Angels

I happened to come across an article from the Ensign today that I haven't read yet, it is in June's issue. The title is HOPE: The Misunderstood Sister.

I love how the Author ( Larry Hiller) took Christ's tributes and make them into a sister form, more of a being, or rather an angel.

There is Faith, Charity and HOPE....
People use the term hope too much and not in the sense that it should be used. He is saying that people tend to demean her and take her for granted.

He states from verses:

"Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience. We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience, experience; and experience hope; And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

He goes on the talk about a puzzle (the Gospel) -there are things we don't understand. I decided to broaden this to involve my whole perception of my life right now.

He says, " For me, things I don't understand about the gospel are like pieces of a larger puzzle I'm working on. If I don't see where they fit, I put them aside and work on the other parts of the picture. From time to time I pick them up and look at them. If I still don't see how they fit, I put them aside again. "

These are such wise words and it is exactly what I needed to hear right now. I totally get what he is saying and it can be applied to soo many ways.

He goes on..

" And so one day, as I reexamined this particular puzzle piece, I saw a possible connection I hadn't seen before. When we endure tribulation with faith and patience, what we experience is the Savior's awareness of us and His love for us. We experience them through the ministrations of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. We receive this witness after the trial of faith."
( Ether 12:6)
When I endure my trials patiently I experience Christ's tender mercies. My trials may continue, but having taken upon me the yoke of Christ, I find Him sharing my yoke, making my burdens bearable, and giving me Hope. I then have the strength to endure....Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience. Hope is serene, she has a a deep, knowing look of someone well acquainted with sorrow, the luminosity of recently being wet with tears. Hope has the confidence of one who clearly sees a bright future even when the next hours seem fog shrouded. Hope is steady and strong, a friend I am glad to have beside me during my own trials."

I think we can all learn from his words. I know that I learn best from other's experiences and I feel for them and try to understand.

I know that I was to read this article, it's like when you just open the scriptures and read the first verse you come upon and it's exactly what you needed to hear at that moment.

I am at a crossroads in my life and I have picked up that puzzled piece and set it down so many times not understanding how it all fits; BECAUSE IT IS THERE WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT! Now I have to finish that part before I can go on because otherwise it will serve no purpose and I will loose out on that beautiful picture that's waiting me at the end. I know that through my faith and my wonderful Savior that he can bring me HOPE if I but have the faith and charity; there is not one or the other, they come together- A SISTERHOOD.

I love the meaning of sisterhood. My sister is my angel, I speak of mainly one right now, my sister Amber. I mentioned before that she is a social worker who has her degree in child phicology. She has pretty much done just about everything in her line of work and I know that she does it for a reason and a purpose.. I am proud to call my sister and ANGEL; she brings compassion to those who have been so rejected and missused, abandoned and most of all molested and abused! I love her so much, she is a part of me and I know that I could not go through this life without her and that is why she is my SISTER! I have come to her when I could not even face myself in the mirror, not understanding the feelings that I felt and the reason for them. Through her loving words and acceptance I understand what is not right ( meaning that I needed help, that I have been sooo wounded that I need attention and that it is alright to feel that way and I am not in the wrong. I need to get it out and let go, to manage). She has helped me put the puzzle pieces together and understand where I can put them or rather how I can work on them- figuring it all out. She is the first person that I put my guard down for, for so many things so that I could open my heart and my mind and has made me understand and just be there for me, someone to listen to with NO JUDGMENT! I am so happy that I will see her in just about 1 short week and I need this more than ever. I am sure when I see her I will come to her with open arms and cry my heart out. She is MY sister, she is MY friend and MY angel.
I LOVE YOU AMBER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THERE FOR ME!!!