This year has been one of my most difficult ones. I have blogged about some of my trials over the year, since I have learned from them. At tithing settlement yesterday, my bishop pointed out that we should look for our blessings. We were not discussing the difficult things that my family has been through the past year. At the time I thought to myself “Yeah right! What blessings?”
As we drove home, I turned to my husband, and suddenly I began to see all the blessings in our lives. We have come through a difficult year, with our faith in tact. And suddenly I knew that even though the road would not suddenly become easier, that we were not traveling it alone. The blessings I thought about on the way home, were not necessarily the ones I had been asking for throughout the year.
One blessing I have received is putting my life in proper perspective. I used to see how little we had as a family. Now I realize how blessed we really are. Material things took on a different perspective as I realized that we were able to provide a warm loving home with good food to our children throughout the year.
Another blessing I thought about on the way home was the blessing of my children. I am grateful for the joy and comfort that each of my children brings to me. I know that they also provide and will continue to give me heartache and worry. But as I have learned about love and watched each of them grow and develop, I feel truly blessed.
Once again I realized that I am not walking the path alone. I seem to need that realization a bit more often than usual. This year has helped me realize my total reliance on my Savior. I am so grateful for the gospel and the peace and hope that it brings to my life. I know that Heavenly Father loves me, as He loves each of His children. This is such an important and wonderful thing to realize and to truly know. So while I realize that not all of the blessings that I wanted were granted, the Lord gave me the blessings I needed the most.
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