Grateful for Trials

Yesterday I was home sick from church and spent the day working on genealogy while I watched conference talks and BYU TV.  One of the things I watched was a show called Inspiring Lives, Kim: Vertically Challenged.  It was about a girl who was born with legs that wouldn't straighten and had to go through lots of surgeries and treatments to help her be able to walk.  At some point her spine was growing in a way that was interfering with her ability to breathe and they had to do a surgery to correct it, but it left her not being able to grow any more, so she's only 3' 8".  She was a very persistent girl and practiced walking and was able to walk despite the prediction that she wouldn't ever be able to.  When she was 6 her class was having a jump rope competition and she insisted she would learn.  She practiced for weeks and was able to jump rope much longer than most of us could.



Through all of her surgeries, struggles & disappointments, Kim was always full of faith, gratitude & joy.  She inspired all those around her.  She was very popular and even was chosen as Homecoming Queen, because everyone truly admired her spirit.  She had a way of uplifting everyone around her.

The thing that inspired me the most about Kim was her Spirit.  It wasn't just that she was determined and dedicated.  In listening to her that isn't even a quality that you would think she had.  But she radiated love, compassion, caring, kindness, & joy.  You can tell that the trials that she had been through had truly helped mold her into someone full of charity.  It was through her trials that these things were brought out in her. 

Seeing how Kim's trials changed her into this beautiful, amazing spirit, made me look at my trials differently.  For the first time in my life I truly feel grateful for my trials.  In stead of a curse, they feel like a blessing from a loving Heavenly Father to help me develop the same characteristics that Kim has.  I can now picture being in the pre-mortal world and being truly happy about being able to experience the difficult trials here on earth.  I think perhaps we could truly see the full glory of the end result and that just makes the trials beautiful as well.