Great Read

So this is a book that we have been reading for our Relief Society book club. I started it in January and finally got it finished last night. (I never claimed to be a fast reader). In the book, Sister Oaks has so many profound things to say. One of the first things that she talks about it not just having faith in the Lord, but also having faith in his timing.

"Faith means trust - trust in God's will, trust in His way of doing things, and trust in His timetable."

At times I find this very difficult to do. I have faith in the Lord, but I want things when I want them. At times it is hard to see the big picture. Ultimately the Lord can always see the big picture, so ultimately He know what is best. Sister Oaks also reminded me that,

"Faith is believing that although we do not understand all things, He does. Faith is knowing that although our power is limited, His is not."

At times I want things to work because of what I'm doing, but I must remember that ultimately if I have faith and turn to the Lord he has the power to do ALL things. This being said I must remember that He will do them as He see fit.

"The Lord is going to give us the life that is best for us. One way or the other, it is not going to be easy."

I think that sometimes I wonder why life couldn't be easier, or why so and so has such an easy life, but mine isn't. It's at times like these that I need to remember that first of all I don't know all the struggles that so and so goes through, but also that this life wasn't meant to be easy. We can here so that we could learn and grow and often times the we grow the most when we must struggle.

Another thing that the book talks about a ton is being happy with where we are in life. President Harold B. Lee said:

"Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you; it is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life"

I think something that is key to truly being happy is understanding that I am a child of a Heavenly Father who loves me and wants the best for me. As I draw near to my Savior Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, I will only find more answers to the questions I have. Who better to ask for answers than those who know all.

"If we look to Christ for answers, He will give them. It also follows that with our increase devotion and understanding of Him, the happier and more complete we will become and the more we will comprehend our true worth in the sight of God."

I think sometimes the hardest thing to do is to see myself and others as our Heavenly Father sees us. I think if I truly did, I would understand the great worth of each person on this earth as a child of a Heavenly Father. Knowing this I'm sure I would treat myself and those around me with greater love and compassion.

Another things that Sister Oaks talks a ton about in the book is marriage. She wasn't married til later in her life (in her 50's) so she talks about the struggle to wait for the blessing of marriage to come, but also the importance of marriage. There were a couple things that specifically stood out to me since I'm looking forward to being married this summer (a post to come on that soon I promise). Sister Oaks says that

"We should realize that a good marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect women. It only requires a man and a women committed to strive together towards perfection."

I think that at times we talk so much about perfection that we assume that it is something that will ultimately be achieved in this life, but it is not. So if I will never attain perfection how is it that I would expect to find a perfect man to marry. Marriage is ultimately a partnership in which two people come together to work towards perfection. I'm sure there will be good days and there will be bad days, but as long as we are committed to working together with the Lord, the marriage will be blessed. Another thing that Sister Oaks said that I really liked was

"Marriage is a dynamic interaction between two growing, changing people, and it requires constant focus on the quality of that interaction if the marriage is to be close and meaningful."

As I move forward building a relationship with Dan, I realize that we are two different people, with two different backgrounds, with two different lives full of experiences, but that as we work together and trust in the Lord that we can continue to build a relationship that will be meaningful not only in this life but in the life to come.

Last but not least I just thought that this was overall and very good thought on the ability that we have in our life when we trust the Lord. Sister Oaks says

"We have the capacity to change our lives for the better."

And so if you're looking for a good read I would highly recommend this one. Not only do I think that it strengthened my faith, but it lifted my spirit and brought to me a greater understanding of my worth to my Heavenly Father