Some thoughts on trials

Trials:  sometimes they are so rough that we can only take them piece by piece, if we knew how hard it would be or how long it would last when we were just starting, it would be overwhelming.  We often don't choose to put ourselves in uncomfortable growing situations, but when they come, we realize we must just endure and get through it as best we can.  When it is over, we find we are much stronger and more capable than before.  We think that the trial being over is the blessing, but the real blessing is the strength and capacity we gained because of the trial.  It's actually a lot like exercising.  We put our body under stress, we tear our muscles, we push ourselves and it is super hard, but our body then recovers and gets stronger, faster, toner and can do so much more than it could before the exercise.  I also just realized that the time the body really strengthens and rebuilds muscle is during the recovery period.  I think that is the same with our spirits and minds, that we really gain strength as we learn to deal with our trials and then when they are over or we are at least in a smooth patch, we can think about it, analyze it and learn from it and thus be ready for more.  Just like when I look back at my life when I just had 1 or 2 babies and how easy that would be for me now that I manage 8, but it didn't seem easy then and it was going through all that that I have grown and my priorities have changed so that I can manage what I do now.  Also I think our trials give us perspective, and make us grateful.  I know I never thought I could be grateful to be able to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen, I just thought it was a chore and a pain.  But now appreciate that I can, because I went through times where I couldn't-- when I was pregnant with twins and way to large to bend over, and then when I was too sick to do a good job or care, and then when I was too busy with needful things to be able to do it.  So it doesn't seem like a chore to me anymore.  It feels like a luxury and I am glad I can keep up now, and I love having a clean (cleaner) house.