"If all our troubles were hung out on the line,

you would take yours and I would take mine." - unknown




I heard a friend say this once years ago in a Relief Society lesson, and at the time my troubles were few, and my life seemed to be going pretty well, and I thought, 'of course I would.'  Well, life has gone on, and the trials and challenges have piled on, and sometimes it's easy to look at someone else's seemingly prefect life and wish your trials were as 'easy' as theirs.  But I can still tell you I wouldn't trade mine for anyone else's.  A sweet friend recently wrote in a letter that what I am going through is her 'unimaginable.'  Yes, it is my 'unimaginable' too, and something I never thought I would experience.  This sweet friend is also facing an incredible trial at this time, and my first thought was 'so are you.'  I have had that thought frequently lately, as I learn of the struggles and trials of my dear friends and neighbors.  Although all of our recent losses have been unimaginable and painful, I have also felt that they were meant to be, and I was meant to bear them, to experience them, and to learn and grow from them.  Even in the way that they happened, the events that lead up to them, the experiences I had (and continue to have) following them, I have felt that they were meant for me, and they are further evidence that the Lord loves me, and He knows me better that I know myself.  Yes, I can admit that it's not easy, and there are days I would like it all to go away.  I wouldn't have asked for the trials I have been given, but I am grateful for them, and I can say in all honesty that I wouldn't trade them.