Finding the Good...
Today I am brave…
Today I am going to put my total trust in the Lord. I’m going to the share the gospel, even if I am afraid, with a prayer of courage. If the Lord tells me to do something, I’m going to swallow my pride and do it… for Him. It’s going to take all the courage I have, but isn’t it worth it?
Today I am humble.
Today, I am going to keep my words low. I won’t tell my own stories. I won’t talk about myself. I won’t boast and I won’t brag. Instead…
I’ll ask how someone is doing. I’ll compliment every person I can. I’ll ask questions, and give people opportunity to talk about themselves. I’ll listen to every person who speaks. I’ll pay attention to my teachers. I won’t sass my parents. I’ll say “please” and “thank you”, even to my closest friends and family.
And this will keep me happy.
I never realized how many miracles are in my daily life. I had never really given it a thought, to be honest—but today, I realized many important things. Firstly, let me introduce you to Connor, my absolute best friend in the entire world. Connor and I met ‘formally’ on trek last summer, despite being in the same ward for almost two years and saying four or five words to each other. After trek, we became inseparable. When school started back up, my mom said, “Don’t get too caught up with him, because school will throw you back into your old friends.”
But it wasn’t like that. Connor and I are spiritually connected—we are undoubtedly tied together by the choices we make and the Spirit we’ve discovered together. When school started back up, we only grew closer. Yes, a lot closer. Our friends from two different sides merged together because of us, and truthfully great things have started to happen.
Connor is my Priesthood guide. I have a lovely father, and he’s a wonderful Priesthood holder and very worthy, but Connor and I have come together in no way I ever thought possible. He always confirms to me the truth of things—my testimony does not rely on him, but he has definitely helped in the strengthening of it. And today, a miracle happened…
Connor has an indescribable relationship with his father. They are both craftsman, very religious, and extremely faithful. Connor never cries unless he’s bearing his testimony, in which he always mentions his dad. Anyway, to the point, Connor’s father is about three hours away at their cabin down South, helping to repair damage and fix things due to the snow downpour. Him and two or three other men went down ten days ago to work on the cabin—no reception, no service. He calmly explained to his wife that he would be home in six days, but if it took seven or eight, there was no need to worry. Snow storms were expected to be extremely heavy and they were likely to be trapped with no service.
So she waited patiently. Her husband did not show up on day six, and as she is the mother of five boys and one girl, panic began to set in. Day seven, nothing. No phone call, no message. She decided to put her trust in her husband and wait. On the eighth day, there was no recognition of his returning home. She began to grow extremely panicked as the ninth day, yesterday, rolled around and she couldn’t get ahold of her husband. Today, around five o’ clock, she called her brothers and her oldest son, Connor, to go down and find them. They were given a half-hour to pack, and she wandered frantically, trying to hide it from her younger children. Only Connor knew.
Within ten minutes, Connor was at my doorstep. I was surprised as he wandered in, took off his shoes and said, “We need to talk. I’m leaving.” It was so abrupt, and so… terrifying. My heart fluttered in disbelief as I guided him down the stairs and into our home theatre room, sitting beside him on a recliner.
Immediately, his eyes welled with tears. He couldn’t look at me, but he grabbed my hand and held it tightly. The moment his skin touched mine, it was like instant Spiritual contact. I felt this heavy, emotional damage put onto my shoulders. Connor said very quietly, holding back tears, “My dad isn’t responding…my mom is beside herself. She’s been praying, and she has now lost all comfort and believes that he may be dead.”
My heart stopped, but for some reason, I didn’t. My mouth opened right then and words poured out like liquid, flowing all over. I told him, “Connor, look at me.” I took his face in my hands and looked him squarely in his wide dark tear stricken eyes and said, “Do not mistaken the shock and worry you feel from not knowing where your father is, for the Lord’s message of discomfort. You may think that the Lord is telling you that your father is in a wrong state, but unless you truly, truly know that, don’t think it for a second. The Lord is the Comforter, but only if you choose to overlook your discomfort and accept Him.”
I then asked if he’d like to say a prayer. It took him a moment to decide, but when he did, both of his hands grasped mine and we bowed our heads while I said a gentle, quiet prayer. And you know… the Lord works in mysterious ways. Less than ten minutes later, Connor’s father called for the first time in days to announce that the storm had passed and they were now coming home, right as Connor was about to leave.
There are simple miracles everywhere. I think recording them will be healthy. We’ll just have to wait and see…
