True Friendship

The theme I've been focusing on, "How Can I Help" wouldn't be complete without mentioning a wonderful friendship that has come from this trial. We were already friends before, we had been swapping date night babysitting for a year. However, this trial has made our friendship even stronger.

I will never forget the day I shared with my friend that I was struggling with depression. She was so understanding about all I was going through. She didn't hesitate a moment to help me. She has been a true example to me of Christ-like love. There have been so many times she has come to my rescue. I've shared a lot with her of what goes through my mind and yet she still doesn't judge me and she  keeps on being my cheerleader through it all. "You got this" is my favorite catch phrase she says to cheer me along. I have sent her countless emails that she replies to with words of encouragement, reminders of the power of our Savior and the strength that comes from Him, and lots of great advice to help me out. She has knocked at my door multiple times to be my "distraction" for a little bit. I have so many memories of things she has done to help me that it would take multiple posts to cover them all. She has helped to lift this trial in my life so it's not so heavy.

I know she doesn't want to be in the spot light so I won't go on too much longer, but I have to share one of my most cherished memories. On one particular hard day, my husband was trying to decide whether he should go to work or not because of how I was that day. She called me that morning and I answered in tears. After some coordinating she decided to come over to my house. She arrived at my house shortly after with her makeup in her hands because she was not wanting to leave me alone for too long. We went to the library together. Then her wonderful husband watched the kids while we went to lunch, helped set things up for a Relief Society activity, and did some grocery shopping together. I will never forget that day and the true friend she was and still is today.

This post wouldn't be complete without a little shout out to her husband. That day she and I went and spent time together, not only did he watch the kids but he fed them lunch and even got my Kindergartner on the bus. He too has been a blessing through this trial. He's helped my husband give me blessings, he's watched kids while my friend and I went to lunch, he's helped in so many ways. I am so grateful for him.

To me this is what friendship is all about and I don't know what I do without this friend in my life. Thank you so much friend!!!

Unexpected Friendship

Friendship can come from all different avenues. I will forever be grateful for one friend who introduced me to a new friend. A friend who has helped me in so many ways, even though we live five hours apart and have only met each other once, and briefly at that. She has shared with me some very touching experiences she has had in her life. Experiences that shed a whole new light on the struggles I have been going through. She has listened to me and then given me advice to help me through. She is one amazing woman and I'm so grateful for her influence in my life. I'm so amazed at all she is able to accomplish and still have room to talk to me. I can't wait to get to know her a little better.

As I've thought more about the people who have stepped into my life recently and helped me so much, I've realized how truly blessed I am. The friendships I'm building are priceless. It's amazing to see how trials and service can bring us closer to each other.

So here is my challenge to you, next time you are given an opportunity to serve, even a friend of a friend, don't hesitate. You never know what friendships may come of your service.

Visiting Teachers

Two of the best visiting teachers have weaved their way into my life as a result of what I have been going through. I am so grateful for both of them. It was so hard for me to share with them how rough my life has been for the past while. Yet, from the moment I told them they have been a huge blessing. They have invited me to the park on my bad days. They have brought me little treats to let me know they're thinking about me. They have been so willing to watch my boys during visits with my counselor and doctor. To me they are exactly what a visiting teacher is all about. Even now, when they are no longer my visiting teachers (sniffle) I still feel their love. Thanks so much Kristin and Heidi!

How Can I Help?

One of the questions I receive a lot (my husband gets it too) is "How can I help?". I think we all ask this question a lot. That goes right along with the general comment you hear of "Let me know if you need anything". As I've thought about those two statements, I've realized people really do want to help but they don't know what they can do. So, here if a list of suggestions for all of you. If you know someone struggling with bipolar or depression, here are some things you can do to help:

• Pray. It sounds so simple and easy, but it helps.
• Follow the promptings you receive. Today in conference, President Monson said we should act on promptings immediately. Do not postpone any promptings you receive. I can't emphasize that enough. 
• Mail a letter or a card
• Don't be afraid to make a phone call
• Send an email saying you're thinking about them
• Text the person just to say hi
• One big secret, when I'm feeling down, I'm not going to call someone just to talk, it's too hard. So, saying, "let me know if I can help" just doesn't work cause I'm not going to ask for help. I'm pretty sure the same goes for lots of people in my situation.

I'm sure there are many more ways you can help, but when it really comes down to it, the best thing you can do is act on the promptings you receive. Heavenly Father knows the needs of all of us better than we know, he will guide us to ways to help those in need.

On another note, feel free to share my blog with others or even on Facebook. My goal with this blog is to help others who are dealing with bipolar disorder in their family and to hopefully add some spiritual views to what I have learned in this journey.

The Alma Challenge

A friend has challenged me to read the book of Alma and find all the times the Lord has delivered his followers out of bondage. I decided to take her up on that challenge and I have been blown away by all the Lord has done for those who obey his commandments. I have always thought as Alma as the war chapters, because there are so many battles in that book. Yes, there are many, many times the gospel has been preached in the book of Alma but in the past when I've thought of Alma, I've thought about all the battles. This challenge has changed my view of Alma, Alma is full of the love of God and his desire to deliver his righteous believers. It is the perfect reminder of the grace and mercy he offers to all his righteous followers.

Grace & Mercy

In Alma 5:48, it reads "I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth.". Thinking about those words made me wonder, what is the difference between "grace" and "mercy".

The Bible Dictionary says of grace "The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ....grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts."

Mercy, according to the Guide to the Scriptures, is "the spirit of compassion, tenderness, and forgiveness. Mercy is one of the attributes of God. Jesus Christ offers mercy to us through his atoning sacrifice."

To me this means that "grace" gives the Lord the ability to fill in the gaps where we falter. Mercy is the compassion that makes him want to fill in that gap. I love where it says that Christ will step in after we have expended our own best efforts.

As I thought about both of these I realized how much grace and mercy has applied in my life, and how much more I can apply it to my life. Most importantly the idea that all I am expected to do is my very best, no more, no less.  Just my best, that doesn't mean perfect, that means my very best. "It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23).

Just as in my last post about fighting a good warfare, we aren't expected to win the whole war, just to put up our best fight. Christ will win the war for us, but we have to be the best soldiers we can be. We have to use the weapons he has given us to fight that war in the best way we can.

The end of Alma 1:27 says "they did all labor, every man according to his strength". This goes along with the whole theme of grace. We are only were expected to labor according to their strength. I love this idea!

Our Savior truly is full of grace and mercy!

100s List

Recently I put together a list of 100 reasons to keep going. It has been a great resource for me to read on my down days. Whenever I read through it, I am reminded of the more than 100 reasons I have that make life great. I had a few other people contribute to my list and all of their ideas provided views that I couldn't see on my own. Originally my goal was to reach 100 reasons, by the time I was done I couldn't stop at 100, I kept going. There are hundreds of reasons to never give up. When I finished my list I laminated it and I keep it where I can get to it on my rough days.

As I've thought about it, I think a list of 100 reasons to never give up is a great idea for everyone. In Alma 1:1, it mentions the death of King Mosiah. It says "king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth, having warred a good warfare". Warred a good warfare really sticks out to me. Am I fighting a good battle? Am I on the Lords side in this battle? To me, the list of 100 reasons is part of my arsenal of weapons to keep fighting a good warfare. Once I know why it's easier to figure out the how. I think it is helpful for all of us to write down the reasons we should keep fighting like king Mosiah fought.