My Many Blessings

My nephew recently underwent surgery to remove cysts from his kidney. As my sister-in-law describes it, he was absolutely miserable the following night. She said he woke up every hour or so miserable and depressed. To console him she would read him stories and try to take his mind of things. At one point things were especially bad and she decided to remind him of all of the people in his life who love him. They went through everybody one by one and then he felt better enough to sleep.

I really like this story and I think it can apply to me. This week I feel like I've been miserable and depressed. It gives me strength to imagine my heavenly father right there by me ready and willing to console me every time I get overwhelmed. I think he would recommend the same exercise my sister-in-law did to help me to deal with the pain.

As I've expressed above, I've sorta been having a "why me?" week, and I've asked my roommates and others my question of the week, namely: Why do some people seem to have much harder lives than others. I feel like God has answered this question for me. The question is flawed because it takes such and individualistic view of life and salvation. No man is an island. In Mosiah 18 before he baptizes them, Alma asks his followers whether they are willing to bear one another's burdens. I feel like this is an integral part of what we agree to do as members of the church. When one person's burden becomes to much for them to bear those who can handle taking on a little of their burden have covenanted that they will help out.

So we need to be conscious of the burdens in the lives of those around us and seek to do whatever we can to alleviate some of the stress and pain. And further when we are having a "why me?" week such as mine this week we shouldn't be shy about asking others for their help in carrying our burden. I think that God often answers prayers through other people and when he says he will make our burden light, he often does so through other people.