Faith Promoting Experience

One thing I enjoy about Facebook is all the fun little inspirational sayings that everybody posts. Some of them are funny, some are silly, some are just stupid but some really hit my heart strongs. One that I saw and shared said "A person that loses a partner is called a widow. A child who losses a parent is called an orphan. But there is no word to describe a parent that loses a child, because the loss is like no other. So will you put this as your status for just 1 hour??? I’m pretty sure I know the ones that will. Think of someone you know or love who has lost a baby or a child or a grandchild, and take a few minutes to remember and honor their loves ones." I shared this on my wall with the comment For Nick, Ruth and Audrey. I miss you. Ruth's sister commented on it. Evidentally both of us have had them on our mind lately. Not that all of us don't. But this was more than usual. Then I posted a comment on faith that started a wonderful conversation between me and Ruth's sister Beth. The saying was: "Worrying is a waste of time. It doesn't change anything. It messes with your mind and steals your happiness." I have had a lot of stress in my life the past few weeks. I'm not going to into that today. But somehow Mike always seems to have faith and confidence that things will work out. Sometimes I'm ok with that and sometimes it drives me crazy. I am a worrier. Not just worrying a little bit, but a full-blown, drive-me-crazy worry. Then Beth commented on my post. Beth: Replace faith with fear. Another thing I found really works is only worry about the things you actually have control over. Me: I know I need to work on building more faith. Thanks, Beth. Beth: I am actually still working on the faith part too....but the other part is a good start! Me: When I was in therapy we worked on what to do in a crisis. There are two steps. First decide if you can solve it. If so then just do it. If you can't solve it, then survive it. I'm thinking I need to apply those to things I worry about. Beth: WOW that is awesome...that will really help me THANKS! Me We also learned the survival techniques. I think I'm dust off that book and read it again. In the middle of these posts Beth and I were carrying on a private chat that went like this: Beth: A few months ago I actually started going to counseling and shortly there after my mom sent out the quote about not worrying about what we can't change. So I got the book she got that from Attitude is Everything by Vikihizges, Since I was ordering on Amazon, a few others came up so I got them. The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews, and Bring on the Rain by Michelle Sedas. All 3 are small little books with vary few words on each page with pictures. Not a kids book type though. Something you can carry in your purse or keep in your car when you just need to pull something out and read for a few minutes. I have never been big on buying self help books because they are long and boring, but these just get right to the point and are pretty cool. I only went to counseling for 5 weeks but I feel I got a lot more from these books that I did the counseling. Who really knows though cuz I did them at the same time. I can believe the changes I have seen in you. With the running/walking your weight loss. You are happily married...it really seems you are in a good place, but you still are wanting to improve. I can't even imagine some of the things you have had to endure, and I can tell you why you have had to go through so much pain, but I do know that Heavenly Father loves you and has not forgotten you. Don't give up keep moving forward! Last week I came across this talk given at a young women's conference in 2010 by Elder Uchtdorf...Your Happily Ever After. It also comes in a little book, but you can read it here too. This was a Huge Help! Hang in there one step at a time just like running your first 5K you can do it! You are an amazing person who has given me a ton of inspiration. Just like the butterfly effect you will never know how many lives you have changed and helped! Love Beth She also sent me a link to this talk which is awesome: Your Happily Ever After www.lds.org Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.” Share Me: Hey, making me cry on a Monday morning is not fair. Thanks, Beth. You don't know how much I needed what you have said this morning. I have had so many challenges in the last year and some wonderful moments. I'm going to start blogging again cuz i need to put it into words. when I moved to Evanston I would spend hours every morning chatting online with Ruth. There are so many times I miss her so much, and having you give me this advice this morning is like having a little part of her still here. Thanks so much. I think somehow she knew what I needed and used you to send me this message Beth: I felt her right next to me as I typed...Thank you for feeling that! see now you made me cry. Isn't cool that we have such a loving heavenly father who know what we needed right now! And through Ruth was able to give that to us! Me: Wow, knowing you felt her has helped my faith at a time I really needed it. There was definitely a reason I got online this morning Just have to let you know....There was more that just Ruth here this morning. Nick, Audrey, and a couple others...Nick's dad, and Harold (I think that was his name) Sorry if I got it wrong. You have a host of people how have moved on who love you more than you know! You are not alone! Beth: Sorry Howard!! I guess my room was pretty crowded this AM! Makes you think twice before you get undressed sometimes [;)] Me: that is funny because before I met him I couldn't remember his name and I kept asking my ssister (who was introducing us) if it was Harold. He told me later he hates that name lol And again, thank you for sharing that with me. I needed to hear that. You said a couple of others. Do you know who the other one was? Beth: no I don't but there are a lot of people who do love you! It was kinda crazy as I was trying to type, as you can tell my thoughts were a bit jumbled but say this, say this say this...and it was just a funky but cool experience and I was so glad I could share that with you this morning! Me: well, the way you typed you said Nick's Dad, and Harold. But Howard was Nick's dad, so I wondered if you knew. It has made an amazing difference in how I am feeling right now Beth: cool...I thought Howard was your husband after nick's dad Me: no, that was Jim. that's why I asked. I wondered if both of them were there Beth: I am pretty sure they were both here. and now that you say Jim I do remember that was his name. Ruth and Nick talked about both of them a lot. What an amazing experience this was.