thankful thursday

I almost forgot about tt!

I am thankful for possibilities. I think a lot of time we get in a mindset where there is only one option for this or that. Lately I've realized that the possibilities for our lives are endless. That each new day is going to bring it's trials & it's joy.

Last week we had ward conference. Our lesson in RS was beautiful & heartfelt. I feel kinda bad, but I'm not one to walk out of church every week & feel like my life will be changed forever because of something I heard or felt, but this past week I did. Our lesson was about charity & service. Our theme for the year is "Hearts knit together in unity & love".  We talked about the various forms in which we each can touch the lives of those around us.

It made me recall an experiece I had when I was at Ricks College. I had been having a really hard time & was contimplating moving home. My heart didn't really want to leave, but I felt like it may have been time, but I was just so confused about it all. I remember praying & praying all day. For hours I was on my knees begging the Lord to help me know he heard what I was saying & how I felt. I kept waiting for a sign or something & nothing ever came. Nothing was different, I didn't feel at peace, I didn't feel like I had any answers. Nothing was anymore clear. I remember feeling like I was falling into a deep dark hole that I wouldn't be able to climb out of. I finally decided to go to bed, I was exausted & needed to rest my mind, body & spirit.

I layed down but couldn't sleep (no surprise!) so I just layed there for about an hour just thinking about all my options & how they would affect me.  The phone rang. It was like 2 o'clock in the morning & I was really surprised someone would call that time of night. I answered it only to hear the voice of my cousin Travis.  He was going to school & lived accross campus from me.  I was shocked to hear his voice because we didn't hang out on a regular basis. He said he had been thinking about me off & on all day but didn't really think anything of it & couldn't sleep because I kept popping into his head so he finally decided to call & see if I need something.

We talked for a minute & I asked him if he would give me a blessing. He came right over with one of his friends & we talked & he gave me a beautiful priestood blessing. It was absoluetly incredible. I was able to make the decision peacefully to stay at school & know that the Lord was completly aware of my situation & that everything would be fine if I just stayed faithful.

I have never forgotten how much bravery that must have take on Travis' behalf to not only call someone not knowing why really & to do it at an odd hour.  It taught me that service is real. That it has no limits or constraints. That when we have promptings, especially mulitple times to follow trough, even if you have to go out on a limb or go out of your comfort zone. The Lord truly is aware of each of us & has a plan for us.

One of the things that was said in the lesson has stuck with me. "Lift where you stand". How simple, yet how profound. I can't get it out of my head. I hope that I am lifting where I stand, that I am aware of the promptings of the spirit & of the possiblitity this life provides.