November 4th

#4: I am grateful for faith.
This post is going to be intensely personal.
I can honestly say that I hate something. It's only one thing, but I truly despise it: Leukemia.
I hate this disease with a passion. I hate what it does to my sister and my family, but especially my little sister.
This weekend is a big one for my family as my dad will be getting released from being Stake President for the past 9 and 1/2 years, and we are so excited, but Leukemia is right there with us.
Contrary to our desires, my sister Katelyn had to go into the hospital last night due to fevers thanks to Leukemia. We are praying that the fevers will subside and that she won't throw up any more so that they will release her by tomorrow( Saturday) evening, instead of Sunday morning, so that maybe she could come to the very first part of church on Sunday.
I was over at my parents home yesterday when they were trying to figure out if she had a temperature or not. I hate seeing my little sister so sad, so sick, when she really is so very strong. Seeing her pulls at my every heart string. I love her and I hate Leukemia.
This is one of those moments when I wish I could take it away from her, and the effects of it away from her and my family. Because there are times when it is very hard and all you want to do is destroy it. For me that is where Faith comes in. Katelyn is killing Leukemia. Her body is winning. Leukemia is just giving her a good fight this week.
The scriptures teach that faith is to hope for things which are not seen but are true. The first Principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to have faith in Jesus Christ. It is through faith that I know that Jesus Christ can strengthen my sister and heal her. And strengthen us. There are lots of times in our lives where God desires to strengthen or test our faith and those times usually don't come at the moments we feel we are ready for them:) I guess that there would be no true growth that way.
Having faith in Jesus Christ carries an assurance of the fulfillment of things hoped for. It is only through the Savior Jesus Christ, that we have power given to us to help us meet life's challenges. He, the Master Physician, can heal us physically and spiritually. And even when we may doubt the level of our own faith, in our hardest moments, we can ask Him "Help Thou mine unbelief." My faith is not perfect by any means, but I have faith in One who is. I am grateful for faith, especially for faith in Jesus Christ.