Keep Walking

So this morning, I'll admit that I was kind of upset and frustrated about this roller-coaster of emotions we keep having to ride....which is unusual for me.  I am more of a person who gets "sad" if things don't turn out the way I want, not "mad". And to clarify, I wasn't "mad" at Heavenly Father...I was just mad and frustrated in general.

I was having a hard time shaking the feeling off so I decided I should try to read my scriptures and get myself into a better frame of mind.  Well, let's just say I was sufficiently humbled.  I didn't even get as far as reading my actual scriptures...I opened my scriptures and looked at my bookmark.  It's a bookmark I got in Relief Society last year that had our theme for the year.  At the top it says, "The Pioneers Kept Walking!"  Then it has this quote from President Monson:

"This should be our purpose--to preserve and endure, yes, but also to become more spiritually refined as we make our way through sunshine and sorrow.  Were it not for challenges to overcome and problems to solve, we would remain much as we are, with little or no progress toward our goal of eternal life."

I think we've been experiencing a lot of the heat from the refiners fire lately...and sometimes it's hard to remember that we are experiencing these trials of our faith so that we may one day become more like our Savior.  Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture and the "higher plan" while we are here on earth.  I guess we just need to always do our best to remain faithful through our trials and continue pressing forward.

So, yes, I was sufficiently humbled.  We'll just "keep walking" and do our best to keep our heads held high and have a positive attitude as we continue our climb up these mountains. 

In conclusion I want to share one more quote.  A few weeks ago Brian and I reread Elder Ballard's talk from our last General Conference (April 2014).  This promise he gave still gives us both a lot of hope that one day some of these trials will come to a close.

"Your secret yearnings and tearful pleadings will touch the heart of both the Father and the Son.  You will be given a personal assurance from Them that your life will be full and that no blessing that is essential will be lost to you...Arms now empty will be filled, and hearts now hurting from broken dreams and yearning will be healed."

That is a great promise.  Someday our arms will be filled.  And some day our hearts, which are hurting from broken dreams of life without our sweet Tace, will be healed.  We'll "Keep Walking" with the hope of this promise in mind.