Courage Comes from Above

courage (n): strength in the face of pain or grief


March has been one heck of a month. Luckily, for me at least, it's gone by really fast. But I was hit with a major trial of my faith. In an instance, plans were changed, my health went from bad to worse, and everyday life challenged me in ways I never thought possible. I was scared. I spent many nights on my knees, pleading that these trials would be taken from me. I knew they wouldn't and that all things were for my good.....but it was hard.

One thing you may not know about me--I love words. I love quotes, phrases, lyrics--my room has always been covered in words and pictures. I think words can really hit you at a time you need them the most, so I always save every LDS picture with quotes on my phone and look through them from time to time.

I'm also a huge fan of being positive. I hate being sad and throwing pity parties because real talk, they don't help. I'm also a huge fan of faking it till you make it.

But after the month of March, I believe in courage.

Recently, the LDS Church's media sites have skyrocketed with posts about courage. I noticed it a few weeks ago but every day, there's a new post about #courage and how LDS members face trials. Interesting, right? Maybe it's just because the world is getting worse but maybe sometime huge is coming and we are going to have courage. Whatever the reason, it's been awesome. A few weeks ago, this quote was attached to a fellow LDS member's instagram account, that the Church featured on their page.

"In your 20s, nothing is set in stone. Every decision you make you have to do with courage because you don't know where it will take you. And so you have to decide what's important in your life and what you want to do, and then trust that it'll work and have courage that you can make it work."

I just love that. I think often times, we float through life and think we have no control over the events. We have to go to school, work, and we can't change that. So we let things happen to us that weren't in our plans and as such, our attitude suffers. We become pessimistic and we worry that things will never be better.  We feel lost and we feel that we are unable to control the events we face. But that is ENTIRELY FALSE. That is a lie.

I believe that if we take control of our lives, we will be blessed with courage. We will be capable of much more than faking it till we make it. We will steer through life with confidence, courage and happiness.

But where do we get this courage??

This morning, I was listening to the song "Be Still my Soul." I listened to the lyrics and realized that every line is so true. Heavenly Father is our Friend and He is on our side. We can bear our cross of grief or pain (Go back and look at the definition of courage!!!!) patiently and courageously. Those who are faithful during times of trial will be granted heavenly help and heavenly courage and lead their lives to a joyful end.

Heavenly Father grants us with courage when we are faithful during trials. Life is not easy. It's hard. If you're sitting there comfortable with how things are going, get ready. When I was sitting around, realizing how comfortable I was with life, that's when things flipped. And lucky for me, I was listening to the promptings of the Spirit and prepared when things were still going well. Prepare for the worse. And then when the worse comes, pray for courage. Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us and sends courage when we need it the most. He loves you and me perfectly and more than we will ever know.

Life is hard. But we can do hard things with help and courage.

I No Longer Believe in Coincidences

Have you heard the saying "when it rains, it pours?"

Well, that's my week. I'm not going into details but my personal life, my health, and my emotional health took a hit. I met with my second counselor for an ecclesiastical endorsement interview last night. He asked me how I was doing. For those who I've seen around campus or walking back and forth from Lib Square, I've probably told you I'm good. Cause I am. Or because the general population of humans like to tell white lies and say they are good even if they are having the worst day of their life. But when my second counselor asked how I was doing, I let it all out. His response?

"Well, when it rains, it pours." (He also provided some counsel, concern, and help, no worries).

But I was thinking this morning about blessings (After I threw up. Haha. Yup, it's been a good day). I'm blessed to think about blessings (pun intended) and I'm blessed with an optimistic mind. I've had dark days in the past but I've always found myself thinking positively and trying to be strong with a happy face, regardless of what I'm going through.

I've been volunteering at the State Mental Hospital this semester as part of my Abnormal Psychology class. I was super nervous to take this class, as I knew volunteering would be a part of it and I was unsure of how I'd do, who I'd be working with and most of all, I was scared of the unknown. But I took a leap and with some encouragement, I took the class. Not only has the class provided significant insight to mental health today but volunteering saved my life. And here's why.

I volunteer with girls who live on site from age 12 to 18. They are adorable. But even better than the fun I have, I volunteer with some amazing people. Everyone is always so smiley...because we're doing service. Last week, one volunteer taught a Zumba class as our activity with the girls. The girls....didn't love it but I loved it. I've always found that I love exercising when there's people involved and this certain volunteer was so happy and energetic that it made my day...especially as afterwards I got a particular scary phone call from my doctor that left me unsure about my future.

