In His Plan, There are No True Endings, Only Everlasting Beginnings.

Yesterday my wedding anniversary came and went, and would've marked 4 years of marriage. It felt strange that a year ago I was celebrating the day with my husband and now, he is somewhat like a stranger to me. Although I will never forget him, sometimes I wish I could. Never before had I truly understood the pain of a broken heart, and now I've experienced even the physical pain of it, the lack of appetite, the pit in your gut, and a heart that is now more reserved, more timid, more fearful of feeling too deeply, but still hopeful that healing will happen with time.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke of living life in gratitude, no matter the circumstances.  There are times in life when and ending of something brings great sorrow. The end of a loved one's mortal life, the end of hope of maybe marrying or having children. Or for me the end of a relationship, a marriage. He offers gratitude as a soothing balm during difficult times. His words ring true to me:

We can choose to be grateful, no matter what. 

This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer.

When we are grateful to God In our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ's Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven's embrace. 

We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain? 

Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.

This is not gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind. 

I also appreciate what he said later in his address, that because we are eternal beings, it makes sense that the endings of life cause some of the bitterest pain.

In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bittern endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings.

Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny. The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruption--temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.

How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings.

I also am so grateful for Heavenly Father's plan, and for the hope the gospel brings. gratitude is a catalyst to all other Christ-like attributes. Gratitude, therefore increases hope, which increases my happiness and peace. I love my Savior.