Monday, March 26, 2012

The Difficult Times

I like my patriarchal blessing. It's pretty neat.

I bet you like yours too.

It's so special.

Wanna know a secret about mine?  It uses the word "difficult" 18 times...at least.  
(I lost track while trying to count them up this evening.)

I'm not gonna sugar-coat it:  Today was a difficult day.

Some days just are, you know.

Some days you'll be misunderstood.  Some days you'll be mislabeled.

Maybe even some years and maybe even by those who are supposed to know and love you best.  I am trying MY best though.  And I never will stop trying.

Never.

 

I love what President Uchtdorf said in his talk during the last conference:

"Please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him.21Have hope and faith in that promise. Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and in deed."

Tonight, I am holding onto that promise and, as always, working to become His disciple in word and deed.  It's all I can do, especially during the "difficult times."

(Isn't it amazing...and sort of comforting...to know that he has felt this way too?)

22 comments:

  1. I love this! Thanks for this.

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  2. I re-read his talk this weekend right after I read Elder Cook's talk, and I was so amazed at grateful that we have living Prophets to teach us and always bring us back to the eternal perspective.  We are so blessed.

    I hope you're feeling better. ;)

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  3. ((hugs)) (I'm a huggy person - when I feel like life is hard, a hug always makes me feel better, so there's your hug)

    And yes - patriarchal blessings are the best

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  4. How did you know that I needed this post? I have tears in my eyes as I realize (again) that these difficult times DO have an end in sight.

    Thank you.

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  5. Sorry you have had a difficult day!  I love this talk!  Thanks for the reminder that hard times don't last forever and we just need to keep trying!

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  6. Your life seems pretty good to me.  I know anyone can color coat a life on blogs.  Mine life is completely different from yours.  I wish I had yours, was more like you and many others.  My Patriarchal blessing doesn't use the word difficult, but that many problems would come into my life.  We'll they are here- oh yes they are.  And the only warning is to remember to pray.  yep, that's what I have a hard time with.   Thank you for this post.  

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  7. I haven't had the opportunity to read all the blogs I love lately. Tonight, I felt compelled to read yours, since it's been awhile. Every word you said hit home. In our Sunday school lesson, the exact quote from Pres. Uchtdorf was read and it's been on my mind ever since. It was what I needed to hear. And then the FHE lesson I chose to do last minute had a quote from President Hinckley that touched me in a very personal way because of the difficulties I have been struggling with. Sometimes we feel like we are giving life our very best, trying so hard, and wondering if we will ever matter to more than just our little ones and spouse. I take comfort in the fact that I matter to HIM. I have a loving Heavenly Father who has been telling me how much I matter, that He is aware of me, that He appreciates me, that He will help me, that He loves me...and I know because the Spirit has touched my heart through my Sunday school lesson, your words, and a FHE lesson. Life will always have difficulties, but I CAN choose to be optimistic in the face of cynicism. :)

    Thank you, as always, for all you share here.

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  8. It's a love letter from Heavenly Father.=)

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  9. I'm sorry you had a difficult day.  And I appreciate your willingness to share it, and to share the sources that help you cope.  One of my favorite quotes is from President Eyring: "The great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home" (October 2005 general conference).  Thank you for being a great example of choosing the right while the storms rage.

    P.S.  The other night I dreamed I babysat your children.  They're delightful and we had a wonderful time.  I hope you enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies we made.  Maybe someday that dream will become reality; who knows?

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    1. Haha...that's awesome! I hope that dream does come true! I am a total dream believer! ;)

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  10. many times difficult days come when we take others comments personally rather than trying to understand why someone would say what they say even family members. It's usually because they are having a difficult day and it helps if we act with compassion rather than react with hurt or anger. A difficult lesson to learn but important. The Spirit can bring comfort at times like this and teach us the lesson to be learned...hugs.

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  11. I'm sorry to hear you've a had a very difficult day. Those aren't fun at all! But they do help us appreciate the good days even more, right? 

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  12. I am confident that you will make it through this difficult time because you have your heart and eyes on the Savior

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  13. Love this! I know we all feel this way, I felt this way this past Sunday, thank goodness for patriarchal blessings and priesthood blessings to give us guidance and comfort in times of difficulty. Thanks for this post, sometimes it's just nice to know your not alone in feeling this way.

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  14. You have the best readers in the world! A personal thanks to all of you for your love and support for my wife. While she has told you all before, I'm sure, your comments really do give her strength. Thank you all.

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  15. You have the best readers in the world! A personal thanks to all of you for your love and support for my wife. While she has told you all before, I'm sure, your comments really do give her strength. Thank you all.

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  16. You have the best readers in the world! A personal thanks to all of you for your love and support for my wife. While she has told you all before, I'm sure, your comments really do give her strength. Thank you all.

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  17. You have the best readers in the world! A personal thanks to all of you for your love and support for my wife. While she has told you all before, I'm sure, your comments really do give her strength. Thank you all.

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  18. I too LOVE my Patriarchal Blessing. One time, having a talk with a friend who had all sorts of miserable thrown at him at once he said..."What did I do to deserve this?" So I told him, "Ya know, the best people get rained on the most. Because little storms don't even faze them. It takes a hurricane to rock their world enough to let them grow." Ive thought about that a lot lately, if I'm going throw a lot I guess it means it's because it's time to grow. You're amazing and a stinking great bloggy friend!

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  19. He has become one of my favorite speakers.

    =)

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  20. Hi Jocelyn,
    I'm a new reader, I found you via pinterest, and I've been thrilled with what I've found on your site. First of all, the name is just perfect and one of my favorite scriptures. I'm back today putting some final touches on my Easter Week plans and I had planned to message you anyway to thank you for all of this. But then I read back to this post and I have to tell you how much it has meant to me today. Conference was a success for all my family, but I didn't get the "charge" I was desperately needing. Most of the time, I am faithful despite our current situation (jobless out of grad school with hefty loans, living with parents, two young children and one on the way). But lately, I've been faltering. And when I didn't get what I thought I would from conference, all I felt inside was "just wait." And today I read this post. Thank you, more than I can say.

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  21. Oh Marcee...thank you so much for your comment. I feel for you...given that list of circumstances.  I am glad that writing about my "difficult day" has helped you in some way.  Be strong and of good cheer and come back often and talk to me ok?  Love you!

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