It's raining Cats and Dogs!

North Carolina has rainstorms where I am pretty sure cats and dogs fall from the sky. It's crazy! I'm from Oregon, and I've never seen so much rain come down at one time, and when the sky is all cloudy gray, sometimes it's really hard to keep your 'happy face' on. It's so interesting though, the grass is always green here, and the flowers seem to always be blooming...why? Because it rains...and Rains...and RAINS. 

Life is much the same. Sometimes all we see is the crazy rain that always seem to pour on down. It almost floods our lives, and it makes it hard to see through dark clouded skies of confusion. But the really unfortunate times come when we are so focused on the rain, and forget to see the flowers. 


President Monson once said, "Sometimes our greatest trials are actually our greatest opportunities." It's insane how true that is. There is a bright moment in every thunder storm, it's called lightening. If we focus more on the good things that are happening around us, we notice that really the biggest storms in our lives are pushing us forward, not backward. It's God's way of helping us grow, and be better. And the greatest comfort comes when we realize that we don't have to do this alone. 

In Alma 7:11-12 it tells us that not only did Christ suffer for our sins, but he suffered for all of our afflictions. He loves us, and wants us to be happy. If we trust in his atonement, we know that he is "mighty to save" and that he really suffered so that we never have to be alone. 
"11 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."

I know that storms pass, and when they do, they normally bring beautiful rainbows or flowers. If we learn to sing in the rain, instead of avoiding the puddles, we can make each day brighter. 

I invite you to learn more, to be strong in a world of unchanging values, and find out more. You are not alone, there is one who knows you perfectly. Come, follow Him.

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