I've been thinking a lot about a particular scene from The Lord of the Rings lately. It's actually from the last one- Return of the King. Gandalf and Pippin have arrived in Minas Tirith and it's the eve of the big battle. They're outside on a balcony overlooking the land that expands all the way to Mordor. It's very quiet and all of a sudden they see a great pillar of light signaling that Sauron's troops are leaving Mordor and the battle over their world is about to begin.
Pippin: It's so quiet.
Gandalf: It's the deep breath before the plunge.
Pippin: I don't want to be in a battle...but waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse.
That's how I've been feeling lately, like I'm waiting for a battle to start. And I don't know what the monster looks like yet. I don't know how big or powerful he is. And that really scares me. I feel so unprepared.
And then it hit me like a lightning bolt. We're not unprepared. We have armor. We've even been training for this. We started changing our lives last year. We're stronger physically, emotionally, and spiritually than we've ever been.
And we're not alone either. We've got troops, hundreds of them. All of our family and friends lifting us up and cheering us on, willing to go to battle with us.
And best of all we have our own Gandalf: Heavenly Father. I've felt His love and comfort so consistantly this last month. Now I know that whatever happens we'll fight it together and we'll be better for it.
8 comments:
We are here to help you fight! The spirit was felt through your words, thanks for touching my life!
Love you guys! :)
Count me in with the troops! So many people love you and your family. We will help all we can. I love your analogy too. It is scary not knowing. But you said it yourself, you are prepared the best you can be and you will persevere and move forward. We'll all be supporting you along the way!!! xoxoxoxo
Our troop is here for you too. Keeping your beautiful family in our prayers.
I remember sobbing to my mom..."i made ALL the right choices growing up-both me and jon were VERY good kids growing up--we continued to do alllll the right things and this is our reward? we SO got JIPPED!"
then she quietly said "because you both made all those righteous choices-THAT will help you get thru this new trial of your life"
Perfect.
I also want to share with you Elder Ballard's thoughts:
We are all needed to finish the work that was begun by those pioneering Saints over 175 years ago and carried out through the subsequent decades by faithful Saints of every generation. We need to believe as they believed. We need to work as they worked. We need to serve as they served. And we need to overcome as they overcame. Of course, our challenges are different today, but they are no less demanding. Instead of angry mobs, we face those who constantly try to defame. Instead of extreme exposure and hardship, we face alcohol and drug abuse, pornography, all kinds of filth, sleaze, greed, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy. Instead of families being uprooted and torn from their homes, we see the institution of the family, including the divine institution of marriage, under attack as groups and individuals seek to define away the prominent and divine role of the family in society.
This is not to suggest that our challenges today are more severe than the challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just different. The Lord isn't asking us to load up a handcart; He's asking us to fortify our faith. He isn't asking us to walk across a continent; He's asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn't asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He's asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn't asking us to die a martyr's death; He's asking us to live a disciple's life.
--M. Russell Ballard, "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 83–84
Know you're loved!
I really admire your strength. You & Daniel are amazing. I hope you have good news when it finally comes and we will keep praying for you guys.
What an awesome outlook you have. Thank you for sharing it and inspiring so many with your faith. You and your family are in our prayers.
I have been thinking a lot about you lately...know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there we love you guys! How long til you get the biopsy results back?
Be brave Jenny. There are so many of us willing to stand with you no matter what! We love you and will keep you and your family in our prayers. And we can keep your name in the temple if you would like...
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