Blessings Through Adversity

We never know where life's journey will take us.

Life doesn't provide a road map for the unforeseen forks in the road, the hairpin turns that catch us off guard, or bumpy terrain that sometime rattle us. These unexpected detours can happen at any time - unfortunately, without any warning signs or flashing hazard lights. 

I found out yesterday that a dear friend of mine, Britni, has cancer.  She and I worked together in the Young Women's program in our ward a couple of years ago.  She represents everything that is good in this world. She is kind and generous - I don't think she has a mean bone in her body. She is happy and cheerful and a mother to 2 darling children.  She has a firm testimony of the gospel and of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  She's a loving friend and an amazing example of what goodness is.

Why is it that bad things can happen to good people?

I often wish that there was a direct correlation between the fruits of our labors - the kind of lives that we live - and the blessings or challenges that we receive (in the here and now). We do something good - a blessing is deposited.  We make unrighteous choices - a withdrawal is made.  In other words, if you're good your life will only be good.  If you're bad, then life may not be without a few flat tires.  If this were the case, we'd always have a pretty clear accounting of where we stand and there would be no surprises.  We'd simply have to look at our life's ledger to see where our balance stands in this earthly existence.

But, of course, our Father in Heaven is much wiser than that.  He understands that some of the greatest lessons learned - the lessons that take us from being good people to even better people - most often come through our trials and challenges.  Think about it.  Most of the truly great and inspirational people that have lived, or are living, on this earth have one thing in common - they have learned to overcome.  Their characters have been molded by challenges and they have come through the refiner's fire as better people.  Truly inspiring and influential people don't make their mark on the world by living easy and carefree lives.  Rather, they have overcome obstacles that most of us would pray we would never have to deal with.  They have battled failures and disappointment and ridicule from others. They suffered from loss and anguish and ailments of the body, mind or spirit.  But, in the end, these great ones - our heroes, our historical protagonists, our role models - have risen above adversity and sustained a level of faith throughout it all.  That's what makes them great. That's what sets them apart.  That's what elevates them above the mediocracy of the masses.

Luckily, my friend's prognosis is a good one.  She will go in for major surgery in a couple of weeks and then go through chemotherapy treatments.  The doctor's feel the success rate for beating this disease is very, very high.  In this, there is peace and hope.  This challenge will exercise her faith and teach her in ways she hadn't expected.   She will recover and live the beautiful life she was meant to live.  She will be the incredible wife and mother she has set out to be.  She will continue to be one of the greatest examples to me of what a true lady is and what charity looks like.  She will overcome.

And, to me, she will be one among the greats.