Saturday, April 24, 2010

Life is a Hard but Heady Job


Life never fails to be an interesting adventure, does it? Obstacles are constantly presenting themselves in the form of challenges to be overcome: streams that need fording, rivers that need crossing, and mountains that simply cry out to be scaled. Of course, some days, weeks, or months are more challenging than others; and sometimes, we feel as if we're being singled out for more than our share of the struggle.

As it happens, quite a few members of my family are climbing steeper-than-usual mountains in their lives right now––and for some, it's not just one mountain but a series of ever-heightening ranges. Looking at these from a distance (as I do) can be pretty awe-inducing......daunting, even......and yet, I have every faith that they will come up with whatever it takes to get the job done. These people that I am blessed to call my own inspire and impress me, and they are doing some pretty awesome work out there. Heady work. Hard work. Muscles straining, eyes trained upward, they are actively engaged in battling one rocky slope after another, and they are not going to take no for an answer.

They will conquer their mountains. I'm sure of it.

Which helps me conquer mine.

they inspire me

(and make me proud)

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2:3).

"I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials,
and their troubles, and their afflictions and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 35:3).

“I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left,
and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up" (D&C 84:88).

How can we miss, guys?

16 comments:

Jess said...

I love the analogy of 'a series of ever-heightening ranges' I've felt that way before, and been blessed with strength to make it to the other side. I love that even though Heavenly Father won't take away trials and challenges- he makes us stronger so we can handle it. I hope your family members feel that strengthening too.

karen said...

I can say from experience that climbing the rocky range and conquering it strengthens you like nothing else can. I have family members too, who are struggling - both in the climb, and just trying to START the climb. I wish I could help. I wish I could do it for them. But then they wouldn't be the strong ones, I would. Best wishes to all of them, and to you to have the strength to be able to watch, and to grow from that experience.
When are you coming in May?

jen said...

Sister Dew says that's why they call life a test. If it were easy, then it wouldn't be hard.
One of my favorite quotes ever is "Hard isn't bad. It's just hard." Sometimes that's difficult to remember.
Best of luck and hard work. Hope niece's baby is doing ok.

Kiurious said...

I dont know if you have heard the Miley Cirus song It's the Climb, but this post reminded me of that. Mountains to climb are just another part of life's journey. As a hiker, you might enjoy the view from the top, but you need to stop to enjoy the climb too. Think of what you are working for and it makes the climb much easier :)

Joy For Your Journey said...

I have a few family members--and friends--who are trying to climb mountains right now as well. And I agree with the person who commented just in front of me. We always struggle to get to the top of the mountain and then the first thing we do, is look down at the view from where we came--and are in awe of it.

Best of luck to your family members while they climb.

Grandma Honey said...

Oh the trials of life, they just never end do they? I've been going through old journals of mine today and came across a quote I had put in there a few years back by Neal A Maxwell: "If it were fair, it wouldn't be a true trial."

Unknown said...

Well I'm glad you have confidence in us!
I keep hearing the phrase, "gird up your loins, fresh courage take"...over and over all the time.

And this too...."shall we not go on such a great cause?"
Those mountains were a little easier to climb when I was younger and stronger. The older I get the more winded I get. :)

Karen Mortensen said...

Hi, I found you through Jill's blog. I love the words you wrote and the scriptures you quoted. It is all very nice. Thanks.

Kristina P. said...

This was a great post for a lovely Sunday morning.

Darlene said...

It seems like almost every one I know has been having struggles. Some of the problems they have are pretty tough. I can only hope and pray that they can make it. As for me, I am so used to having physical problems that they don't even seem like problems anymore. I just keep taking one day at a time and I think that is all we can do.

No matter how much we would love to step in and solve our childrens problems, it is not a good idea. If they face them alone and manage to get through them, it does truly make them stronger, and we want our children to be strong, don't we?

There are many good days and as long as we have those to look forward to, we can cope with almost anything. Knowing our Father in Heaven is there to help us along is really encouraging too.

Jenny said...

Sue, what an absolutely right on post. I love your analogies.

I hope the ones climbing the ever-heightening ranges find an easier path to follow.

Life can be so hard!

CB said...

We all have our mountains don't we. I know I am always grateful for my own personal mountains because others look so daunting to me.
I am also thankful for Heavenly help!

Momza said...

I'm at the top of a newly-climbed peak right now, and the veiw is amazing.
I can do hard things.
Good thing, because there's another mountain ahead of me.

Caroline said...

So true and such a lovely post...

I'm sure your family member feel blessed and proud to have you a part of their family as well. You offer great wisdom and perspective.

Amy said...

As one going "up the mountain" your words inspire (as always). It is funny, trials always seem impossible unless you yourself are the one going through them. Then, though they may seem impossible, you somehow always make it through alive and stronger. I read this morning about the butterfly. We all comment on how beautiful it is, but we rarely think about what it took the caterpillar to get there. Thanks again for your words of inspiration and encouragement!

"Just when the caterpillar thought its world was over, it woke up as a butterfly."

Lisa Loo said...

My hardest thing is that when I make it to the top of the mountain, instead of enjoying the view I just start worrying about what and when the next challenge will be.
I'm a mess, I know...