Today I was sitting outside with Carlee in the grass. She was clapping at the cars as they drove past. For a few moments I could forget that she had been throwing up on and off since the night before and stop worrying about what she ate that she was allergic to and just feel happy. I enjoy basking in the moments that don't require me to fix anything or worry about something. I used to think that life would get easier as I became more accustom to it's challenges, but I am learning that challenges change and intensify, they don't just go away.
Today we read as a family about Alma, a prophet from the Book of Mormon. In the section we read Alma and his people were slaves and forced to suffer burdens that were "grievous to be bourne." The people prayed to God that he would deliver them but instead of taking away their burdens he first made them light so that they could bare them. Then after they learned to cheerfully attend to their challenges, he delivered them from their enemies.
I think this chapter is what life is all about. Learning to cheerfully bare our burdens, humbling ourselves as we call upon the Lord, and then when we have accomplished all our Father intends for us to do, we will be delivered from the challenges of this life and returned to our Heavenly home.
I hope that I can learn to smile like my sweet little Carlee through all of life's challenges and appreciate the moments when life truly is perfect.