Tuesday's Zumba Class!

Anyways, I found out that this volunteer (let's call her...Anne) teaches Zumba on M/W/F. I thought to myself that this was way too good of a deal to pass up....until I found out that it starts at 7 in the morning. Now, I'm a morning person in the sense of I get out of bed, happy to start the day....as long as the sun has already been up for a few hours. The last time I woke up consistently before 8 was working breakfast shifts at the MTC or seminary for four years. So, I was weighing the pros and cons and just mulling things over in my mind, seeing if I'd actually go.

Last Friday, I was heading up to Pleasant Grove to hang out with a friend. I was running late but I had the thought to go to Chase Bank and deposit a check. As I was running late, I went to the drive thru ATM...and the lame machine wouldn't take my check. I was rather annoyed and pull into the next lane to talk to someone. I looked at the car next to me and who was there, but ANNE. I turned to say something, complimented her on her Zumba teaching skills and told her I wanted to come on Monday. We made some small talk and I actually called my mom to tell her that there was no way this was chance.

Sunday night was a turning point. I didn't know how I was going to get out of bed the next morning as my life flipped and everything took a turn for the worse. I had class at 12 and I knew I needed to do something to keep me busy. I remembered Anne. I texted her and asked if she was teaching. She seemed hesitant at first but then decided to teach. 

And this Zumba class has made all the difference. I've gotten up at OHMYGOSH:30 (aka, 6:30, for those of you who didn't go to early morning seminary my freshman year) and zumba-ed for an hour. Anne always comes smiling and full of light that early in the morning and it makes me smile. The music is uplifting and I'm enjoying exercising. I have started my day off smiling, even if it doesn't end that way. And Anne has decided to do it everyday! So for four mornings, I've willingly and excitingly woken up at 6:30, taken some friends, and had a blast working out. 

Hence why I no longer believe in coincidences. I didn't know my life was gonna take a turn for the worst. I never planned on taking abnormal psych. I only took it as a counselor suggestion back in October. I didn't want to take it once I found out about volunteering. I did it anyway and meeting Anne and starting Zumba really saved my life. That's why I don't believe in coincidences, I believe in God. God watches out for His children. His heart hurts when other people's agency changes our life plans that we want so badly to work out. But He always has a plan, if we use our agency, especially to read His words and communicate with Him. And the Savior is always there for us. His Atonement is there to succor us when we need extra strength to get through the day.

I'm not going to save I'm grateful for these trials, because honestly, I was a lot happier before they hit. But, I'm grateful that God looks out for His children and that He does have a plan. Things will work out for the better if we trust in Him and turn to our Savior. 

Transformation Tuesday -- Life Lessons from a Car Accident

Day after the crash, traveling
back to Provo

"I'm in a lot more pain than I anticipated. I'll be okay though. Gives me a lot of new respect for your accident, I'll tell you that."

I got this sweet text from Connor last Friday when he was recovering from his surgery. I frowned at his text (I hate pain and hated not being with him...) but smiled at his sentiment.  However, I couldn't help but notice that those nagging thoughts filled my head once more...

"No one knows what it really feel like. No one really understands."

And it's true. Well, except for any accident victims out there, or anyone else with neck and back problems. But to put it simply, the pain and ache I feel on a pretty daily basis is only felt by me and me alone.

Two years ago today, I was returning home from a pretty sweet vacation with some friends in Colorado (full story here). It was a chilly but sunny Sunday afternoon in Wyoming of all places when I was in a car accident. I can tell this story with my eyes closed.

The images I saw, the things I thought and the sounds I heard immediately fill my senses. The car flipping twice. The silence. The wind. The heavy breathing. The inability to catch my breath. Then the shock. The look in my friends' faces and the driver's face realizing that I was hurt. Fingers pulling glass out of my hair. The pain, oh the pain. The tears. The realization that I was hurt. The realization that I was the only one in a car of four young adults hurt. The thought of going in an ambulance. The thought of being alone. The thought of being in a foreign place and at the hands of professionals that I didn't know. And how badly I wished that this had never happened.

