Christian Courage- Robert D. Hales

In defending our beliefs on family we must defend them with love.  

Elder Hales said that "Opposition brings Opportunities".  

Though he was using this as an example when it came to worldly persecution, I believe it's true within the relationships and circumstances within the family as well.  

The family is under attach.  

If we use this same counsel and perspective within our families we will begin to see things very differently. 

I love this book!

One of the questions that the author asks is:

"Could it be that the PROBLEM is really the SOLUTION?"

I have reflected on this over and over again.  

With this is mind we could change Elder Hales words to...

"Is it possible that this opposition will bring about needed opportunities?"

A few years ago my husband and I were really struggling.  

Look, marriage is difficult, I don't think anyone would deny that.  

It takes work and there are ups and downs.

Financially things were strained.

Our children were difficult at this stage.  They were also expensive!

We have a disabled child that required a lot of us emotionally. 

We were so busy with work, family and callings, we had very little time to spend together.  

We were pushing ourselves, and sometimes we each felt VERY unappreciated.  

This was not a short period of time.  There wasn't a quick fix! 

It was a stage of life, and stages don't just end because we wish they would. 

Financially things got worse. 

Instead of making our relationship worse we found that we started praying more fervently together. 

Individual burdens became more evident, resulting in compassion felt more sincerely.  

We became more unified, we made goals, and there was more praying and fasting between us. 

Not just for ourselves, but for each other.
We stopped thinking about ourselves, and started thinking about each other.

Our relationship strengthened.  Priorities became more clear. Humility and gratitude grew.

Miracles came.

Not the kind of miracles we expected, but miracles just the same.

(I want to make sure that I BOLD that because it's important to
remember that miracles don't always come in the package we want or expect).  

So how about that though...

The solution really was found in the problems.  

The opposition really did bring about opportunities.