Feeling a Certain Way

I have this Facebook friend who continually brings up the death of anyone he has ever been friends with. I often find this insincere and a bit creepy. Most recently, it was a coworker that he continually said something about it being weird he was not going to get a call or text from anymore. About a week later, he said something about a falling out they had a while back. To me, it made all of his previous posts about this person seem ingenuine. I am hoping this post doesn't feel that way.

This week, the husband of a former friend announced that his wife, who had been battling cancer for a little over a year was entering into hospice. This made me sad. I know she is a good person with a good heart. I don't know if I am sad that she specifically is dying or if I am sad that a good person is only a year younger than me is dying of cancer, leaving her husband and kids behind. All I know is that I am sad, and I find myself wanting to do something for her sister that lived in my town. 

Honestly, I haven't seen this couple since at least 2009. It wasn't that we had a falling out. We each moved, and the mutual friend that we hung out with moved to a different state. I am sad that her loved ones have to face a future without her knowing that there was little chance that the person who taught me to crochet would have been in my life again either way. I hope that doesn't make me a hypocrite.

Should I Drop It?

I am in week 4 of 14 for this semester. I have two classes that are very hard (Social Psychology and Teaching Family Life Ed) and one easy 1 credit elective. I have an A in the easy class, a C in the psychology class, and an F in the other one. I can redeem the psychology grade. I missed one assignment a few weeks ago, and I know that the grade will go up the as I turn in more work. I don’t know if I can redeem the other class, though. I need to make a decision if I should drop it and take it next semester which would push back my graduation until July. Honestly, this is what I’m learning towards. There are only two things keeping me from doing it: I can’t drop under 6 credits without having to pay student loans from my first degree, and I don’t want to ouch back my graduation again. I just don’t know if it is worth trying to figure out. 

Struggling is Okay

When I was growing up, I was lead to believe that I would have very little struggles if I were to be faithful. I understand where this advice was coming from, but it is dangerous advice and not true. There were time in my life when I felt on top of the world spiritually, doing my very best to do what was right, but my world came crashing down on me anyway. 

Life is not easy no matter who you are and what path you choose to follow. There was a talk during this last conference that addressed this very issue. (I don’t remember who was speaking or if it was from the Sunday morning or afternoon session.) When we struggle, we are not alone. Jesus Christ suffered all, and we can draw on His strength when we need it the most. He is there to comfort us when times are hard. 

Does this mean everything will get better just by praying, reading scriptures, and going to church? No. We have been given access to get help when it is needed. There is no reason to be ashamed of reaching out to a professional or taking medication for these struggles. My mom did it, and I’m glad she did. I’ve done it from time to time and should probably do it more often. When we use these tools in combination with being faithful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can be made whole. 

“…peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.”

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-9