Two days after the crash,
Shelby sat alongside me. :)

Today, I'm still not completely "okay." I've been going to a chiropractor for two years, doing physical therapy for the torn ligaments in my neck and getting my back aligned. Most mornings, I wake up in a lot of pain. Okay, pretty much every morning. My back feels tight and I have a hard time even making it out of bed. After sitting for long periods of time (class, church, watching a movie, the list goes on and on), my tailbone hurts. It seems like anytime I have a headache, it brings neck and back pain. It takes me a long time to get comfortable when I sleep and then the sleep tends to still be restless. Connor can attest to how fidgety I am and how often I have to move when we're sitting together on the couch. If I don't get enough sleep due to discomfort, I basically feel awful the next day. It's not easy, let me tell ya. Each day is a gamble on whether or not I'll be okay.

And yet, I wouldn't trade this trial for the world.

"Wait, what? Did I read that wrong?"

No, dear reader. You didn't. I wouldn't trade this trial. For anything. And let me tell you why.

At first, I was angry. I wouldn't say I was angry with God. I don't know who I was angry with, to be honest. Probably just angry overall at the world. I didn't want to be alive anymore. But I wondered why me, a loooot. "Why me?" I thought maybe it was because I was the only one in the car without the plan to put in mission papers. But I figured out the answer in the weeks to come and now in the two years that I have passed.

1. Heavenly Father needed to humble me. I really dislike having that be one of the reasons for the car accident but I think it's true. I had become too used to doing everything on my own. I feel that Heavenly Father humbled me so those around me have an opportunity to serve. I used my roommates so much that year (shout out to Katie Shurtz and Shelby Patterson!). I honestly would have been lost without them. They stood by my side and helped me with every step--literally. But I also needed to be humble and recognize that I needed God daily in my life. I had become too comfortable and hadn't created a strong relationship with my Father in Heaven. I pictured myself before the accident saying things like "I've got this" and the weeks to come, I didn't have it anymore. I needed Him. I pleaded with Him to take away the pain but He didn't. And that didn't make me too angry. I understood that this was my trial and that I needed to learn from it.

2. I honestly believe that I was given this trial to remember the countless acts of service that everyone around me did. For goodness sake's, my own personal nurse Shelby Paige Patterson helped me shower! If that's not service, I don't know what is! I believe that Heavenly Father had bigger plans for me and those plans included serving those around me. Service is contagious. I love it. When I felt helpless, I hated it but I loved every person who drove me to and from school, who made me dinner, who helped pour me milk, and who just sat with me. The other day, I ran from the MARB to the Erying Science Center to print out a paper for myself and a boy in a wheelchair so we'd get 10 little points for our JST class. Two years ago, I could have been him.

3. Jesus Christ suffered not only for my sins but for every pain I have every felt. This was a part of the Atonement I never understood. On one particular rough evening, the tears fell silently in my bed. I couldn't sleep. I was in emotional pain as well as physical as I could see my roommate slip successfully off into sleep and I had been tossing and turning for hours. I reached for my patriarchal blessing and began to read. One particular part spoke to me, as it discussed how the Savior's Atonement is there for me, to compensate for the inabilities and weaknesses that are a part of mortality. I felt literally arms around me. I was alone but in that moment, Christ was by me, teaching me and telling me that He knew what I was going through. He knew the pain. He is the only one who knows truly what it feels like. And to me, that is amazing. That is one of the many tender mercies of the gospel, is knowing that Christ feels the same pain I do, whether that be physical OR emotional.

Since the accident, I can carry Lauryn on my back, I ran 3 5K's and I went rock climbing.
This injury hasn't gotten the best of me!

Even though most days I'm in pain and most people don't know what I go through, I cannot begin to say how grateful I am for the life lessons I learned from this accident. And in all honesty, I believe I can make a full recovery. The road is long but I have my Savior beside me. And He knows everything I have gone through on a more personal level than I can even begin to imagine.

A Technology Free Christmas

Well, it's that time of year again for changes and resolutions. I had an interesting experience on Christmas that made me wonder what changes I want to make in my life.

A few days before Christmas, I saw someone had liked an article on Facebook talking about liking posts on Facebook. I laughed to myself about the irony and opened the article. The article explained that Facebook has wired our brains to see a post, examine it and "like it" if it has given us pleasant feelings. A picture of a puppy? Automatic like. A picture of a family? Like likity like like. A picture of an engagement ring? A major like plus an totally sincere "congrats" or "way to go, man!" 

