Grateful Fast Sunday XXXI

One of my favorite pictures of the two best kids in the world - Thanksgiving 2007

This past week has been really crazy. I started the intensive summer portion of my master’s program. They were not exaggerating when they called it intensive. I am in class all day and then doing homework the whole evening. I have not spent as much time with AJP and BLP as I would like but I know that this is only for a little season. I am able to deal with this lack of time because they are one of my great motivators in doing this program. With all the craziness of this past week, I have still felt particularly grateful.

This Fast Sunday I am grateful for the following:

1. The blessings of the Spirit. I was so worried about how I would deal with the work of this past week, how I would make decisions about my time and if I would be able to be successful at all in this program. While I am not clear yet about my grade success, I have felt immensely blessed in my capacity to remember things, make connections between my real life and the texts, and deal with the actual work of my class. I have also felt the Spirit guide me with my time management so that I could do my studies but still attend to the needs of my family. I felt the Spirit push me and pull me in the directions that I should go. It has been wonderful and humbling all at once.

2. The generosity of others. I would not be in this program without the incredible generosity of my mom, my in-laws, JTP, AJP and BLP. That list also includes the wonderful friends that have been supportive and encouraging with this endeavor.

3. The opportunity to work with the children in our congregation. I was called to serve as the president of the children’s organization in our congregation today. I sat in on their classes this morning and was awestruck by their faith, knowledge, and attention. I felt a powerful witness of the love Jesus and our Heavenly Father have for children. I am humbled that They would trust me to help teach these wonderful and special spirits about the love They have for them.

4. That I get what I need not what I want in life. I think some of the greatest blessings I have had in my life has been trials and difficulties. I feel that those moments are special times when Heavenly Father and Jesus stretch me so that I have to rely on Them. They give me these times of trial so that They can bless me more than I ever expected. The most difficult moments are often when I don’t get what I want or when life does not go the way I think it should. In those moments, I feel Their powerful presence beside me.