Inspiring

My mom and I were talking the other day on the telephone.  We were discussing life and what plans I had what plans that she has and has been dealing with.  When she shared a quote with me that struck me hard.  Lately a lot of bad things have been happening to people around me.  Somethings are brought upon themselves by their own choices, others bad things just happen.  I was complaining about something that wasn't going particularly the way I wanted it to go and she pulled out this quote.  

It is by Bill Gates whom we all know is very successful.  He gave this talk at a high school he gives 11 rules that you will not learn in school.  They may seem harsh but bear with me.  

Rule 1: Life is not fair -- get used to it! Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping -- they called it opportunity. Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time. Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

When I first read this I thought wow well that was really harsh.  But then I realized he is completely correct.  We expect this life to be easy sometimes and that things should go our way.  But that is not what the gospel teaches.  We are told that we will face challenges in our lives, that is the whole purpose of our life here on this earth. To be tested. Without trials we would never be able to grow and learn.  When we fall down we need to be able to pick ourselves back up and keep trudging forward.  Always abounding in faith and courage, knowing that the Lord will guide our every moves, if we let him.  One thing that I needed to realize along with half of the world is that LIFE ISN'T FAIR.  It won't be today and it sure won't be in the future.  We won't always be number one in a race, or have a 4.0 all four years of college.  We don't always get the boy we want or the shirt that we are dying to buy.  We don't always pass our tests, which we put so much time and effort into.  That is just part of life.  It is learning how to make the best from those times that will make us more like Jesus Christ.  It is in the lowest of moments where we will truly make something of ourselves. I love my mom she is so wise and makes me realize when I am being unchrist like. The other day when I called her I was complaining how I wasn't being blessed for all that I was doing.  I explained to her that I was reading my scriptures everyday, saying my prayers, going to all my church meetings, going to the temple etc. I asked her why isn't it going my way Shouldn't I be blessed for my righteous doings.  She caught me off guard when she said, "Melissa Ann, do you really think that you would be doing those things if your life was easy?  If you were getting A's on all yours tests and had everything going perfect, would you really turn to the Lord?  Would you feel that you need his help everyday?"  I paused taken back her answer and immediately was filled with regret for my complaining.  She was right I wouldn't be as dedicated to the Lord if I thought I could do it all on my own.  So I had to make a choice.  It all begins with a choice am I going to sit and wallow in failure or am I going to look at the glass half full and succeed to what Heavenly Father knows I can?  We make the decisions in our lives no one else can for us.  I hope we can each Choose to stand tall in times of heartache and trouble.  

                And always remember the words from Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8, 

7 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.  8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

Our afflictions are but a small moment and the Lord will always guide and direct us through the Holy Spirit if we are willing to listen. 

The last thing i want to share with you one of my Best Friends Shelley Heaton shared with me.  Please watch it I promise it will help you with the trials you are going through and give you hope.  

                                                              I LOVE YOU ALL! :)