Thoughts

I'm still here.  My sweet boy has been pretty sick, and I have been distracted with that.

The past week, there has been a common theme.  I've heard it from friends, close family, and others I have come across.  I've also read it in blog posts from strangers that feel like life long friends.

Life can be so hard.  And that's ok.  It's ok to know that your life is hard, and it's ok to feel upset that it's hard.  Sometimes, I think we feel like we have to be positive every second of every day.  We feel like we have to show others only the best of ourselves, and that talking about, or showing that our life can be difficult is a sign of weakness, makes up lose ground with people we want to feel equal too, and makes us seem ungrateful for what we have.  I really struggle with this.  I feel like owning how difficult my life can be means that I am not grateful for the good things that I have.  Owning our struggle does not make us weak.  It makes us human, and it helps others to feel emotion with us.  This is how we connect, and how we share our lives, and allow other to help us.  Sharing our weakness with others, and our struggles, can also bless others who are struggling, knowing they are not alone, and that someone has been where they have been.

I realized today, that this connection that we share, when we share our struggles with others, is how The Lord allows others to bless us, and in turn, helps us to feel the blessings of the Atonement. 

2 Corinthians 12:8-9: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

I cannot tell you have many times I have been on my knees, sobbing, begging for The Lord to take a trial away from me, make it easier, or make me stronger.  I often forget that I am being made stronger through my weaknesses.  What a blessing that promise is.