12.2.2008

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." Joseph B Wirthlin, "Come What May, and Love It," Ensign, Nov 2008

Dad and I have discussed on a couple of occasions how timely several of the messages during the most recent General Conference were considering our current circumstances. One particular talk that we found to be so timely was Elder Wirthlin's "Come What May, and Love It". Through dad's cancer journey we are being afforded numerous opportunities of discovering the blessings of adversity and challenge. Our mother frequently reminds us "it is what it is, we now have to deal with it". Mom and Dad continue to provide the strength, wisdom, love, faith, and testimonies which enable each of us to carry on.

As I have read and re-read Elder Wirthlins talk I am convinced now more than ever that it was written for our family (I am sure there are many who feel the same). I especially appreciate the wisdom he shared when he said the following:

"If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness.

"These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others."

I am so grateful for this wise counsel and the opportunity he provided to remind each of us to:

Laugh

Seek for the Eternal

The Principle of Compensation and

Placing our Trust in the Father and His Son

We are grateful that our family has the ability to laugh with one another; even though we sometimes laugh through tears we are so grateful for those healing, happy laughs.

We are thankful to have two parents that through their examples have taught each of their children to never ask "why me?" Our pain, sadness, frustration, and heartache are understood by the one who suffered the greatest suffering of all. We have found comfort through the powerful examples of our mom and dad.

We have been blessed beyond our belief through the principle of compensation. Our father's knowledge and testimony of the Plan of Salvation brings peace to our souls, the fasting and prayers of many provide us strength necessary to endure, and the encouraging words from dear family and friends heal our hearts.

We continue to marvel at our father's ability in placing all of his trust and faith in his Father in Heaven. Our dad knows that prayers in our behalf are being heard; he trusts that he is being held in the hollow of his Father's hand.

As we continue to grown and learn through the challenges of this life may we each understand that

Come what may, it is what it is. We now must press forward, deal with it, and love it.