Lessons learned: Compassion, Sympathy, Empathy and Friendship - Respect for our Tabernacles

We've been taught that the Lord doesn't give us trials unless we can learn something from them.
There are numerous passages in the scriptures that talk about trials, adversity and faith.

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"As part of Heavenly Father's plan of redemption, all people experience adversity during their lifetime. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache are a difficult part of life, but with the help of the Lord they can lead to spiritual growth, refinement, and progress.

Each person's success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on his or her responses to the difficulties of life."
 http://www.lds.org/topics/adversity?lang=eng

 2 Nephi 2:11-24  1 For it must needs be, that there is an ^aopposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.......

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COMPASSION, SYMPATHY, EMPATHY, FRIENDSHIP

I currently feel like I am learning the most in the ways of compassion, sympathy, empathy and friendship.  I have been realizing over the last six months that my actions, over the last 54 years, are a far cry from how Christ has taught us all through his example as well as the many, many messages in the rest of the scriptures.

 6 And my people must needs be ^achastened until they learn ^bobedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they ^csuffer.   http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/23.21-22?lang=eng#20

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think that I have developed my illness because I haven't been a perfect friend, family member, congregation member, neighbor or community member.  I just think that through my afflictions, I am developing more compassion, sympathy and empathy and the ability to become a better friend.

In the past, there have been many "reasons" why I didn't become more involved in developing these attributes.  Keeping myself busy with other things, feeling awkward about it, not praying for understanding and/or not seeking for or listening or acting upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit are three to begin with.  Sometimes the trials in my own life are pretty overwhelming and I know the Lord only expects me to serve my immediate family or, in my most recent experiences, myself.  I have been affirmed that recently, doing what I can to literally keep myself alive has been the best way to serve - in the future.  I have more work and service to do on this Earth and I when I am healthy again, I will start with my husband, children and grandchildren.

I rarely or seriously considered - or made the effort to understand - the level of loneliness someone experiences when they are elderly, alone or ill.  I rarely or seriously considered that the little things can really be meaningful - a note/text/message/email, a phone call, an offer to pick up groceries or run an errand.  I really had no idea that an offer of "let me know what I can do to help" is hardly an offer at all because most of us are too proud to boldly state our specific needs.  I rarely or seriously considered inviting someone to do something, even if I knew they probably wouldn't be up to it, could make them feel included and still a part of "the gang" or even just a part of the human race!

I made it to church a month or so ago and one of the topics discussed in Sunday School was about when people leave the church over being offended.  I can say that that must include feeling excluded or ignored.  I can understand that hurt feelings and ostracism really makes for an unfriendly environment.  Though a smile or a "how have you been?" is meaningful, it's not what makes someone feel a real part of the congregation. 

Sadly, I have learned these lessons from the lack of attention to my own real needs - physical, emotional and otherwise - during this time of my own illness.  I blame myself in part for not asking for more, but lately, when someone asked me if I needed something, I eagerly accepted.  I realize that most people, like how I used to be, just don't realize what is really going on or they don't have, or take, the time to figure it out.  This is why I'm making some resolutions:

I resolve that in the future, I will drop off yard-picked flowers, notes and goodies.  I resolve to write more notes and emails.  I resolve to keep people feeling like they still belong to the human race even though they are limited on their exposure to it.  I resolve to pray for the Spirit to know what someone needs the most and be able to fulfill those needs.  

SELF RESPECT AND RESPECT FOR GOD BY HONORING THE GIFT OF A BODY

Some of the other lessons I'm learning have to do with taking better care of my body.  My tabernacle.  I've been blessed with this amazing, ok - miraculous, vessel for my spirit and now I'm really realizing the immensity of the responsibility in keeping it as healthy and as pure as possible.

I've always been critical of people who do really dangerous, crazy or daring extreme sports.  I will bluntly put it out there that I think it's disrespectful to God to disregard life in such a manner.

Now, for some self-chastisement.  Though I am Hypoglycemic and have intentionally partaken of food and beverage items with artificial sweeteners to keep my blood sugar levels in check, I have done so in the Beverage Department with little regard for the healthiest choices.  This nasty, self-induced addiction to diet colas has significantly attributed to my recent woes.

 I haven't felt healthy in years and in the last 9 months realized that there was something drastically wrong.  Six months ago, I suffered an almost total collapse and near failure of most of my body functions and organs.  Most of it brought on by my poor choices in beverages sprinkled in with the other food products that contained aspartame to make them palatable.

Since my new physician advised that one of the best ways to recover and let my body heal itself is to eat better (and of course, completely eliminate all sources of aspartame) -  "clean eating" with lots of organic foods.  I've been reading a lot about this on the internet and there is really so much to learn - the hard part is switching to that lifestyle.  It's almost like learning how to plan, shop and cook all over again for me - not that I was a very good cook in the first place and starting over will be interesting.  One of the pieces of advise is to take it on one step at a time - which is how I'm going to HAVE to do it since I really don't have time or energy to go all out all at once.

None of this information is NEW.  There have been experts and laypeople alike urging us all to eat better (and how to do it) for such a long time.  Why did it take getting SO sick to actually BELIEVE it?  I guess I thought it only applied to people who were sensitive or had allergies or such.  Well, what I'm beginning to believe, is that we are ALL sensitive!  God did not intend for our bodies to consume such toxins!  I'm converted!  Hallelujah!  LOL