“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”

I know that blogs are better when they have pictures, but this time you might be grateful that I am NOT going to post a photo with what I write.

To make a long story short, a week ago my left thumb started to hurt and I knew that it was probably going to become swollen with infection. I started to soaking it in warm water, but the infection progressed in spite of my efforts. By the weekend it was pretty bad and getting exponentially "badder." Saturday morning we donated blood and then had a great day in the city, (which I will blog about tomorrow)in spite of the pain that sometimes made me want to cry. I had an impression that my thumb would start to heal as soon as I received a priesthood blessing, so I asked Roger for a blessing as soon as we got in our car to drive home. He did, and I waited, expecting it to look better that night or at least by Sunday morning. To my dismay, it didn't. It was so swollen that I thought it might be ready to drain, but no such luck.

On Sunday I showed it to a nurse after Church and called Amy because she had something similar a couple of years ago. When we got home, I called the 24 hour nurse-line and they recommended calling my Dr. who recommended going to the emergency room to get an antibiotic and some help draining it. Just as he suggested this, suddenly my thumb started draining. For the next hour I continued a process of soaking and draining it, and by the time I went to bed that night, it felt much better. It's not all healed yet, but it's on the way.

As I have reflected on what happened, I believe that my thumb did start to heal as soon as I received the blessing. It just didn't do it the way I expected and hoped. I didn't know that it would have to look worse along the way, or that it had to hurt more before it could start to feel better. I never doubted the blessing, because it was the Spirit that prompted me to ask for it, and I know that my faith is an active part of being healed. This experience reminded me that the Lord's ways may not be the ways I anticipate or expect.

I am experiencing this true principle in another way also. When we purchased our home 7-1/2 years ago I knew it was the "right" home for us. At the time, I thought our home was to be a financial investment that would facilitate serving missions. I watched over the years as its value increased, anticipating the financial gains ahead. As it turns out, I was wrong. In the 2 1/2 months it's been on the market, only once has anyone come to look at it. We lowered the price $40,000 in April and it looks like we will lower it by that same amount this week. At this point we are hoping that we will be able to sell it for as much as we bought it after paying the necessary fees.

What am I learning from this? I am learning that trusting the Lord is the ONLY way to go. It's the only thing that gives us HOPE and COMFORT and DIRECTION. We still don't know what's ahead for us, but we know that if we exercise our FAITH and TRUST Him everything will work out. And because of our knowledge and testimonies we are optimistic and grateful.