11.02.2010

What I Believe: Grateful for Opposition in All Things

Almost sounds wrong to say that.  But it's true.

I may not always look forward to opposition in all things....and I do stress all, at least that's how the cookie always seems to crumble for the Ranch.  Regardless, of whether I welcome opposition or not, I AM grateful for it.

Why?  (That is the great and universal question, is it not?)


Without opposition, there's so much we would miss out on. 
Frankly, I'm grateful for the growth that comes from facing opposition...personal, political, religiously, familial, and even within our own bodies.

For instance:
I may not be a mom to many, but  
I am able to be a good mom to one. 

I may not have the capacity to physically carry a child in my womb any longer, but I do have the capacity within my heart to care for those children in our family's life (including friends, nieces, & nephews)

I may not be able to attend General Conference in Salt Lake City or my own local bi-county fair without having to face factions of persecution & dodge protesters because of my religion, but I can walk through the doors of my local meetinghouse and partake of the Sacrament & freely worship.... I can still partake of the peace in the Holy Temple.... I can still kneel in supplication & offer prayers to my Heavenly Father.... I can still exercise the power of Christ's Atonement in my life. 

Without opposition in ALL things, would I even know it was possible to still do what I can? 
Would I value and hold sacred what I CAN do?

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility." 
-2 Nephi 2:11

I spent some time "not walking as closely with the Lord as I should have" (as Mini-Me would mildly put it).  In that time, life felt 'easier' according to the world's standards.  Why?  Because I wasn't try to swim against the current.  I was just staying afloat with Society....there's not much opposition when all you're doing it keeping the status quo.  Therefore, there was no growth.

When there is no growth, there is no progress....where there is no progress, well, there is no plateauing even.  Movement in this life is required.  It is a law of nature.  So, where there is no progression, there is regression, frailty, brittleness,....atrophy. 


Picture a rose shrivelling up, whithering away. 
That's what it felt like to avoid opposition and just bend with the whims of society.
It becomes a lonely state to be in...a scary state of being.  It was a state in I realized I did not want to remain in.

"And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."
-Moses 5:11

Much like the legendary Phoenix who rose from the ashes....would the phoenix have been as big of a deal if it had not overcome in the end?  Or if it had never had to endure the fire?  Nope.

Therefore, I applaud Heavenly Father's recognition of our need for growth during this earthly experience....which, of course, required opposition in ALL things.  I will forever be grateful for the blessing of growth in my life, and in that of my family and friends....

(He is so caring....He's thought of everything...He's provided everything... He truly is an awesome God!)

9 comments:

Kim said...

AMEN! I too am grateful for the trials and opposition in my life. The lessons I have learned through those experiences out weigh the plan Lucifier had for us in the pre-exsistance. I m truly grateful that Heavenly Father loves me enough to give me opposition so that I can work my way back to him.

I love my aged cheese as well, but I think he is the aged to be the Tillamook Sharp kind. Well, that is one of his favorite brands. Get some sleep and enjoy your day.

Love you

gigi said...

Amen and thank you very much!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Well I'm older than you but you are certainly wiser! I hate opposition.
It hurts.
I want to avoid it.
Just for awhile.
I want the EASY button.

But you are right.

mCat said...

I'm with Tauna and want the easy button.

What a perfect post! Love it! And thank you for sending little doses of religion to 'dawg. He is appreciating them. Sometimes it takes someone other than his own Mother to inspire him!

xoxoxo
M

jen said...

I wish I'd had this post a few weeks ago when I was teaching this lesson in Institute. Well said.

Connie said...

You've got that right! As much as I hate having to grow because of opposition, I'm a stronger person having gone through the trials.
Is it OK if I don't pray for opposition?

S.I.F. said...

I really do need to get better about being grateful for even my opposition.... Sometimes I find myself thinking "OK, I've had enough!" but you're right - there is always something there to be grateful for!

Valerie said...

I can't believe how many posts I miss when I miss a few days of reading all my favorite blogs! Thanks for this post. It reminds me of something my sister emailed me today that made me feel so much better than I was yesterday. Opposition does hurt, like Tauna said. I just have to have faith that I really will be better in the end. I know I can be if I keep my hold on the iron rod. Great post. (And your last one, all sweet and romantic-y about your hubby is so cute!!)

Heather said...

Keely you are amazing! I loved this post! I wouldn't change the past in my life either! It got me to where I am now and I couldn't be happier! I am so glad I have had the chance to meet you! It just makes post like this more powerful because I know you are a passionate person! You rock!!! I miss you! I really do!

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