Rainy Day Rambling.

Ahhhh.  Today is a beautiful stormy day.  I love rainy days.  There's such a calm beauty about them that seems to seep into the deepest corners of my soul.  I am rarely as relaxed and content as I am on a nice rainy day.  I love the soothing colors outside, and the way all of nature is renewed and clean.  It all seems so much more alive.  I like the way that people stay in their houses, and the way rainy days lend themselves to clear thinking.  I need to rearrange my furniture so I've got a big soft chair right next to a window so I can snuggle up in it and stare at the rain for hours.  

Today, my thoughts have turned inward.  I'm pleasantly reviewing my life as it is now, and appreciating all the places I've been along the way.  Nobody's life is perfect.  Mine certainly isn't perfect.  But I truly believe that life is good.  

I've heard it said that if everybody went into a room and threw all their troubles in the middle, that we'd all still choose our own to pick up and take back out with us.  I agree.  My prayers are full these days of several people I know who are struggling with difficult and heart breaking situations.  You may or may not know who you are.  I feel like I've been through my share of difficult things, and there's no doubt in my mind that there will be more in the future.   I'm just grateful for time and the perspective it lends.  As I look back on my own struggles, I see a sweetness in them.  I've learned and grown so much.  I would not be the person I am today without them.  And while I find myself wanting to pray for other's trials to go away, there's a little something inside me that reminds me that doing so would rob them of these sweet blessings that come from the struggle.  So, I'm not sure what to say to people, I'm not always sure what to pray for.  I think sometimes that I expect myself to know how to help - because I am acquainted with struggle - but the truth is, I'm only acquainted with my own struggles, and no two trials are ever the same.  

I wish I could make things better for everyone.  Take the struggle and the heartache away.  But, I suppose that would be Satan's plan wouldn't it? 

No, life is not perfect.  But it's right. It's just how it needs to be.  I trust in Heavenly Father, that he loves us, and takes care of us, and that he has careful plans for each of us - especially through our trials. 

Have you ever heard of the parable of the bicycle?  It goes something like this:  A little boy wants a bicycle.  He works hard and saves all his pennies to get it.  When his Dad takes him to the store, he realizes that all his efforts have only yielded $1.68 toward  his goal.  But his father, steps in and says, "Don't worry, I'll take care of the rest"  and the boy is able to get his bicycle.  

I've always liked that parable.  But just the other day, someone said something that made me look at it another way.  I've always compared it to our lives here trying to overcome sin, and our Savior stepping in, to take care of the sins we cannot pay  for ourselves.  But today, I'm looking at it on a smaller more personal level.  I'm looking at it in regard to the burdens we carry, and the struggles we go through.  We work hard, we put all our effort in to just surviving and dealing with difficult things.  And are still unable to get through, to  'purchase the bike' with our efforts alone. But it is a kind and loving Heavenly Father through his son, our Savior who steps in to take care of the rest. He carries the burden that we cannot.  I'm so grateful for the many 'bicycles' he's purchased on my behalf.

So for those of you in my prayers,  I'm praying that you'll get your bicycle paid for.  I love you.  I hope you know who you are.