The article went on to explain that this woman decided to stop liking posts on Facebook to see if it changed her opinion on likes. She noticed that likes seemed pretty insincere so she allowed herself to comment but no likes. At first, she was worried that her likes would be missed but then learned that it changed the way she Facebook-ed.

Heart warming, right? Well it got me thinking. I'm an avid Facebook-er and an extreme liker on Instagram. Instagram is all about the likes, no one really leaves comments, am I right? Anyway, I was pondering this during winter break and so far, I haven't made any real changes to the way I use social media.

This Christmas was an amazing one, as I really didn't care about the gifts that Santa left me or what my secret Santa cousin got me. Of course, I was very grateful but this month, I was trying hard to focus on the gift of the Savior. I didn't think too hard on what gifts to give others because I was trying to focus on patterning my life after the Savior's life. And it really made all the difference. Instead of sitting back and watching all my little cousins act out the story of Christ's birth, I was able to participate a

s the narrator. I was a little nervous as I have a hard time with words but while I sat there, I really tried to think about why the Savior is so important to me. It was a great day.

Well, Christmas Eve, all of the older cousins and other family members spent a lot of time on our phones, like snapchat and Facebook and such. Lucky for me, my boyfriend decided to give a gift to his mom to put all cell phones in a box on Christmas day, in order to have a phone free Christmas. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to talk to him....haha, I suggested to my family that we do the same. We didn't end up putting our phones in a box but I kept my phone on airplane mode for a majority of the day. I assumed it would be a rough day seeing as I, like so many of my generation, am so attached to my cellular device.

At the end of our Christmas family gift exchange, I got out my phone and turned it on, pretty anxious to see what I had missed. As the notifications came pouring in, I realized, I hadn't really missed much. Yes a text or two and quite a few snapchats but I didn't miss much. That night as I scrolled through Facebook and Instagram, I couldn't help but realize that I wasn't liking as many posts as I normally do.

I wasn't the first "liker" and found myself realizing that my Christmas was much more meaningful and personal than sharing it with hundreds of "my friends" on Facebook and "followers" on Instagram.

As the year begins, I'm not going to promise to stop liking all your posts on Instagram or to stop posting so much on Facebook. But, I do promise to look up from my phone. I want to live my life without the constant distractions from my phone and really enjoy the little things in life. Because in the blink of an eye, those little moments will be gone and all I'll have to show is social media popularity.

Wanted: Fame or Remembrance

Well, I've pretty much come to accept the fact that I will never be famous. It's okay, my feelings aren't hurt that I won't win American Idol (I would NEVER audition), I won't be a professional pool player (no matter how cool this picture is) or I won't discover a new galaxy (I don't know why space travel was ever in my plans--Gravity and Interstellar ruined that for me). But in all seriousness, I'm okay with not being famous. I actually don't think I'd handle fame very well, but that's another story.

But all my life I've had this obsession to be remembered. I want to be one of those people who are talked about after they're dead. I don't need the fame and I don't need to be in history books. I don't need to do something outrageous but maybe something like when I'm gone, my children's children will say "It's like grandma always said...." and then go on to quote some awesome inspirational phrase that I coined through the years. However, that won't happen for years from now. And yet, I want to be remembered now.

I'm in that time of life where I could meet a new person everyday. I go to school where I literally drown because there are so many people. But too often I move around campus as fast as I can with headphones in, not making eye contact with anyone. I find my own table in the library and in the Wilk so I don't have to talk to people. I sit by myself in my big lecture classes not bothering to get to know people. And it kills me. Why? I'm a pretty friendly person. Why don't I get to know people? I could start leaving my trace on this earth.

Regardless, I just want to be remembered. I think that's why I try to be there for....literally everyone. It's always been that way and I enjoy it. I love it! I love being the girl that everyone goes to, to vent (read my post here about venting), to receive love, or to receive a kind word or two. So I guess if that's what I'm remembered for, I'm living a pretty good life.

But, for now, I'm Miss Megan Williams. 

I love music and have an unhealthy relationship with my headphones. 

I could live at the beach and be happy for the rest of my life.

I'm a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I am not afraid to share my beliefs. 

I laugh till my sides hurt. 

I take typical white girl pictures in the mirror and I'm the queen of snapchat. 

I cry in Disney movies. 

I wear fake glasses when I write essays.

Chocolate is always the right choice. 

When I'm happy, I want everyone to be happy. When I'm sad, I still want everyone to be happy and will joke through my tears. 

