When Life Gives You Garbage...

HOLY SMOKES!  Has it really been almost two months since my last post!? I apologize to anyone reading this, but with this new year, comes new goals and I have quite the list!

1. Finish the Book of Mormon before I leave on my mission (in July)

2. Study the Preach My Gospel manual EVERY MORNING before I leave my room.

3. Talk to somebody about what I believe at least once a month.

4. POST MORE ON THE BLOG

5. Pray EVERY night and morning and truly come to know my Heavenly Father.

6.  See others as Christ sees them!!

This last month has been a rough spot in my life.  As soon as I made the official decision to go on a mission, it seemed that Satan threw everything he had at me.  I had more temptations with things I never have before, problems with obedience, unnecessary stress, opposition, and trials left and right!  I have felt completely alone.  I felt like I was letting down my Heavenly Father, and that the damage was done.  I could feel myself getting deeper into spiritual trouble!  This new year has been a great opportunity to start fresh and remember why I am a member of this church, and what my purpose is as a latter-day-saint, future missionary, and daughter of God.

Anyone that knows me well will tell you that I am a BIG nerd when it comes to musicals!  I love to sing and act and I ESPECIALLY love to go and see shows, no matter the quality.  A few years ago, I went to see a show with a friend, and there was one song that really hit me at the time.  It was in no way a church related show, but I found myself taking this particular song in a spiritual sense.  The song is called "Come Out of the Dumpster", sung by a girl comforting her friend who is, well, currently and literally inside of a dumpster.  One line in particular says:

"When Life gives you garbage, you use it to CLIMB!"

This garbage in my life, this stress, and opposition can be used to make me stronger and to raise me to new heights that I haven't reached yet.  All I can do is thank my Heavenly Father for the experiences that He is giving me.  I can pray for understanding and an eternal perspective through my trials.  I can remember who I am as a Daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me beyond what I can imagine! He gives me my trials because He KNOWS what I can accomplish!!

"And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.  The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."

 -D&C 78:18

This scripture is another reason I'm deciding to start fresh!  To me, it is saying that I can be forgiven for anything.  I'm not expected to "bear all things".  My Heavenly Father doesn't expect me to be perfect now.  He wants my best, and if my best isn't pleasing me, at least I can know that I am pleasing my Father in Heaven.

"So you're out of the dumpster, was that so hard after all?  It was only a dumpster, and from here it looks so small."

I can't wait until the day when I can look back at my life and the things that are "so important" now will just be little stumbling blocks.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me personally as His very own daughter.  I know that He wants nothing less than the best for me.  I love this gospel with all of my heart! It is changing my life everyday! Happy New Year, and Happy New YOU!!!