Hold On

My thoughts on Sister Dibb's talk "Hold On"

First, I didn't know she was Pres. Monson's daughter. How cool!

I think our trials come when we are sitting back thinking we sailed through another day in our life and then WHAM! we are blindsided by something that forces us to "hold on!" I think it is important to know that everyone of us faces challenges that force us to "hold on". Most of the time we don't see those families "holding on" we see the smile on their face, the pressed clothes and the prefect life they are living and don't see the inward one-inch-finger-tip-grip that they have on life.

I have lost a ton of weight (45 plus pounds) and someone who I had seen for about a year and didn't know I had cancer made a comment at how perfect my life was. I didn't know if I should shatter her perception of me or tell her. I didn't know if I should tell her, "It is pretty scary, I tell you." My son is making life altering decisions that scare me and I'm battling cancer. It may look like my life is great, but the turmoil inside has made for one scary-white-knuckle-ride.

"It is important to note, however, that in the scriptures there are very few stories of individuals who lived in blissful happiness and experienced no opposition. We learn and grow by overcoming challenges with faith, persistence, and personal righteousness."

I think of the great men and women in the scriptures and of the "refining fire" that the Lord puts them through. I wonder how many people started out bound for greatness, but in the "refiner's fire" they gave up and let go. I just pray that I don't give up while in this furnace.

" I’ve been strengthened by President Thomas S. Monson’s endless confidence in our Heavenly Father and in us. He has said: “Remember that you are entitled to our [Heavenly] Father’s blessings in this work. He did not call you to your privileged post to walk alone, without guidance, trusting to luck. On the contrary, He knows your skill, He realizes your devotion, and He will convert your supposed inadequacies to recognized strengths. He has promised: ‘I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up’ ”"

These words sound very familiar to me as they are in my Patriarchal Blessing. He does know us and we have to trust in him that he will be true to his promises. When we remember and follow him, he will protect and bless us. It may not be the way we want protection or blessings to be, and seldom are when WE want them, but he does not forget those promises.

I don't like the trial I'm going through right now. I don't like it one bit. But right now it is my trial to go through. It is my refiner's fire. It is my proving ground. He has given me many safety equipment and the most important two of on the list are FAITH and PRAYER and right after that is PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS. Those are the equipment that I must use everyday to make it through some of the most difficult trials I have ever faced. Oh, how I wish I wan't going through them right now. I wish I had more knowledge and faith to handle these trials, but I don't have that time so I must use what little preperations I have and move forward and "Hold on!"