Cherry Blossoms

I have always wished for wisdom, inspiration and courage.  I find myself often worrying about the future, and neglecting to enjoy the moments.  At this stage of my life with four kids in the mission field and three others married and on their own, I am bewildered at how quickly my life has passed.  I feel like Jacob in the Book of Mormon where he says "our lives passed away as if it were unto a dream".  Every day passes more quickly than the day before, and I , being the incessant worrier that I am, wonder that I have not done all that I should have....and am running out of time!

      

And then, a sweet knowledge of the Gospel dulls that other worry and reminds me that we have time. That this life will continue unto the next and become eternity because of the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.  He has a future for us, and we shall know the fulness of it in the hereafter.  If we are faithful, if we persevere, if we embrace all that life has to offer....we will be brought into His presence and crowned with glory, immortality and eternal life.  

I find myself having to cultivate new hope every day!   There are so many pitfalls in mortality.  I do not pretend to know and understand some of the deep sorrows that come to many in this life.  I find myself often unable to watch the news because I anguish over the trials that some must face. 

My faith tells me that all will be rectified, and that we will come to understand the winds of adversity. Even so, sometimes it is the small things in life that cause me worry and self-doubt. 

 I admit that I fall short in my daily commitments to be better, to be stronger , to accomplish more!  Elizabeth Edwards (love her writing) said that she hoped her children remembered that when" she stood in the storm, and the  wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.  

I talked to my friend Laurie who is very blunt in her perspective on life and its' joys and sorrows.  She asks me all the time "why do you worry? concentrate on what is good!"  "live in the moment!"  I told her about my little cherry tree and how I worried that the wind would come and blow away the blossoms before I had a chance to enjoy them.  (don't know why that came up)  She said, "Go outside and look at it now...enjoy it tonight in case they do blow away tomorrow!" I thought about that.  I thought about that fact that every Spring the blossoms appear.  I don't have to do anything; they just show up one random day every April.  They might blow away before their time to fall, and inevitably they do just that...because that is what they are supposed to do!  The tree grows leaves, and then in the fall they change to brilliant colors, shrivel and fall to the ground.   But there is always a Spring!! I will see blossoms again!

How grateful I am for the Springs in my life.  Even though I may have allowed weaknesses to develop in my character and made poor choices, there is always a redemptive power.  Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I can always be grateful for the season of Spring and the rebirth of the world around us.  We can also be grateful for the winters of our lives and be honed and refined when adversity comes to us.  

What a wonderful Easter spent with family and contemplating the blessings of my life.  I am so proud of four kids who are testifying of Christ in the mission field. I cannot even comprehend the magnitude of the Atonement, but I know that because of His perfect love for me, I shall be able to surmount the storms in my life.