sister in law tends to say. It really is!

Did you know that a baby who is stressed during pregnancy and born unexpectedly has a higher chance of survival than an infant who has no stress and is born prematurely? The infant who is under stress develops their lungs early and is able to survive outside the womb more readily. The other does not and is usually hospitalized much longer. I learned this fact during two complicated pregnancies.

Life is the same way. With each trial and obstacle we overcome, we gain strength-- if we will allow ourselves to do so. It's with our thinking and our prayers that we can overcome even the insurmountable tribulations of life. We are never alone in our struggles. Christ, atoned for our sins, our suffering and our pain.

Jesus understood his mission. So, maybe the challenge is to try to have the same kind of faith He had during the hard times? The kind of faith that can turn questioning and anger into understanding the power, blessings and hope that can come from Him. He is the source of it all. That kind of faith brings knowledge and assurances that we can experience that is the part of the gospel plan and things that appear to be wrong in our lives will eventually be made right again.

So hold onto peace and understanding that will allow you to endure life's trails with dignity and grace. Having clarity of purpose can be such a sweet reward. Faith can help us to see the good in our lives, even when when the path seems lined with broken glass, nails and shattered dreams.

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

“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2–3).

I know that Heavenly Father does not cause heartbreak and tragedies to occur in our lives. "Works of God" are shown in the healing of the blind man. Those same works of God are also in the way we face our own personal trials in life.

Without the sorrow we would not appreciate the good in life. We need to remember what we have learned during the the pain and suffering. I have found peace as I've helped others through similar circumstances. I can now give hope and comfort to others relaying what I have learned. I can show gratitude for the source of my joy now. Peace is something I feel daily, though I know my trials are far from over--miracles happen every day in my life.

Recently I prayed for a way to pay my medical bills. The answer came in the form of a phone call from from a distant land. May God bless this individual for their generosity and compassion.

Another window of hope was opened wide for our family. I'm in awe of God's perfect timing. May we all listen to the promptings of the spirit so that we can do as Heavenly Father would want us to. If we can each reach out to just one of His children, I know it will bless so many lives. I know I will try my best to do so...Will you?

***

--L. Lionel Kendrick, "Strength During Struggles,", Ensign, Oct 2001, 24
John 9:2–3 KJV Bible

A Legacy of Time

It's another pleasant day in our little lake town here in the Midwest. Ryan went fishing this morning and it was a perfect day to catch crappies. I know sounds like something nasty! It's actually pronounced Croppie. It's a pan fish that is really biting this week. Our freezer is getting fuller. It's pretty tasty and we are only just beginning to learn some great recipe's for cooking it.

Today Ryan had yet another rude adult yell at him in near the lake while he was fishing. Yeah, they yelled at him and told him to "Get out of here! You don't belong here kid!" Or something close to that and twice as nasty. He of course pulled his association card out of his pocket and respectfully told the man that he was an association member. The man walked away! No apology. No remorse. This wasn't the first time this has happened either.

I have a hard time understanding why people are so rude to kids. Especially when my son is a good kid and he was doing something wholesome like fishing. He wasn't taking drugs, or drinking or making out with someones daughter. He was simply fishing and enjoying the outdoors. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why kids today are doing things that are wrong. Maybe sometimes adults just expect them to be rotten and so they give up and do what is expected!

I know, this isn't my normal happy blog entry. I just want everyone to wake up! Encourage kids to be good. Expect it of them! My kids behave because they know that is what I expect them to do. I don't believe in the self-fulfilling prophesy of thinking all kids are going to be rotten. Think it and they will!

Teach kids to do good things. Be an example! Take time to teach them how to fish. Sit on a dock with your legs dangling over the edge and talk to your son or daughter! Spend time with them. Tell them stories of things that made you feel good about what you were doing in life. Talk about God. Share your hopes and dreams. Show them that you care enough to spend a moment in time with just them. I know it works. I'm a mom and last week, I went fishing with my son. He felt loved and I was so happy! We are building memories for a lifetime. Someday, he's going to go fishing with his son or daughter and the legacy of time spent well will be passed on to my adorable grandchildren. Life is so good!