You have been prepared...
In all seriousness though, I am so grateful to be here in California at this time. Through the best of times, temple trips, spirit filled lessons, and amazing mission moms, I have been able to feel of God's love for me. Except more importantly, I have been able to feel of his love through the worst of times. Between flat tires, days of despair, and triple digit weather in October, I know of his love for me and my friends. Even though this area has been so hard I know that I have been prepared for it and am being prepared for things yet to come.
It's no secret though that I had a very very hard while training as a new missionary. I went through such hard things those first couple months in the mission field. I remember sitting at my desk in Auburn thinking, what am I doing? Why is this so hard? Why am I going through all of this? Well, being in Granite Bay with a brand new missionary of my own, I now realize that in Auburn I was being prepared to help new struggling missionaries. I was able to help because I went through it myself! If I hadn't of had those experiences myself, I wouldn't be able to help as effectively as I am.
A couple weeks ago my companion and I were fortunate enough to have an amazing member take us to the temple!! We are so grateful for her and her family and everything she has done for us. After the temple we went out to lunch and she told us a story. Something we say a lot in our church is that we don't have big "pillars of light" (big experiences) that strengthen our testimonies but "rays of light." (Small experiences) This story was one of those small "rays of light" in her life. For the purpose of this story I am going to call this amazing member Sister Morgan. Sister Morgan told us, "The Skunk Story"...
Sister Morgan began telling us that one day while she was home alone her dog came running in from being outside. Sister Morgan noticed that there was a tick crawling on her fur! She freaked out because normally her husband would take care of things like this but he wasn't home. Sister Morgan didn't know what to do, she felt like she couldn't do it by herself! Sister Morgan remembered though that she has a friend who is really good with dogs so she called her hoping she could help. Of course her friend didn't answer! Sister Morgan made the decision to take care of the tick by herself and she did!! I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but that small tick was preparing her for things yet to come.
Sister Morgan's friend returned her phone call and Sister Morgan told her that everything was fine now but it was scary because she didn't know what to do! Her friend agreed and said that she had a similar situation where her dog got sprayed by a skunk and she had to take care of it by herself too! Intrigued and horrified she asked her how she would even take care of something like that. Her friend texted her a random formula for cleaning a dog who got sprayed by a skunk.
At about 3 am the next night, Sister Morgan got awoken by her dog who needed to go outside. She let her outside and right as her dog ran outside she noticed a skunk standing on her porch. Sister Morgan screamed for her dog but it was too late. Luna got sprayed! Sister Morgan was now freaking out because she once again didn't know what to do. She was home alone and had never had to deal with anything like this before. Sister Morgan grabbed her dog and brought her inside in a panic. Then all of a sudden Sister Morgan heard a voice say, "You've been prepared... you know what to do."
Those words brought so much peace to her that she remembered what her friend told her. Sister Morgan remembered that just hours before, the tick showed her that she can so hard things. She remembered that just hours before, her friend had this exact situation and told her exactly what to do. Sister Morgan said, "I've been prepared... I just had to remember that I had." Sister Morgan was able to take care of her dog because of those previous hard times in her life.
Sometimes it feels like God has abandoned us in our hard times. Except the exact opposite is true! God puts things in our paths to prepare us for what's to come! Just like me here in Granite Bay and Sister Moegan with her skunk story, God prepares his children. Today may seem hard but you have been prepared.
An example that always comes to mind with this topic is Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith was forordained to do hard things and it shows all throughout his life. When Joseph Smith was 7 years old he had a horrible infection in his leg that caused the doctors to have to dig into his bone and cut the infection out. At 7 years old Joseph Smith was alert, awake, and concious thoughout the entire operation to his leg. Even at such a young age God was preparing him and showing him he could do hard things. God was preparing him for the hard things yet to come.
When Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail he cried out for God, "Oh God, where art tho?" Joseph Smith was in his darkest moment and thought he could go no more. God then said to him, "... that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." Joseph Smith was forordained to be a prophet and all of the hard things he had to go through were for his good (and ours).
Which is hard to even fathom, right? How could suffering, being spit on, beat, tarred and feathered be for someone's good? Sometimes I think about that in my own life. How could all the hard things I have been through and am currently going through be for my good? Only God knows and only time will tell. That is where faith comes in, the not knowing. Except I have been lucky enough to know somethings. Alot of the things I have been through have been for others and have taught me such valuable lessons.
Just like Jesus Christ know's exactly what we are going through because of what he endured. Isiah 53 teaches us this and so does Alma 11! Alma 11:12-13 says "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
When we help others we are following the anguished example of Jesus Christ. It might be hard to see now but everything we are going through right now is preparing us to better help ourselves and to better help other people along the way. In the words of Bishop Keith B. McMullin "May Heavenly Father, in His infinite mercy, make light your burdens and fill your lives with that peace which “passeth all understanding.” You are not alone. Our love and faith and prayers are joined with yours. Press forward in righteousness and all will be well." I personally know that in the moment it is so hard to fathom but I can testify that all things truly work out for our good. Keep going ❤️
Love,
Sister Pickett
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It really must be Pumpkin Season because I have another amazing pumpkin recipe for you!! I had the amazing opportunity to bring some treats to the Fire Station right across the street from me, so I decided to make these Bakery Style Pumpkin Muffins! They were absolutely beautiful!! I just found the recipe on Facebook and have to say they were worth the search! They were huge, fluffy, super moist, and delicious!! These muffins have an amazing cinnoman crumble on top, I love the cracked look it gives the finished product. Totally not optional!! I will say they aren't super sweet AND the recipe doesn't call for chocolate chips but I obviously had to throw those in!
I cannot recommend these enough! If you want to look like a professional baker at your next Fall Party, these will do the trick!! Try them out!!
--https://thefirstyearblog.com/pumpkin-muffins/
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