When Life Goes Sideways

 

We are meeting a lot of amazing people and learning from them!

A few weeks ago we heard about a woman who might need some help so we went to see if there was anything we could do. She is 80 years old. Her husband has passed away. Her older son was killed in a car accident. Two other sons live with her because they have disabilities. Her first language is an aboriginal language and she is also fluent in Taiwanese. Mandarin is a third language for her and the one she is least fluent in. She can’t read in any language. She found some unused land and grows a garden to help ends meet and keep herself active and productive. She had two different garden plots, but recently decided to focus on one. We took her some food as a gift. She received it reluctantly saying she gets by ok and people don’t need to bring her things. We asked when we could help with her garden but she said we were doing God’s work and she could handle the garden. She doesn’t have a car but she has a scooter and drives her son, who is much bigger than her and has poor balance, to church most weeks. She listens as best she can to the meetings in Mandarin. She says she prays all the time and that God takes care of her. Her prayers are very sincere and personal. She sometimes gets overworked but is generally positive and gets things done.

Another man we met is about 70 years old. He has a large family and has been a leader in the church here. He recently was diagnosed with Parkinsons and then developed some paralysis from the medication. For a while he couldn’t walk, and when he talked no one could understand him. He has received physical and speech therapy and now he can walk with a walker and, when he focuses, he can make himself understood. He has to be careful eating so he doesn’t choke. He comes to church every week with the help of family members. Two weeks ago he spoke in church. His daughter says he has a lot he wants to share and teach but it is difficult for him to make himself understood. He still has a sense of humor and likes to tease his family.

Both of these people have very challenging lives, but they still love God. For me, they are great examples of faith. They are trusting in God, keeping his commandments, participating in church, and doing their best even though they don’t know why they are in these circumstances or what comes next. 

The savior taught that with faith nothing is impossible.

“And Jesus said unto them, … If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Mathew 17:20)

Their faith, which is surely bigger than a mustard seed (pictured above), has not brought physical healing or removed their challenges. Christ’s words in the Book of Mormon may help explain why.

"And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me" (Moroni 7:33)

It is not always God’s will for us to be healed or for our challenges to be removed. He wants to bless us, but he is looking at the big picture, at who we are becoming, not just our immediate circumstances. To that end, it is “not expedient” to remove all our challenges or opportunities to grow. However, I believe our faith is rewarded with happiness and peace of mind and though we may not have great circumstances on earth we, “lay up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mathew 6:20-21).