Some Days I Miss the Rain

I wanted to post earlier this week but sadly I was busy between being ill with a sinus and ear infection, work and school. The end of this week has been largely uneventful for me. Also if anyone has photos of things, people, or places that they want to take pictures of please let me know. I am in need of more ideas.

My title comes from a thought that I had on Friday. I stayed home and did my best to rest; I am my father's son and sitting still and doing nothing are difficult. I did some homework sitting in my room. I was sitting in my room when a rain storm erupted outside. It was lovely and it even reached the point of being a massive down pour. I very much wanted to go out and run around in it but I knew that it would be a poor decision especially because I was missing school because I was already sick.

So on Thursday I worked and after work I was in a good mood for some reason that I don't recall. On my way home a saw a couple of cute girls, and decided to say hi. I said hi in passing and gave them a smile. Then I saw a couple and decided not to say hi to them. The guy said "Hi Smilely Guy." I thought that it was funny because I had an ear and sinus infection and felt more tired than happy. This incident reminded me of a time in middle school; I need to say that for me, my middle school years were rather depressing. I had a friend of mine who was having a crisis in her life and felt that she needed more than what her religion was providing her. She asked a few of friends before asking me about my religion. She started asking by saying something to the effect of "Albert, you're always so happy and I want to know why". I will always remembering thinking about how odd it seemed to me that I could appear happy to someone else, even when, in my mind, I felt miserable. I have since decided that it is because I have the Gospel in my life. I think that because I do my best to live the Gospel that Heavenly Father helps me to see the bright side in even the darkest of situations.

I took the picture below because I did this without thinking while making a sandwich and it ties in so when to this post.

My spiritual thought for this week comes from something that I learned while reading a talk by President Eyring of the First Presidency that he gave at BYU-Idaho in 2001 called "A Steady, Upward Course". I haven't finished the talk yet but from I've read it's very good and it was given only a week after Sept. 11.

In the talk, he talks about the phrase "Remember who you are" which is repeated by some parents to their children as they walk out the door on their way to an activity. He says that this phrase assumes that "you had asked and answered a question correctly to know who you really are." He says that if we have answered this question "well and wisely" that it will allow us to progress in the changing world. In his talk, he refers to teenagers and the confusing period of life that they're going through. I remember being a rather confused teenager and like Joseph Smith wanting to know my standing before the Lord. So at the age of 14, I sought out my patriarchal blessing. In it Heavenly Father makes it clear what He wanted me to do and who He wants me to be. Ever since I figured out who I was to my Father in Heaven, it has a world of difference to me in my life. Remembering that I am a son of my Father and that He expects a lot of me, has helped me to make the right decision in numerous occasions. The Spirit made it clear to me that this was why, He had reminded me so many times of my eternal identity. This revelation humbled me and I thanked my Heavenly Father for those reminders of who I am.

I hope that this week, if you haven't asked who you are that you will ask. I hope you ask our Father in Heaven so that He may witness to you that you are really His son or daughter whom He loves. I feel impressed to remind you, mes chèrs lecteurs et lectrices, that you should never resist running out in the rain of the Atonement. I know from past experience that the Atonement of our Savior can wash off the all filth on you so that you can be the real you, a child of Heavenly Father. Please do not hesitate to use the power of the Atonement. It will cleanse you from sins from which you thought you never could be clean and it can heal all wounds no matter how deep. I testify of this in the Savior's name who's sacrifice can make us clean, even Jesus Christ, amen.

The Little Changes

This last week was unexpectedly good. An old friend of mine came back into life and I hope to keep them as such for as long as possible. I'm presently back in North Carolina with my family. I'm missing my sister Catherine and Jesse but my understanding is that they're having a lot of fun in Germany.

This afternoon, I enjoyed running around in the warm North Carolinian rain. It was marvelous to do something I haven't done since high school. I didn't take the picture below but I want to use it to help y'all visualize what it looked like when I was outside.

Coming home, I've seen lots of changes in buildings, my house and chapel most notably. I've seen changes in people; kids and teenagers having grown up. Even the familiar environment has grown and changed. As I thought about this, I realized how much I've changed. I haven't been home since December. In that time I've taken seventeen credits, dated two different girls, and been given a new calling. I've learned some of the basics of family history work and many more things on patience and planning. The person I was in December is different from who I am now. I like to think that I'm a more Christlike person then I was.

I've learned that sometimes we have to put aside our deepest desires to do what the Lord wants. It hurts but my personal belief is that when we sacrifice something to the Lord, we always end up by recieving something better in return; the trick is that we usually don't see the better blessing sitting right in front of us. We often only see what we are losing. The Lord knows of your sacrifice and I know that it is not wasted or unseen. I know that when the Lord requires sacrifice He will always bless you. As Elder Holland said "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." I humbly add my testimony to his that they do come. God does ask for a sacrifice without blessing in return. The blessing and its means of coming maybe be unusual but they do happen.

I have learned my short life experience to trust in the Lord. I will be the first to admit that I am far from perfect at this. I will testify that every time, I have trusted in Him everything turns out alright. Things turning our right doesn't mean I don't get hurt or that things magically repair themselves. Usually it means that the Lord supports me and I come out a better and stronger man in the end.

I am home enjoying being my family who I will have for time and all eternity. I hope that each of you can enjoy your family even you are far from them. If you have a hard time, please plead with Heavenly Father to help you to learn to love and appreciate them more. I can promise you that He will open your eyes and help you to see the good in them, no matter how hidden it may seem.