Our Women Were Strong

This week a lot of crazy things have happened and I've had a lot of time to self-reflect and ponder. Getting inside your own head, while it sounds slightly psychotic, has really helped me put my life into perspective. Things have been said and thought and talked about. Man have I really had to have some one on one time in prayer, but its going to be okay. As I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week the first couple verses that I read were very potent. You see the Book of Mormon does not really name very many women, but when females are talked about you can't help but feel empowered and cherished. This verse helped me to understand my divine worth as a daughter and what my perspective on life could be like, can be like.

1 Nephi 17:1-2 "... and we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness. And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea even like unto men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings."

In short life can be really hard. Seriously, really hard. We all know this and experience it. The true test in life isn't necessarily about what we get thrown at us. Although, this is also very important. I think its more about how we handle what is being thrown at us. For goodness sake's these women were, in my opinion, in the worst situation. My idea of camping is a Motel 8 without wifi ya know?! Can you imagine all the stuff they had to put up with? Well even in that they didn't murmur, they kept perspective, they kept the commandments, they were able to withstand! Honestly. Heroes. They were able to be strong. They are our examples. It can be done as proven by the daughters of Lehi and Ishmael. I want to be strong in my journeyings, more positive about life and the curve ball it throws. I am a daughter of the most High God. Sometimes I think that we know the saying "I am a child of God" but we definitely take for granted what that means. Dude! Bro. We have divine DNA. I am not alone. I have a perfect father. I have an involved father. I am built of tougher stuff than I can comprehend. We all are. Isn't it grand?!

 We are that we might have joy. Live a little. Laugh at yourself. Trust God. I've got 23 year of anecdotal proof that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor and that He blesses more than we deserve. The verse after says that if we keep the commandments He will strengthen us. While here's a little trick I'm still learning: keeping the commandments gives us strength like a self-fulfilling prophecy its coming full circle. Heavenly Father's just sitting back waiting for us to figure that out on our own. Life's tricky but definitely worth enjoying.

Keep on keeping on.

Love,
Lexi