Bitter to Sweet

"Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what your going to get."  Forrest Gump

I don't think I really got what this meant until getting older.  

We are born into this life without a clue as to what this life has in store for us.  That is both the beauty and the beast of life.  

Growing up we anticipate growing up, getting married, conquering the world, or not, and living happily ever after.  Little do we know that we have little control over what happens in our lives.  

Some people get cancer that will decide the quality of the rest of their life.  Some people are victim to abuse,verbally, physically, sexually, emotionally...all of which can decide a persons lifestyle.  Some people are riddled with diseases to which they did nothing in order to "deserve" them.  Others will have challenges that may not be physical but of a mental nature.  No matter what our challenges may be in this life there is one thing we can remember...Chocolate comes in many different flavors.  They range from bitter to sweet.  

Through our trials or after the fact there is a sweetness or a joy for overcoming something that was so hard for us.   

I have a friend who was blessed to get pregnant rather quickly. I was honestly jealous that it would be so easy.  Recently she was informed by a doctor that at 7 months pregnant she may have breast cancer.  I have been humbled by her and the grace with which she has been going through this trying time.  I also was humbled to learn that even the most silver of linings can have a dark corner.  In the end there can be sweetness.  Sweetness in knowing that we are submitting ourselves to the will of the Father and becoming like him even when it can be very uncomfortable and downright difficult.  

I work at a hospital for women with eating disorders.  Working here I have learned that to each individual person different things are challenging.  Each patient where I work has had something in their life that has led them to an eating disorder.  Working with these amazing women I have learned that it is not in human nature to like things that are hard.  We much rather prefer the easy route in life.  I have also learned that our choices may take us on our paths but we are not in charge of what obstacles may lie in those pathways.  BUT...it is our choice to look at the obstacle and rely on what we know about our Heavenly Father to get us through.  He does not find joy in watching us struggle.  He finds joy in watching us overcome the hurdles or bitter sweetness in life.  

There is a young couple I know who have a son that was born with a cleft palette.  This young boy has been through a lot in his short life so far.  His father was talking about a spiritual experience he had with his son who was struggling for life at the time.  He told my husband and I that his son chose the body he had because he knew it was what he needed in this life to help perfect him and get him back into the presence of his Heavenly Father.  

I know that we chose the lives we have.  We didn't know the circumstances or specifics but we did jump for joy to know that we could come here to be tested and tried and put through the refiners fire.  For some that may be overcoming an addiction or bumpy past.  For others that is learning to trust in his will and timing.  Each of us has the capabilities and divine birthright to overcome the bitterness of life.  We can find the sweetness that is in the box of life.    

I know that this life is not easy.  It is just going to get harder.  I also know that we are children of a heavenly Father who in fact loves us!  He cries when we are at our bedsides pleading for him to take away our pains.  

I think of our savior in the garden of Gethsemane...the chosen one.  He pleaded with the Father to not have him go through what he went through.  In the end he said: nevertheless, thy will be done."  

I know that we can and will spend our entire lives trying to understand what it means to turn our will to the Fathers.  I also know that each time we complain, falter, turn away, and feel like we cannot go back, it is not so.  He is there waiting for us.  He is there to offer help. He is there to strengthen us.  All we need to do is ask.