I have a bad neck and back but I'll still race you to the car. 

I'll be there for you even if we haven't talked in months. 

My favorite song will say more about me than I ever will. 

My little sisters are my world and if you mess with them, you'll mess with me. My parents are my role models and I owe them so much. 

My Savior knows me personally and I couldn't get through life without Him. 

And lastly, I love to smile...because the world is a more beautiful place when you have a smile on your face.

To The Girl Out There Who's Feeling The Pressure....

...to serve a mission.

Not everyone is going to agree with my thoughts on this post. And that's okay. I'm going to do my best not to offend anyone and tell my story.

I remember the day that the mission age change was lowered. I think everyone, Mormon or not, will remember because that was the day that EVERYONE put in their papers and was so excited. Everyone except me. I didn't feel right about it. I can't explain it but I didn't.

I had an experience in the temple literally 12 hours before conference. I wasn't even thinking about a mission. Instead, I was thinking about my future family. I had no idea when the worthy RM was going to come along and take me to the temple, but I guess my mind drifted into that direction. I got the feeling that I needed to change my life around, that something was going to happen and I needed to be prepared, spiritually, to handle whatever that would be.

Ha, then the mission age change. Many many MANY of my friends called/texted me, as my nineteenth birthday was only 2 weeks away. The coming joke was that all I wanted for my birthday was to turn into my mission papers.....and for some reason, that wasn't me. Friends on missions asked me and even close friends asked me. When I said I wasn't thinking of going, the judging looks and comments came...I was heartbroken.

Three months later, I was in a car accident. Bam. I reflected on that moment in the temple and knew that this was what my Heavenly Father was trying to tell me. I hadn't listened. I had gone through the motions of church, saying my prayers, and reading my scriptures but I hadn't gained that relationship with Heavenly Father that I really needed. My friends started getting mission calls, and I realized most of them were leaving. Not only was I in physical pain but I was in spiritual pain and emotional pain. I didn't open up to a lot of people....but I definitely opened up to my Heavenly Father. Those nights when I was scared, hurting, and just done, He was there for me, with His literally arms lifting me up through my hard times. I made it through sophomore year, but man, was it a struggle.

Then, my junior year started. Remind you, all my friends from freshman year had gone their separate ways....mainly North Carolina, Ukraine, Ohio, and a different ward. I was scared out of my mind. I opened up to a friend back home and he helped me, I suppose. But I relied on him too much and didn't make many friends my junior year. Towards the middle of my junior year, I found myself in a pretty unhealthy long distance relationship....and I couldn't find a way out. He needed to change his life around and try to serve a mission....and I guess I figured if I served a mission, I could easily get out of the relationship, would stop feeling the judgement and maybe find a good guy out there, after I claimed that RM title. Yes, that was my reasoning. I signed myself up for mission prep Fall 2014 and was excited....but I knew it was kind of fake. I tried to pray and read my scriptures but it was hard. Deep down, I knew I had selfish reasons for trying to serve...but finally people in my ward at home were excited for me.  I got SO many likes on the picture that I posted on Facebook about serving, and I finally found acceptance. I felt support. I felt like I would maybe finally be doing something good and noteworthy with my life.

In spring of this year, I was hurting pretty bad and at that time, I felt alone. My family was 600 miles away and I was lost. I turned to my Heavenly Father once more and strengthened my relationship with Him. I vowed to get my life completely back on track...thinking a mission was still in my plans. But I kept reflecting on my sophomore year and I would get that uneasy feeling. I assumed it was Satan, trying to distract me from the good I was suppose to accomplish. Then, senior year started.

This semester I took 4 different classes to figure out my life. 
1. Social Work 
2. Sociology 404 (qualitative research) 
3. Psychology 111 
4. Mission Prep. 

My first few days in Social Work, I knew I "found" my calling. Still in that "I'm going on a mission" mindset, I figured a master's in SOCW was a LONG ways away. I didn't prepared but I knew that's what I wanted.

The weirdest thing though was....my first few weeks in mission prep......I felt more uneasy in my entire life. I had distanced myself from the unhealthy relationship over the summer. I had strengthened my relationship with God. I had turned my life around. I was happy. And yet, I felt uneasy. Brad Wilcox is my professor and HE IS AMAZING. Everyone in class is just so excited to serve. I found myself in the temple, praying and struggling for an answer. Then one day, I was reminded of a quote or a scripture or a principle about personal revelation. I can't remember what it says word for word but the principle is the same. Once Heavenly Father grants you with revelation, He often won't remind you again. He won't hold your hand as you make your decisions. The quote by President David O. McKay as told by Boyd K. Packer comes to mind. “You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.”

