"Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." Gordon B. Hinckley

Apr 4, 2011

Things on my mind!

Frances Webster from the Willy Martin Handcart Company said this, my Mom read it to me and I have had it with me ever since. This is amazing and has greatly impacted me right now in my life. My trials are so small and yet I always learn so much.

“We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Every one of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with Him in our extremities!”
"I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me! I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the Angels of God were there. "Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No! Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company."

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How many trials or how big of a trial would you go through to become acquainted with God?  My trials in life have been so small compared to what others I know have been through. I have just beat myself up wondering why another one? At times I have wondered what am I doing wrong? How many times do I have to learn my lesson? Does the Lord give us trials to punish us for things we do wrong? I was talking to my Aunt, my Mom’s sister today and she said that I was wrong in thinking any of these things. She has had many trials in her life and she said that during trials we become so close to Heavenly father, closer than any other time in our life. We should feel it a privilege to be given a trial to become that much closer to our Father in Heaven. I could re late to her in how I feel when I have just given life to one of my children. When I am in that operating room waiting to have a c-section I feel the presence of Angels, I know they are near. I feel like having a baby and staying alive at the same time have been a trial for me, and I know I have been very close to my Heavenly Father during those times. Maybe that’s why I love having babies so much, not because of what I go through but because of the feeling I get and the closeness I feel to the other side. That feeling is worth every step in having a baby. And I want to feel that same way about this trial I am faced with. I am going into this with a feeling  of being privileged. Heavenly Father somehow wants me to come out of this stronger and better and I will. If not for myself but for someone else out there that may need it. I want to look back on it as did Frances Webster from the handcart company and I hope I can say what he did about being privileged to becoming more acquainted with God. I can re late to Frances on a very small scale, when he said he would see the patch of sand and he was going to go no further, I have felt that, I have also said that… just in another way, and I have felt the push from Angels to keep me going. I know I will always have that push to keep me going, we all can as long as we ask for them.

6 comments:

Kate said...

Nanny this is beautiful:) You have been on my mind and as I watched conference and they read the story of the current bush I thought of all the trials and how they really are there to help us put our faith in our Father in heaven and keep us close to the other side- I am so excited to have Kolby and hope to be half the person you are Thank you for your amazing strength and example to me:) You are in my prayers and thoughts daily- I LOVE YOU!

Chris and Monika said...

Nat- I think your an amazing woman and mother. Your are stronger then you think and you will get through this trial with your angels and your family by your side. Love you Nat!

amy said...

You are so amazing! Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers constantly. I hope I can be a strength to you as you have been to me. Thank you for being who you are! Just keep pushing :)

Judy said...

You are wise beyond your years. You are an inspiration to me and everyone else. I wish I could help,,,,to take this all away. You are in my prayers. I love you tons Nan!

Lynn said...

Amen! You wrote that in the most beautiful way. All of it SO true. Thank you for sharing your insights. You truly are stronger than you think.....and help SO many with your shared strength.

You are still in my prayers often. Love ya'!

Holly said...

Beautifully put Natalie! You have such an amazing perspective on life! You are one of the most inspiring people I know!