Friday, July 25, 2008

Sandbags...

Photo taken by: Kassie Kemp Cobabe

A few weeks ago, Julie, our sweet relief society teacher gave a lesson that really stuck with me. For me, principles seems to sink in much better when they are taught in metaphors...so when Julie used this metaphor in her lesson I was soaking it in....

She began by relating our lives to little pickup trucks heading down the road of life's happenings. As we're driving along, sand bags (challenges) get thrown into the beds of our trucks. More and more seem to get thrown our way, some big, some little. These bags weigh us down and can become burdensome. They make it difficult at times to continue...

She then went on to tell us... As we are trudging along in our little pickup trucks weighed down by the heavy challenges of sandbags, the road becomes slippery and steep, we soon realize we are climbing a mountain....with most pickup trucks this size, it would be impossible to make it up this mountain without sliding off, yet here we are, climbing...how? by the aid of sandbags. Eventually...with great effort our rickety little pickup trucks make it to the top safely. If those "sand bags" were not in the beds of our pick up trucks...we would have not had enough weight on the back tires to grip the ground and continue. The result could have been tragic. Yet because of the sandbags, which were challenges before, worked for our own good...and were the key in ascending the mountain.

I was so excited when I heard this concept...and since then I haven't been able to get it out of my head. It was so cool...We can do this! So thank you for letting me share it! Hopefully I didn't retell it so badly that it didn't make any sense. I know that our life's challenges seem unexpected and make it difficult to continue...it sometimes feels down right impossible...but I know that Heavenly Father has so much love for his children and is helping us in our every step... And I know this challenge is another "sandbag" in the bed of our little pickup truck...and while it weighs us down, somehow, it will aid us in giving our "back tires" a good "grip" while climbing life's "slippery mountains."

Thank you Julie for helping me understand this principle.

Update:

It's been a week now that Mike has been going to Neuroworx and boy they don't mess around...he was thrown right in to the saddle. It's going to take some work for him to get used to...but he's lov'n every minute of it! The staff at Neuroworx are awesome...they're like one big family up there! The place specializes in spinal chord injuries (SCI) so we've been able to meet people who have the same level of injury as Mike as well as other amazing people with lower and higher levels of injuries. It's really been able to put things into perspective!

So far the three new muscles are still the latest news...which is fantastic!

Here's a little of what Mike's been doing up there...I tried to get music on it...but as many of you know...when uploading movies...you can't have everything.




Thank you Mike for being so patient with me pulling the camera out every time you did something amazing! Love you!

7 comments:

Rachel and Jared said...

Way to go Mike. Love the video that is great! I am so glad that Mike is finally doing rehab. Let me know if he needs a rub. Love ya,

Rach

The Rasmussen Family said...

What an amazing story, I love the lesson too! I really miss seeing you guys! Please let me know what your address is, so when I make a trip to PG I can call and stop by...oh yeah, don't have your recent cell number either...Great job Mike!!! You look amazing!

Jason & Kelli West said...

I'm so happy to hear that the therapy is going well. I really like that lesson. I love how sandbags can really help us in the end by making us strong! I never thought of it all that way. I think it is so great how posotive you stay! Michelle you are awesome! We need to get together sometime!

Kaylynn said...

Michelle, the pic at the beginning of this post is so adorable. You and your kids look so happy! I am so excited that Mike is doing so well! Keep up the good work!

Shambonies said...

Michelle!! Hi I havent talked to you in days.. and i need to call you.. and i just want to tell you that i love you and your blogging it is all so inspirational hmm i dont know if i spelled that right but any ways i am so amazed at the person that you are!! you are awsome i am happy to be your friend!! love ya steph

The Gomes Family said...

What a great analogy, I think my sand bags are smaller compared to yours and that puts things into perspective for me. We were looking through old photos the other day and there was one were we and the Kemp's went to the lake and there was Mike playing in the water. It broke our hearts, I had comfort in knowing that he will walk again, maybe not next week or today but soon. How comforting is that to know. What a strong cousin I have and what a stong wife my cousin has. Muaahhhh to you both!

Becky said...

Amazing and beautiful, just like you!
Keep moving forward, Mike. You are the man!