In Sunday School today I heard something very interesting that really started to make me think. I decided to write a quote about it - 

"In our life we will most likely have more failures and trials than we have success. But it is not only the success, but the trials, that make it worth it."

 --Hannah Benge

Have you wrapped your mind around this at all yet? 

Its something that I have often pondered - what in life makes it worth living for each of us. I know it is worth it, and I always have, but I am always wondering what it is in life that does make it worth it for ME personally. Normally its the same answer - love. Love from my Heavenly Father, from my family, from my friends... Love FOR my family, for my Heavenly Father, for my friends.... This is what keeps me going. 

What does this have to do with success and failure? This idea about what makes life worth living hit me quickly and powerfully. Why? Because its true! Every hard experience I have had in life, every trial, every sorrow... I regret none of them so far. Why?  Because they are the stories that shape my life! And, as I said... even the most painful of experiences is filled with love. Every time I pray I feel love from my Heavenly Father. I have also been very blessed with a wonderful family, and they have loved me and supported me through rain and shine. But best of all, whether you believe you suffer alone or not, every experience is a single thread in the beautiful tapestry of life that we weave. And not a single strand can be taken out without the beauty of the weave being compromised.

I am now to determined to remember this. Someday, I will look back at this time in my life and feel JOY because of what I learned, what I did, and who I became. Even now I can feel joy as I slowly write my story line by line. I don't have to wait until I have some big success in order feel that my life is worth it. Life includes both good and bad, and like the quote says, (especially if you are judging your life by the world's standards), you are probably going to be a failure for your whole life. Maybe a few little success's here and there, but nothing so momentous that you are on the high of success for the rest of your days. And so, we have to learn that EVERY moment, both good or bad is worth it- is special, is unique, is VITAL for who we become.

I still wish that instead of the gray and black threads that I am sometimes given, I could always have a bright gold, or  a purple, or a red... But instead, God knows what is best. So its just a little green or blue thread here and there, with a lot of white, gray, black and brown. What we don't realize right now, is that when our tapestry (or life) is over, we will have created a beautiful mountain scene- with a dark lake, a towering summit, with those few golden threads creating the sun that pierces through the dark clouds - a picture of such overwhelming beauty we will wonder why we hated the dull threads that make up this masterpiece!