Through another

I've known my friend most of my life. We grew up together. We went to youth camps, tennis matches, church dances, and anything in between.We were next door neighbors. We would go for a walk as often as we could and on those walks we dream, hope, and plan for the future.

 We chose to be college roommates where she put up with my crazy habits! We helped each other through the moving out of home phase. We wrote letters as we both served as missionaries for our church. We've just always stayed really close.  Through the grace of God we were put in the same place once again after all this time and she continues to be a living example to me. 

Today I had the special chance to be with my friend when she found her wedding dress. As we searched and found I just felt a profound sense of joy come over me. It was as though I could see God helping things work out smoothly for her. It filled my heart in a way that words can't describe. All those days of dreaming and planning seem to be coming true. There she was standing in front of the mirror in the perfect dress,with the perfect smile shining across her face,getting ready to marry the perfect man for her! My heart was overflowing with excitement for her dreams to come true. I felt one of those rare moments when your joy is totally full and it has nothing to do with you at all! 

It reminded me of a story from the Book of Mormon. In Alma 29 we learn how Alma is so carried away in joy for the success of his brethren that it is as if his body and spirit are separated from each other for a moment. That kind of joy, real, unexplainable happiness for someone else, is the best description I can find for what I felt today! (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/29)

Oddly, watching her so filled with joy somehow made it seem more possible for my own dreams to come true. It was like I could tangibly see in front of a me an example of how faith, prayer, and keeping the commandments led to blessings. She's always been so good and worked so hard to be ready for the time when the Lord saw fit to give her this blessing. She had to wait patiently upon the Lord for his arm to be revealed, but it has been! 

Some day I may also experience such head over heels joy! The best part, I know for a certainty that she will be right there with me just as happy for me as I am today for her! (Ya'll need friends like me!)
So, while words don't really do it justice, I submit that it is possible to feel great joy for other people, and to experience a renewed hope in your own life and future as you share in the success of others!  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Mother’s Day Hurts: Infertility and the Silent Struggle

Image
Mother’s Day is a beautiful time of celebration for many. But for those who are walking the difficult path of infertility, it can be a day of heartache, quiet grief, and unspoken longing. While others are surrounded by flowers, cards, and family gatherings, many women feel left out of a celebration that touches the deepest part of their identity and hope. Why It Hurts Infertility is a private sorrow that often goes unseen. Every pregnancy announcement, baby shower, or Mother’s Day tribute can feel like a reminder of what hasn’t happened yet—or what may never come. The pain is real, even if it’s invisible to others. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once compassionately said: “To you who are single, widowed, divorced, or have no children, I say: Do not lose hope. The Lord loves you. He knows your heart. He has not forgotten you.” —Jeffrey R. Holland, “Because She Is a Mother”, April 1997 This reassurance is vital. God sees the whole picture. He understands the desires of our hearts and ho...
Read more

The Battle to Be Still

Image
Post surgery I continue to hear the phrase "just rest!" It's ironic because this phrase has created an internal and external battle for me. I have not been blessed with the gift of being still. In fact, if the scriptures were written about me it would say, "Be busy, and try to stay out of God's way". Don't worry, I won't change the scriptures, I'll try to adapt myself to the Bible as it stands. First I will illustrate part of the problem I face in adapting to being still. Let me share some real life examples that make it hard to slow down. "Hey Ashley I know you have surgery today, but I have a question..." "Hey don't do too much... but could you make sure you are here for the four terminations we have on Thursday? Can you also finish payroll. Oh, and we need some severance packages too" "Hey Ashley just make sure you rest... but could you start working with a loan officer to buy the house? Would you mind review...
Read more

Ode to the "Great Harvester"

Image
For two years I have had a companion in the "great harvester". I'll never forget when I woke up in the hospital in 2022 and there was a bag attached to my side. I was told prior to the surgery that there was a 2% chance of such an event, but I couldn't understand how it had happened. The kindest nurse came in and tried to make it ok. She told me that naming things attached to our body can make them become less of a burden, and more of a blessing. At the time I wasn't in much of a joking mood, but tried to keep my humor... this Stoma would literally touch everything I ever ate. Thus the birth of the great harvester. During the past several years I cannot count the number of uncomfortable situations I have shared with the Great Harvester. Sometimes my stoma was far too powerful for the accompany bag and would spread it's goodness all over everywhere, and mostly all over me. Carrying an extra change of clothes (or three) became the norm. I learned very quic...
Read more