All That Heaven Will Allow

"So come on Mr. Trouble,
We'll make it through you somehow.
We'll fill this house with all the love,
All that Heaven will allow."

1. Nathaniel

2. Bradley

3. Lindsey

4. Joseph

Blessing Day

Sunday, April 27, 2008, Joseph Adam Hardy Black was given a name and a blessing by his father. In the circle were Fred, Jon, Matt, and Pat Cox. It was an incredibly special occasion for our family, and I am again in awe of the blessings of our Heavenly Father upon us. I am at a loss for words in gratitude for His tender mercies.

Among many other beautiful words, Chris mentioned in the blessing that we were so happy for the chance to become reacquainted with Joseph and that we felt as if we had known him all along. I'm so thankful to my husband for being the worthy man he is and for being an amazing father to our children.

Joseph looked pretty spiffy in his blessing outfit.

1. Children sent from Heavenly Father

2. The Holy Priesthood

3. The privilege of naming our boy after his two Uncle Adams

I Believe In Christ . . . So Come What May

My dear family and friends, today I feel inspired to share some thoughts I've been pondering. I realized this morning that it is very important to me that the people I love are aware that I know God lives and that He is our Father. I know Jesus Christ lives, that He atoned for our sins, and that He gave His life for us.

I'm thankful to my Heavenly Father for my trials because they have made me who I am. I feel like I have been blessed with trials, which may seem like an odd thing to say. However, I think I am finally at a point in my life where I can say that trials are blessings because I know that they refine us. They serve to lift us from imperfection and weakness to a holier state, one that will one day qualify us to live with our Father in Heaven again.

An important aspect of being tried is learning to accept the Lord's will in all things, to allow our will to be swallowed up in His. This is not an easy thing for us to accomplish sometimes, but I am so thankful for a testimony of how necessary it is and for a blossoming ability to do so in my own life.

I know there is a plan for each of us, and I believe everything happens for a reason, according to that plan. Tribulation is an important part of that; perhaps the natural way to think of that is to say, "Unfortunately, tribulation is a part of life." But I don't think it's unfortunate. This is not to say that I take the trials I face and watch others face lightly. But I do think these hard things we face are meant just for us and reflect what our Heavenly Father knows we need in order to be worthy to live with Him.

I love these words from President James E. Faust:

"In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd.

Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful.

The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process."

I have realized in the last year that when trials come, we have a choice: we can either turn to the Lord for strength and support and help, or we can turn away from Him. If we turn away, He cannot help us, and that is when our trials become more than we can bear. With the healing power of the Atonement, our Savior can enable us to withstand any hardship. And when we truly realize the purpose behind those hardships, it makes the process beautiful, even when it is intensely painful.

May I share this story that I love so much, regarding the refining process we all go through:

While reading Malachi chapter 3, a group of women in a Bible study came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

One woman spoke up and said the verse was intended to convey the sanctifying influence of the grace of God. Then she said she would visit a silversmith and report to the other women what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and, without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which the smith described to her.

"But, sir," she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh, yes, ma'am," replied the silversmith. "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The woman at once saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace: His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random: "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

As the woman was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way to know when the purifying process is complete is . . .

. . .when he can see his own image reflected in the silver.

1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ

2. The process of refinement in my life

3. A Heavenly Father who loves me