Adversity

Today in church one of our friends, who I'll call Sarah, spoke on adversity.

Sarah is married to a good man and they have four darling kids.  This is one of those families who could be on the cover of The Ensign or Family Circle.

When Sarah was young, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34.  It had spread to her lymph nodes and the doctors wanted to begin radiation immediately...but there was a problem.

She was pregnant with her sixth child.

The doctors encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy so treatment could be done.  After much prayer, fasting, heartache, tears, and sorrow, she and her husband decided to carry the baby full term.

18 months after the child was born, Sarah's mother died.  She was 36.

Her young husband was left to care for six children.  Oldest: 9.  Youngest: 18 months.

Sarah says her dad did okay for a little while.  He met another woman, who also had kids, and they got married.

Sarah and her siblings were so excited to have a "normal" family again.  They couldn't wait for summer vacations, fun parties, and good times.

Instead, things went downhill.  The house was chaotic.  There was abuse.  There was anger.  Sarah and her siblings would come home from school and, as quietly as they could, tie-toe to their bedroom and hide for hours.

Her dad had a mental breakdown, lost his job, and refused to get out of bed.  

Home was horrible.

At this point, Sarah was a senior in high school.  



She knew two things:

1.  She had to help her younger brothers and sisters.
2.  She had to leave.

The day after she graduated high school, she moved out.  It was heartbreaking to leave her siblings behind...knowing how bad things were.  But in order to help them, she had to help herself.

Sarah moved to Provo and began school at BYU.  Looking around "Happy Valley USA" she thought, "Everyone here has had such a good life.  No one has endured anything like what I've been through.  They are so lucky."

But, as time went on, Sarah quickly learned she was wrong.  Everyone...no matter who they were...had gone through some sort of trial.  Everyone had struggled.  Everyone had suffered.

Every.  Single.  Person. 

Sarah has used her story to remind people that we all go through trials and hard times.  Unfortunately, we will all suffer.

But...we will make it through.  Just look at Sarah.

She has a wonderful family, she's strong in her faith, and she's a strong, quiet example of conquering adversity.

"When bad things happen, do not say God is not keeping his promises to me.  Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain. He is resource in event of pain, and when that pain comes, rejoice that you have resource to deal with your pain." 

Carlfred Broderick