Inspiration in unlikely places

I truly believe that with everyone you meet that you have one of two options. 

You can either brighten their day or you can damper their day. 

Working in the position that I have no one enjoys seeing me. They walk through the door with a sour attitude and are usually not pleasant. I love the challenge of turning their day around and having each person walk away with a completely different attitude than the one they had walking in. 

In the process of this, I have a chance to meet some amazing people and hear some inspiring stories.

Today's was no exception. 

Meet Will.

As this mans number was called he stood up and looked around with a confused look upon his face (This happens often as people don't see my corner station) I gave a little wave and with a smile I spoke a little higher to let him know I was in the corner. He smiled and slowly hobbled over on his cane. 

Reaching my station he warmly greeted me and said thank you for helping him. He continued to tell me that since his accident he had gone just about blind and had trouble with the simplest of tasks. 

I took his documents and as I started with the task before me I innocently asked what had happened. 

(Little did I know..)

This man had been in a fatal horse accident back in the summer of '89. He was with a friend when he was bucked off and the horse stepped on the right side of his head. 

This left him half alive with his brains half out. (Sorry abut that gruesome detail) His friend who was with him was described as being about 5'6", had dragged him 200 ft to a tree so she could prop him up. 

She had called 911 but it took them 3 hrs to get to them. 

He was life-flighted to a hospital in California. He told me that during that time he was hooked to a machine but his heart had stopped. He mentioned that his sons mother was notified and had rushed to the hospital, reaching it at the same time he had. He described how they told her to go directly to the elevator that would take her to the roof so she could meet the helicopter but when the elevator doors opened she was stopped by them pushing him through on a gurney, his body was covered by a sheet with only his feet showing. 

He said that's how she knew it was him under that sheet..by his feet.  

He was on life support for a month in the hospital. 

Prior to this he had no belief in God or miracles. 

His sons mother had sneaked their son in his room so that he could see him. 

This man's eyes teared up as he continued to say that it was the sound of their sons crying that had awoken him from his coma. 

He went on to tell me that prior to this accident that he had given up on drinking & smoking and was told by the doctors that because he had a healthy stomach, etc that that what was able to support him while on life support. If he had continued in the habits he had he would not have made it. 

He went on to be in recovery for a year as he had to relearn everything, starting over was a struggle but he said with God's help and his new outlook that he was able to make it. 

By this point I was struggling to hold back my tears. The spirit you could feel with this man was overwhelming! 

He said he never believed in God, miracles or anything of that nature prior but since the accident he would be a fool to deny that God was real. He saved his life and that experience would forever change him. He was grateful for each day, even though he couldn't remember the past hour with his memory loss, or for the hobble with his cane, he was grateful to be breathing and to be alive. Each day. 

I love the opportunities I get to meet some of these inspiring people. You never know what struggle someone has been through or is going through at this exact moment!

He changed my morning, inspiring me a little more in my own life!

I hope this inspired you, as it did with me!

Blessings through trials

When was the last time you thanked The Lord for a trial or tribulation? Adversity compels us to go to our knees; does gratitude for adversity do that as well?

- Bonnie D. Parkin

I am continually touched by the reminders of the Lords blessings in life! 

Today at work I had an opportunity to meet an amazing woman who has been through hell and back and has came out on top.  This woman's husband committed suicide a little over a year ago and left her with their three kids, a life fallen apart and unanswered questions. 

She began to tell me how she had to start from scratch and yet at the same time be the rock for her family. She questioned Gods intentions and began to become bitter towards her deceased husband, the church and God. She couldn't look at her kids without feeling hatred and hurt towards her husband. How could he leave her with this responsibility all alone? Did she not love him enough? Was their family not worth living for? She expressed her feelings of feeling no self worth, loneliness etc. (I only wish i could give her story better justice!) 

She continued to tell me how her journey back to the church was the hardest thing she had to do. Yet, it wasn't about her. She had children depending on her and she couldn't let them down. With the help of the atonement and a loving bishop she was able to come to terms with her husbands death. She was able to forgive and love him again. She was able to teach her kids the same lesson, keeping the good memories of their dad alive. She told me that she was given this trial because The Lord knew she could handle it and it would mold her to be a better mother and woman. The death was unexpected and she won't know his reasons till their time comes again but she doesn't dwell on that; but rather the good times. She was grateful for her life lessons and joys. 

Her story was incredible! I don't often meet people such as her in my line of work-let alone to come to hear this story but I'm thankful for these opportunities! 

Even when she was done and gone I couldn't stop thinking of her. It had me pondering on the trials in my life. The good and the bad. 

I too am grateful for my trials and joys. Every good and bad moment that has molded me into the woman I am and the woman that I will become. I'm grateful for the foundation of the church that I've had as my crutch. For the support of loving people all around me. For the personal growth in my testimony that at times I wasn't sure if I even had. For the true love I have for our Savior and everything he did for me. 

I am truly blessed and grateful!

What is love?

[What is Love?]

Immature love says "I love you because I need you." 

Mature love says "I need you because I love you."

-Erich Fromm

Love requires work from both sides. It's as strong as it is vulnerable. You have to work on it each day. You have to truly mean it. Its truly comfortably amazing. 

To look at someone and feel proud to call them yours. 

Through their good and bad days. 

It's in those moments where you can feel It so strong - you could reach out and grab it but you hold back to simply enjoy the moment a little longer while you can.

In the way he respects you.

The way you want them to know the good and the bad about you because you know they won't judge - You want them to know and understand you completely. 

The way he pushes your hair out of the way and pulls you in for a kiss.

The way he makes you feel safe

Its in the way he adds to who you are, the way you want to be even better for him.

The way his hugs & kisses make everything better.

It's also the little things you learn about them that amaze you to have such a man in your life.

Falling asleep in his arms, safely tucked away, listening to his heartbeat.

The man they are now, helps you see and encourage the man he will become.

To know he lets you in, when he kept many others out.

His smile that still sets off butterflies in your stomach.

The quiet moments cuddling.

It's the bad days - when you wish you had the power to lighten their burden and take away their sorrows.

You find yourself praying for them. 

The way you find yourself smiling just because they make you happy.

It's the quiet moments when you steal a glance at this man who is too humble to realize how amazing and sweet he is and how he so easily made you feel safe when you were too scared to let anyone in.

It's the moment you realize your in love, and as scary as it is you keep going. Not knowing what will happen, perhaps if your loved in return. But it's okay, who truly knows what love is anyway? Love is what you make of it. Protect it. Guard it. 

"We should remember that saying 'I Love You' is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it" 

- Elder David A. Bednar