Day 39: Life Can Be A 'Paine'

I like this quote. I originally thought about it in the context of war. Then last night an astute young man said something that helped me consider this in a new light. He was talking about Nephi obeying the Lord's command to obtain the plates of brass from Laban observing, "This is a hard thing the Lord required, but He provided a way through."

And the thought came that all of us are required to go through 'hard things' that push us to the edge of our capacity and sometimes far beyond. They can be external pressure and stress or internal doubt and despair. Whatever they are, they seem to be tailor made for our growth and betterment. As I've watched friends and family members face difficulties over the years; things that grind them down and beat them up, I've seen their commitment to the gospel and their faith in the Lord pull them through. And because they faced the demons of their day, their children will experience greater peace in their lives. I think the collective strength of our friends and family really helped us pull through losing Shiloh. I am so grateful for parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas, extended relatives, and friends who have faced the trouble in their day. I'm so glad that they hung on even when they didn't have anything left. Their examples helped us keep going.

I know that we can continue to do the hard things the Lord requires and that as we do those hard things, life will be easier.