A need to fill up my cup

My family all became ill last week, so when Sunday came around we were all to sick to attend church. Oh how I missed partaking of the Sacrament and hearing the word of the Lord. There is a reason we attend weekly and why we take the Sacrament weekly.
It gives us the opportunity to renew the covenants we have made at our Baptism and for those who have made Temple covenants to re commit and repent of our sins.
In the Doctrine and Covenants Section 59: 7 -9 It says "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things,
Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.
So missing Sunday was hard for me, I rely on the Sacrament and the rest of my church service to keep me going through the week.

So come Monday morning I felt my cup empty, and as the week dragged on it was struggle to get through. Obviously being sick makes your physical body tired and dragging. I knew there was only so much I could do to feel better. I could take medicine, cough drops, try and get extra sleep, which never happens by the way. This was going to take its course and I just have to endure it with patience. Well I am now on my 8th day of this stupid cold, this morning I read a quote by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on Patience.
"Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith." - This is my favorite quote on patience, it really says exactly what it is. When we ask for patience most of the time I think we are asking to make it go away, instead of help me while this lasts.

Thank you President Uchtdorf for the reminder....

So of course I am always looking for a spiritual parallel in my coming on goings. It helps me to stay spiritually fit to always look for that connection. If you look you can find God in everything.

The Savior taught in parables, he took everyday activities and turned them into a spiritual comparison. What a great way to teach a gospel principle. Those who are looking would understand and those with hard hearts were just confused. One of my favorite parables is the parable of the Ten Virgins; From the primary Manuel( A book that we teach our children ages 4 to 12) it explains it as follows "the parable is based on ancient Jewish wedding customs. The bridegroom and his friends escorted the bride from her home to the home of the bridegroom. Along the way friends of the bride waited to join them. When they arrived at the bridegroom’s home, they all went inside for the wedding. These weddings usually took place in the evenings, so those waiting for the bride and bridegroom carried lamps."
The Savior taught a great lesson from a basic common costume of the time. If they wanted to meet the bridegroom they needed to be have their lamps trimmed and filled with oil, or they would miss the event. So what does the oil represent? To me it means being spiritually and physically prepared for short term and long term goals. I know the Savior will come someday, when ? don't know. But what I do know; is that we are to prepare for his coming. Spiritually and Temporally, Just like in the parable: in order to enjoy the festivities the girls needed to have their lamps prepared, so when the five virgins realized their lamps were not ready they wanted to borrow oil from their prepared friends. Some might think why did they not share so all could join. I look at that precious oil as all my life experiences that have built my testimony of my Savior. The time I have been preparing myself for his return. Our testimony and Faith is a personal choice to have and work on. Only we as individuals know were we stand with the Lord. We have to work on ourselves little by little, having faith and patience in ourselves.

The wise virgins who had prepared themselves for the coming their Lord were ready and they could not share their oil, it was their hard work, faith, and testimony it belonged only to them.
I think individual can lean on someones faith and testimony until they are strong enough on their own. That is the beauty of the gospel to share our light so others will see and want to enjoy the fruits of the gospel. Being a member of the church is such a joy, but I would be miss leading if I did not say it is work, It is hard work, it was meant to be. No pain no gain, that is why are asked to sacrifice our time and talents to Lord. If you want to be physically fit you must exercise, if you want to be spiritually fit you must spiritually exercise. But it is the greatest work and the rewards are eternal.

While I have been sick, I noticed my lack of enthusiasm for about everything ,it came to my mind that I have such limited control over this cold. I have to do my part in order to keep functioning. So as I mentioned before I am always looking for a spiritual parallel, so I can keep growing and learning. I learned more this week while I was sick. I honestly can say It is so important to keep up on our prayers, scripture reading, service to family and friends, repentance. All these things and many more keep our lamps full of spiritual oil.

So although I was tired and not feeling well, I knew I needed to rely on the Lord to get through the week, as I could not miss work or stop life all together. All though I did think a pause button might have been useful at some moments.

Well our family is now on the downhill slide of this silly cold, I am grateful for my health and the blessings I have in my life. I wish only through this blog to help those who are looking for comfort or direction to their Savior. It also helps me to see where I am in my life at the moment, I think putting your feelings on paper really gives you pause to think and focus. So of course I desire to be a Lady with a fully trimmed and oil filled lamp.