Hello family! We couldn't go to the chapel to email this time, so we went back to the library and we don't have too much time! Sorry about that! Thanks for all your emails and love and prayers!
We had lots of little miracles this week! So many blessings! We taught Aaron a few lessons and he agreed to be baptized on March 19th. However, he has some word of wisdom problems that have been difficult for him to quit. This week we went to his home and he didn't answer the door. We went back the next day, and it was the same result. We came back twice the next day and talked to all the neighbors, asking if they knew where Aaron is. One of his neighbors said that he was in the hospital and the ambulance came and got him a couple days ago. We rushed to the hospital and found out that he was in the intensive care unit, and the visiting hours were closed. We had no idea what was going on, or what happened. So we came back as soon as we could the next day, but it turned out that he was just released a few hours before we got there! We then hurried to his home and found him there with a broken ankle and many bruises everywhere. He told us that he was at the beach and drank too much alcohol, and fell over a barrier wall and woke up in the hospital. We comforted him and showed our love and concern, and told him how we had looked for him for 3 days. We told him how he can overcome all of his addictions and challenges through Jesus Christ. He now has the reason and determination to quit his addictions and follow the Savior.
I think that even though it seems like a curse that he hurt himself and had that traumatic experience, it's really a big blessing from God, and it's helping him to overcome his addictions! We can always look at our experiences in life as blessings or curses. My mission president shared this story with me and I loved it!
Sometimes we lack patience and perspective as we work with the Fathers children. This story helps me recognize why we should do both. Enjoy;
Blessing or Curse?
Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, because he owned a beautiful white horse. People offered fabulous prices for the horse, but the old man always refused. “This horse is a friend, not a possession,” he would respond.
One morning the horse was not in the stable. All the villagers said, “You old fool. We told you someone would steal that beautiful horse. You could at least have gotten the money. Now the horse is gone, and you’ve been cursed with misfortune.”
The old man responded, “Perhaps. All I know is that my horse is gone; the rest I do not know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can’t say.”
After fifteen days the horse returned. He hadn’t been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses back with him. Once again the village people gathered around the old man and said, “You were right – what we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us.” The old man responded, “Perhaps. Once again you’ve gone too far. How do you know if this is a blessing or a curse? Unless you can see the whole story, how can you judge?” But the people could only see the obvious. The old man now had twelve additional horses that could be broken and sold for a great deal of money.
The old man had a son, an only son. He began to break the wild horses. Unfortunately, after just a few days, he fell from a horse and broke both his legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and said, “You were right. The wild horses were not a blessing; they were a curse. Your only son has broken his legs and now in your old age you have no one to help you. You are poorer than ever.” But the old man said, “Perhaps. Don’t go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. We have only a fragment of the whole story.”
It so happened that a few weeks later the country went to war with a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he had two broken legs. Once again the people gathered around, crying because there was little chance their sons would return. “You were right, old man. Your son’s accident was a blessing. Our sons are gone forever.”
The old man spoke again. “You people are always quick to jump to conclusions. Only God knows the final story.”
And so it is with our lives. What we see as a blessing or a curse may simply be part of God preparing us for what lies ahead. Be careful in seeing “disaster” in any change. Just recognize it as change – which opens the door for good as well as bad – for gain as well as possible loss.
We may also reflect on how the Prophet Joseph Smith and his companions suffered greatly while in the Liberty Jail, but in many ways it was also a blessing, for the Liberty Jail became a “Prison Temple” where Joseph received great revelations and was refined to be an even greater prophet than he was before through this experience.
Likewise, the terrible suffering of Jesus at Gethsemane, his betrayal, trial, scourging, crucifixion and death left many of his disciples with the feeling that all that they had hoped for in the coming of the Messiah had been lost. In reality, it made possible the greatest blessing of all for mankind, the infinite atonement that overcame death and hell through the resurrection and the redemption from our sins.
Blessing or Curse?
Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, because he owned a beautiful white horse. People offered fabulous prices for the horse, but the old man always refused. “This horse is a friend, not a possession,” he would respond.
One morning the horse was not in the stable. All the villagers said, “You old fool. We told you someone would steal that beautiful horse. You could at least have gotten the money. Now the horse is gone, and you’ve been cursed with misfortune.”
The old man responded, “Perhaps. All I know is that my horse is gone; the rest I do not know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can’t say.”
After fifteen days the horse returned. He hadn’t been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses back with him. Once again the village people gathered around the old man and said, “You were right – what we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us.” The old man responded, “Perhaps. Once again you’ve gone too far. How do you know if this is a blessing or a curse? Unless you can see the whole story, how can you judge?” But the people could only see the obvious. The old man now had twelve additional horses that could be broken and sold for a great deal of money.
The old man had a son, an only son. He began to break the wild horses. Unfortunately, after just a few days, he fell from a horse and broke both his legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and said, “You were right. The wild horses were not a blessing; they were a curse. Your only son has broken his legs and now in your old age you have no one to help you. You are poorer than ever.” But the old man said, “Perhaps. Don’t go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. We have only a fragment of the whole story.”
It so happened that a few weeks later the country went to war with a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he had two broken legs. Once again the people gathered around, crying because there was little chance their sons would return. “You were right, old man. Your son’s accident was a blessing. Our sons are gone forever.”
The old man spoke again. “You people are always quick to jump to conclusions. Only God knows the final story.”
And so it is with our lives. What we see as a blessing or a curse may simply be part of God preparing us for what lies ahead. Be careful in seeing “disaster” in any change. Just recognize it as change – which opens the door for good as well as bad – for gain as well as possible loss.
We may also reflect on how the Prophet Joseph Smith and his companions suffered greatly while in the Liberty Jail, but in many ways it was also a blessing, for the Liberty Jail became a “Prison Temple” where Joseph received great revelations and was refined to be an even greater prophet than he was before through this experience.
Likewise, the terrible suffering of Jesus at Gethsemane, his betrayal, trial, scourging, crucifixion and death left many of his disciples with the feeling that all that they had hoped for in the coming of the Messiah had been lost. In reality, it made possible the greatest blessing of all for mankind, the infinite atonement that overcame death and hell through the resurrection and the redemption from our sins.
I hope you enjoyed the story! I love you so much and I pray for you everyday! Have an amazing week and be happy!
Love, Elder Litster
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