EASY AND WILLING TO BELIEVE

Are we ever like Naaman, the Syrian leper who was sent to the prophet in Israel to be cleansed? When Elisha sent a messenger with instructions to dip seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman went away angry. Thankfully, he had a servant who said, “If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13).

I have thought of that story often over the years. Who among us wants to be like Naaman? But, how often are we slow to follow counsel that has been given… or slow to heed the teachings in the scriptures… or hesitant to observe the personal revelation we have received?

Wouldn’t we rather be seen as individuals who are willing and easy to believe?

And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words. Helaman 6:36

The journey of widowhood has been one that has increased my trust in the Lord. It has caused me to be more patient and to take the steps I feel inspired to take. Regardless of whether I understand where that step is going to take me. I have more fully been able to follow blindly, with an easiness to believe. There have been steps that have been difficult – but with each step I take I feel as though I have strengthened my relationship with my Savior. He does not leave us. I may get lazy in doing the things I know draw me closer – such as daily prayer and scripture reading – but He is always there, I just need to come back to Him.

As I look back over the past five years and look at the outcomes to difficult decisions, I am grateful. Grateful that this has not been a journey I have walked alone. Grateful to my Savior for leading me, guiding me and walking by me.

AT FIRST YOU WILL SURVIVE, THEN YOU WILL THRIVE

My husband died of stomach cancer. He had never smoked a cigarette or had a drink of alcohol in his life. He didn't suffer from heart burn. There was no "known" reason as to how he got stomach cancer.

The day after he died I made some changes to our lifestyle. We only eat Egglands Best eggs now. I don't purchase margarine. We only eat butter. We don't eat smoked sausage. We rarely eat ham. And we don't drink the water from the tap. I went to Culligan's the day after he died and got a water cooler. Don't ask me why. I don't have logical answers.

The five gallon jug the water from Culligan came in was one of the first obstacles I faced as a new widow. They are HEAVY~! And in order to use them you need to be able to pick them up and turn it upside down to put it on the cooler. (I am weak. I was not built to be a widow. I was built to marry a hunky strong man to do all the hard labor for me!) Luckily my brother-in-law showed up a day later and was able to take care of putting the water jug on the cooler for me. I would try to pick it up high enough and flip it around and it was just HARD. It took a couple months before I did it for the very first time without help and without spilling the water. I was so excited! I sent my brother-in-law a text message telling him "I did it!". My first victory of growing stronger (physically) to be able to handle the life of a widow. My sister said to me "At first you will survive, then you will thrive". Being able to put the water jug on was surviving... but this fall when it was time to put the kid's bikes up for the winter... I lifted the bike up above my head to hang it on the hook in the garage where it was usually stored. That I felt was thriving. I didn't even struggle. I just lifted it up there. Then I did a little victory dance.