Come What May, and Love It

"Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don’t sing and bells don’t ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result. The Lord in His wisdom does not shield anyone from grief or sadness. How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I'm not suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain, or that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life. If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness. I have learned a few things that have helped me through times of testing and trial and I would like to share them with you.
Learn to Laugh
The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.
This makes me think of my Uncle David, recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. If anyone knows how to laugh, it's him. He's been my official greeter at airports, wearing wigs and nose glasses; he's been my secret admirer during college signing comic strips with TGO {The Great One}; he knows that laughing makes him feel better and helps everyone else to laugh and feel better as well. And knowing how to laugh, will help him in his adversity.
Seek for the Eternal
The second thing we can do is seek for the eternal. You may feel singled out when adversity enters your life. You shake your head and wonder, “Why me?” But the dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt. One of the blessings of the gospel is the knowledge that when the curtain of death signals the end of our mortal lives, life will continue on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new opportunities. Not even death can take from us the eternal blessings promised by a loving Heavenly Father.
This makes me think of my father. When diagnosed with prostate cancer, throat cancer, and bone cancer, it was, "Can I still leave for my mission in June?" When it was thyroid cancer, it was "When can I get back to the temple?" And now, with reoccuring throat cancer, it's "Are you ready to go on another mission?"
The Principle of Compensation
The third thing we can do is understand the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.
This makes me think of my sister. When her handicapped son was born, she just wanted to know when she could take him home. When she lost her baby last summer, she planted a rose bush, and celebrated her birthday. When she lost her baby this summer and had an emergency hysterectomy, she thinks about enjoying day to day activities not possible after months of hospital stays and too many procedures. Is she not suffering. To the contrary. But she knows she will have the privilege of raising these children. She will be compensated.
Trust in the Father and the Son
The fourth thing we can do is put our trust in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.”2 The Lord Jesus Christ is our partner, helper, and advocate. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be successful. If we do our part, He will step in. He who descended below all things will come to our aid. He will comfort and uphold us. He will strengthen us in our weakness and fortify us in our distress. He will make weak things become strong.
This makes me think of my brother. He recently was diagnosed with lyme's disease and cellulitis. Although the spinal headache from his spinal tap has faded, and the fever that ravaged his body for a week has subsided, he's still dealing with the effects of bells palsy, including paralysis of his facial muscles, an eye that won't close and slurred speech. He doesn't ask why or complain. He trusts.
Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others. Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it. As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial. We can say, “Come what may, and love it.” Joseph Wirthlin