It's Snowing?!?

I woke this morning to snow! It's March 15th and this is not Utah -- this is Western Washington! Spring will be here in about a week. I wonder what spring will bring?

In some ways, the winter is a reflection of what I'm experiencing at work. So many children in crisis. So many calls to CPS. So many parents struggling with their own mental health and in some cases not really able to take care of their families. I can't help but reflect on how blessed we are to have the Gospel -- not because the Gospel takes away trouble -- we still have troubles and problems -- that's the nature of mortality. The blessing of the Gospel is that it gives us hope, it helps us live sane, hopeful lives.

An example of what I'm thinking about is the confusion and insecurity that children experience when their parents bring different partners home and different significant others into their lives. Frequently, the new partner, becomes more important than the children and the children are subject to someone who is does not put them first in care and safety. (I'm dealing with lots of sad children who fall into this sitaution.) The parent becomes so absorbed in pursuing their own love life that they do not attend to the primary needs of their children. Children are neglected, afraid, and have difficulty doing what children are supposed to do.

Then there is the issue of living beyond our means. Of course, many of us still do. Sometimes we get into trouble just because stuff happens and you can't be prepared for every possible financial challenge. My point is that so many people have been caught up in buying homes, cars, clothing, vacations, restaurant meals, etc. that they can't afford -- living beyond their means. Now, they've lost their employment or their ARMs have jumped in monthly payments that are too high, or they are drowning in debt and the basic stability in providing the basics of life are threatened. (This is a concern for quite a few of my students.)

The Gospel teaches us to be morally clean and to keep covenants. We are guided in paying tithing, living with our means, and given help to prepare for disaster. The calm and peace that comes to our hearts and the opportunity to receive revelation when trouble comes -- because we are keeping our covenants -- is a wonderful gift. We are not spared trouble but we are spared panic, confusion, and hopelessness. With the Gospel we focus on the Savior, and live so that we have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the living prophet. Then, after all we can do we will have a peace that surpasseth understanding. We can find our way through and out of difficulty. I have experienced this repeatedly. I have experienced trouble -- some of it pretty scary but the Gospel has the answers and a solution for everything.