I realized I had a few options. I could continue with this plan to serve a mission or I could come to terms with the fact that a mission wasn't currently in my plans. And boy, was that a hard couple of weeks. I felt like I kept hitting wall after wall. But I kept my prayers going and reading my scriptures. I went to the temple. I prayed harder than I ever had. I felt like I wasn't getting an answer. So, one day, in the temple, I made a decision. I offered my heart to God, hoping that continuing on in Social Work and not serving a mission was the right choice. And for the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. I was no longer anxious and I was no longer worried for my future. I know a master's is going to be hard and I'm scared out of my mind. But I finally got excited about life. I knew that this is right for me.

So, to the girl out there who's feeling the pressure to serve a mission....take a page out of my book. Do not serve a mission for the wrong reasons. That was almost me. And I'm so glad it's not. I'm sure it would still work out for you but I'm nervous that it wouldn't. You don't need that acceptance from whoever in order to serve. Someone will find you for who you are. Love yourself. Don't rely on the acceptance from others, but rely on the acceptance from Heavenly Father. He loves you for who you are. 

In the words of my friend Jamie, "I believe everyone has a mission call but it does not always come on paper." 

I'm still learning how to share the gospel but not by being a full time missionary. I post on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I try to help everyone I see in need. I give my friends time when they need it. I try to love everyone I see. I help my mom share the gospel and am supportive when she steps out into that world to share her love of the gospel. There are so many good things in this life...pray to your Heavenly Father. Spend time in the temple. Make sure it's for you. Because a mission is not for every girl out there. I am a missionary but I do not wear a Sister Williams badge and I am happier than ever, being me and accepting and knowing who I am.

Be the Change You Want to Be.

One of my favorite things about Facebook is sharing links. In fact, I'm guessing that's how you got to this post! I rarely surf the web, I don't watch the news or anything like that, so I use Facebook to get that stuff. I saw one of those blog posts that say things I wish I knew or things that every 20 something year old will do. I love those posts and while some of them apply, I really disliked what this post said.

While talking about how relationships don't all work out, the blog post claimed that a broken heart will changed your life forever. I totally agree with that, whether it was a relationship or even a friendship that didn't work out-these things in life will change you for better or for worse.

However, then the post made this claim...

"Having your heart broken stays with you until someone else mends it." I had to re read this statement a time or two before it really sunk in.

Till someone else mends it.

Society has gotten this all wrong. Society believes that we can't do anything on our own, especially women. Women are seen as weak and unable to do much besides be a wife and a homemaker. But what society pushes even more is that we all need to be saved and only someone else can do that. And that's what needs to change.

Too often we find ourselves being the "victim" of our circumstances. This is a card that everyone plays, from the President of the US to the common blogger. I've played it myself. Complaints of this and that prevent us from moving, from progressing, from changing. Instead, we become stagnant in our growth and we don't make these necessary changes to grow.

Today during church we were talking about the phrase "I'm fine." Bleck. I dislike this phrase more than anything because first people use it as a lie and a way not to talk to someone and second, because what does that even mean. But, the one thing that was touched on is that trials tend to come when we are fine. When we get lazy and too comfortable, trials can come and knock us off our feet. So when I look over my life, the major trials stand out in my life.

The car accident I was involved in, finding myself alone and without a friend on those sleepless nights, and the day that I learned when someone I loved had used me. Some of the worst days of my life....have turned into some joyous moments in my life. Those nights with tear stained pillowcases, those moments that I thought I couldn't go on and many times that I pleaded with my Heavenly Father to take these pains away from me--they honestly changed me. Now each moment in my life, I've had two options. 1. Become a victim of circumstance. Or 2. Be the change I want to be. I'm not perfect. It's taken me a few days or sometimes weeks. But I honestly believe that we are given these experiences to be refined, to change and to become better.

Many different things can stunt our growth. But why make ourselves one of those things? Next time you're feeling too comfortable or in the midst of one of those trials, don't wait for someone to throw in a line and help you out. Dust yourself off, pick yourself up and get back on your feet. Be the change you wish to see in yourself and I know it will make all the difference.