Keep on keeping on!

Recently, I lost a dear friend. Earlier this year, I lost an Aunt and my paternal Grandmother. It has been a hard year for all of us, hasn't it? My friend was named Elder Kronmiller when I met him. He and his wife worked with us in the mission office while I was in Wellington New Zealand. As we would leave the office each day, we would hear these words from this wonderful senior couple, "Keep on keeping on!" Their marriage was based on this merit. Another couple that replaced my companion and I in the mission office had their own family motto. This one was rather humorous when I first heard it, because it sounded so cliche. However, after getting married me, I understand their anthem a little better now. They would always say to each other, "It's going to be okay"

Little did I know that those words would incorporate themselves into my own marriage. Frances deals with some debilitating anxiety attacks every so often. When I am there consoling her, she often finds solace when I say that she will be okay. To which she will echo, "I'm okay, I'm okay." Friends, family, these moments with Frances are sacred to me. Things will be okay, there is a time and a season for everything, even a terrible pandemic that seems to disrupt the very fabric of society. 

Chapter 8 of the Textbook we are reading for my class asks the question: "Should I keep trying to Work It Out?" Yes! 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% times yes! Now, there are times and circumstances where you might have to consider cutting ties. However, those are special. They require prayerful consideration. I believe that if we try and emulate what God does for us, we will find and build stronger and healthier relationships. He does not give up on me. Even though I fail each day. I sin, I make mistakes, repeatedly. But He does not give up on me, He will see me through to the very end and give me as many chances as I choose to accept.

Try not to give up on people so easily, God does not give up on you so easily.