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Abundance

“Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend." - Sarah Ban Breathnach

Thursday, February 12, 2009

A Gift from My Sister

I don't often talk about my faith on this blog, even though it is a huge part of my life and gives me the ability to cope with CFS. I worry that people will focus on this difference and be less inclined to embrace the similarities we share. But, today, I found a wonderful post on my sister's blog that I feel transcends religion and I think I just have to share it with you. The title is "Boulders and Pebbles."
"In church on Sunday, the sacrament meeting topic was adversity. I had several thoughts go through my mind as I struggled to listen. This is not an easy thing since my kids are wild animals. Anyway, as they spoke I thought of one of my favorite Scriptures. It is 2 Nephi 2:25, in the Book of Mormon. It says that "men are, that they might have joy." For years, I thought that it meant that our purpose on earth was to be happy. Then a while ago I read it in context with the whole chapter and I realized that our purpose was to have opposition in all things. That in order to have joy, we must have misery. It really struck me that our sufferings are a show of love, as much as our blessings. They both are there to help us feel joy more fully and more importantly, to learn and become more like our Father in Heaven.

"Bro. Chong, the last speaker, had a great object lesson to go with the topic. He said that when you hold a pebble right up in front of your eye, it looks like a boulder. As you pull it back, it comes into perspective and you can see it for the small pebble it is. I realized that so many of my trials in life have been like that. As I am going through the trials, they seem overwhelming and insurmountable. Then, looking back, after they are over, they seem like they were simply another bump in life. Usually a bump to help me prepare for the next bump. Unfortunately, like the pebble, it takes distance to usually get the whole perspective. Next time I am in a rough spot, I am going to try and remember this. I will keep telling myself, this is just a pebble! Maybe when it is all said and done, I will make a mosaic."


This is my goal -- to take the best (if not the easiest and most pleasant) parts of my life and create something beautiful and amazing.

3 comments:

Sue Jackson said...

Thanks so much for sharing that with us, Shelli. It's a beautiful and thought-provoking concept, and I also enjoyed the photos you included.

I, too, try to focus on what we all have in common in this virtual CFS community - and we certainly do have a lot in common!

Sue

P.S. Although I have different spiritual beliefs, one of my best friends here in Delaware is Mormon.

Dusty Bogwrangler said...

I agree with Sue, a thought-provoking post on many levels.

I have tried to find meaning in my illness and other trials. Sometimes that meaning takes years to emerge and sometimes I despair of finding meaning at all.

Moving away from the jumble of my busy mind through rest and meditation helps me see the pebbles rather than the boulders. I don't have a religion, but perhaps my illness has helped me to be more aware of the richness of a spiritual life?

Thank you for the comment on my post. I'm glad for you to link to your website.

Jo

Renee said...

This is a great story and reminder for us with CFS when our bodies respond like everything is a crisis.