Never never never never never give up

There are times in your life where your faith will be tested.  You have experienced it before, you will experience it again… times where you will have just picked yourself up from a terrible blow just to be knocked down again.  I have been there with you.  

Alma 32:28-34 contains my favorite scriptures on faith.  This comparison of faith to a seed speaks to my soul.  It paints such a pretty picture; however, as a gardener I also know that it isn’t always as easy as planting, watering, and allowing the sun to shine for a seed to grow.  You really need to want it to and sometimes the fight to allow that seed to grow requires hard work.  Weeds, pests, and storms all have to be dealt with.  

I love this story told by President Ezra Taft Benson.  It is about a lesson he learned from his aunt.  She lived on a farm and her family survived on the food they grew.  One particular year, seed was scarce.  She had just finished planting her peas in the spring.  She was back inside the house and saw out the kitchen window the rooster walking down the row of peas she had just planted. He was eating the seeds from the dirt.  She did not hesitate, but went right out, chopped off the rooster’s head, opened him up, found the seeds, replanted them, and then cooked up the rooster for dinner.

This story is a bit shocking, but I LOVE the lesson it teaches.  Reading on in Alma 32 we are instructed about the importance of nourishing the word.  It truly does take diligence and patience along with our faith to “reap the rewards,” so get up.  Plant those seeds of faith.  Nourish them.  Fight for them!