Perspective

I think perspective on anything in life can really change out attitude about the event for either the good or bad. This week we talked about crisis and what a crisis can do to an individual or family. The example of 2 deaths was shared and the effect it had on Brother William's family. One drove the family apart, and one brought them together and changed their life for the better. No matter how large or small a crisis is, or even a trial, there is always something to be gained from it. A woman in my ward was teaching a lesson last Sunday and she was telling us about her older sister and how she got in a car accident on her mission and could possibly pass away due to injuries. The woman told us that her initial response was, "this isn't fair. Becky is serving a mission for the Lord and he should have taken better care of her." To which her mom responded, "Joanne, we have had Becky in our home for 21 good years. If we lose her then there is no one better to take her. She is in the Lord's hands no matter what happens." That mother showed her daughter a powerful example and that woman in turn taught me a powerful lesson about perspective. We can either look at life as being completely unfair, and that God doesn't care about his children, Or we can stop and think about where this crisis fits into Heavenly Father's plan for them and for us. A crisis can happen at any time, but we determine the nature of the crisis. When we have an eternal perspective and keep our faith in Christ, we will have a perfect knowledge that all will be well in Christ who loves us.

Improving Marriages All Around

This week was very important; not particularly comfortable, but definitely necessary. We don't need to be a therapist to have to deal with issues regarding intimacy; we are faced with it everyday at school, in the media, etc. Many of my friends are at the point in their life of getting married and having children. Some of them are very open about their experiences prior to and after marriage, and sometimes they ask little ol' inexperienced me about my opinions. This week has been very eye opening on how damaging it can be in a relationship if couples do not communicate with each other. I was happy though when I looked back on a conversation with a friend who said to me, "It's really frustrating and we struggle with it, but we just laugh and work together." Those are the experiences that bond the couple, and they learn to work out issues in many other aspects of their marriage. I am just grateful for the examples I have in my life, both good and bad, of how working together is what makes a marriage happy.

Not Your Average Norm

This week was really neat. I really felt the spirit in the classroom this week from classmates who are not yet parents, classmates who are parents, and Brother Williams. As I watched the PowerPoint about how the average American couple loses marital satisfaction with each child, it broke me heart. I have been blessed throughout my life with good examples and every couple I have seen has fallen more in love with each other when they have children. I was so grateful Brother Williams added his perspective and how his marital satisfaction increased with each child. Children are a gift from the Lord. A treasured promise he makes with us that we will love and care for with all our hearts. I am the typical LDS girl with the dream of getting married in the temple and having a big family; there is nothing I want more in this life. I know that is my duty and one I look forward to according to God's timing. I am grateful that through our beliefs and faith in the gospel, our lives are different from the average norm. I feel blessed to be different and to be able to raise a family some day. I know that no matter how difficult it may seem to raise a family, and I know it will be very hard, but our faith and dedication to the Lord will see us through the hard times and find joy in the things which will bring us closer together as a family.