Ups and Downs

Isn't it amazing how life throws curves at you? This week we received some very sad news and also some wonderful news. My husband is the Bishop in our ward, and his wonderful second counselor, Art Walker, passed away this week. Art was a man who would do anything to help those in need. He was so supportive of my husband and everyone in our ward. He will be greatly missed.

We also received great news that my nephew's wife will be baptized in April by my nephew, who has begun attending church again with his family. They have been studying the precepts of the Gospel together, and she has made the decision to be baptized. This is glorious news for our family.

So, I was contemplating these two situations, and reflecting about how varied our human emotions can be.....our family has been crying at the loss of dear Art Walker, and during the same week, we have been crying for joy at the decision of our niece and nephew and their family. It is amazing to me how life continues to hold new things for us to deal with, both sad and joyful...and how it is up to us as to how we will respond.

I guess what I am saying is that I am grateful to be a human being. I am grateful to feel emotions of all kinds, and to learn and grow from them; to grow closer to others as we share them with each other, and ultimately, to give thanks to the Lord for allowing me this varied and wonderful experience here on earth.