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“Adam fell that men might be; and men
are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25)
I truly believe that scripture is true.
But I also know that life isn't one joyful moment after another –
there are a lot of not so great moments sprinkled in that come with
great pain and heartache attached.
Right now is one of those times when
the fact that life isn't fair is 'in your face' and joy seems
distant.
Flying out to Utah with the Knight
family for a funeral for their 12-year-old daughter Madi, who just
passed away from a brain tumor, I heard some lyrics from a song I
love. However, these words hit a little too close to home today:
“Call
it a feeling, call it a premonition, things are about to go my
way....some see a cancer killing me, I see a couple I.V.'s that I'll
use then I'll beat...”
- Looking Up
by SafetySuit
Except
when it doesn't, like this time.
More
song lyrics come to mind:
“Words
fail...words fail.”
- Words Fail Dear
Evan Hansen
But,
I'm going to try to use a few words to process what I've been
feeling.
A few
weeks ago I listened to a TED talk about the power of emotion that has
been on my mind since. One of the big take aways is that there is
danger in false positivity. I find this to be both powerful and
comforting. We can, and should
allow ourselves to feel emotions, to express them. We can, and
should, “...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those
that stand in need of comfort...” (see Mosiah 18:9). And that is
hard, and it hurts, but doesn't mean not having hope or seeking for
peace.
A
reminder for how, and where, to find peace came in one of the most
spiritually powerful moments of my life. There were about 30 young
women and their adult leaders who came to sing to Madi. The spirit in
that room was so powerful, it was palpable. Many cried as they sang
or heard the repeated words:
“When
there's no peace on earth, there is peace in Christ.”
I am
grateful for the kind of relationships in this life that make us hurt
when bad things happen to people we love. Not that I want bad things
to happen, but that I want to care about people so much that I do
hurt when they hurt.
I am
also grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that
He came to earth and gave His life to make it possible for all of us
to return to live with God after this life.
While
it doesn't make the pain go away, there is great power in knowing
that we are eternal beings and our family relationships will last
beyond the grave.
Praying
for peace in Christ for the Knight family – and all those who love
them – at this time when there is not peace on earth.
