My heart is full today. Every night as I close my day I say a prayer of gratitude. I’m so grateful for the amazing blessings that fill my life that there are days it’s difficult to welcome sleep because of the excitement of my blessings! Everyday I wake I feel gratitude swell in my heart. I begin each and every day with a prayer of gratitude. There were days in years past when I had difficulty leaving the comfort of my bed because I was in need of emotional comfort.

For those of you who know me, you know I’m a religious person. I love the scriptures and the support I receive from them, especially in situations where I might feel distress. Today my heart is full of many emotions for my many friends, clients, associates and family members who at the moment are living their day to day lives without a companion.

In years past, I taught an early morning religion class to high school students. Seminary, as it is called, was a fun and grueling experience. There were things in the curriculum that I taught that have stayed with me throughout the years. One such scripture, found in 2 Timothy 3:3. At the time that I taught that lesson, we were all truly babes – having complete innocence to what was to come. Here are the verses:

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

It was interesting to read this at the time with my young students, we wondered what kind of a world it would be. It is daunting to now live in this prophesied and now realized world. I’m grateful for the many men who have grown towards the Lord in their progression through their lives, but I also sorrow for the many men who have fallen into these prophesies – good men! It is truly the cause for so many women’s sorrows. It’s amazing to me how many single women there are today – and single men, too! Men or women who will not commit to one person and have the opportunity to grow together as one and reap the blessings and increase in the bonds of love because they fear divorce or being with someone that isn’t ideal. There are no ideal people out there. We were meant to overlook our imperfections and only see the divine in others. We were meant to have a mate to grow with for there are areas of growth that can only be obtained through a committed marital relationship.

I draw on the strength I receive from reading and striving to understand how the scriptures apply to my life. I relish in the strength I receive from understanding the Atonement applies to me personally – to lift me when low, and to direct me when life gets tough. I’m grateful I have lived the blessing of having a companion who is devoted to me, who puts up with me and yet still loves me, who has been angry or extremely frustrated with me yet has not given up on me the past 40 years. I know this is becoming more rare in our current world. It is my hope and prayer that men & women who have fallen into the prophesied trap will realize the path they are on, and change their path!

Grateful for my dear husband of 40 years… I love you, Baby!