The hills in our lives
Why hello everyone! I hope that you had an amazing Thanksgiving this last week! I know I sure did! This last Thanksgiving was definitely one to remember, for multiple reasons! One, I sprained my ankle pretty darn bad haha! Two, we got to meet with some way cool families! Lastly, I learned some really cool spiritual lessons!
Let's start at the beginning. There I am, head in the game for the Turkey Bowl... it is the 3rd play of the first quarter. Needless to say, the game is close (0-0). I am on defense making sure no ball flies past my head! I lock eyes with the quarterback and can see him looking at someone to my left. I start to shuffle that direction. Boom, the ball is launched into the air and the pig skin has a pretty nice spiral to it! The sun is in my eyes but I'm too focused to care. I go up in the air, my hands make contact with the ball, but then, a 3rd player comes in from the side and jumps. His velocity bumps me to the side and I land a second before he does. One of his feet lands on the ground, the other lands on my ankle, twisting it into oblivion! Just like that, number 23 Luke Steadman is out for the game! I hobble off to the side and quickly realize that my right ankle is double the size of my left one. I try to stand up but I can't put any pressure on my right ankle. That is it... game over.
That was how my Thanksgiving started haha! And for everyone's information, I did catch the ball and I did get the interception! So, was it worth it? Of course! Besides the interception, there have actually been some really cool lessons I've learned from this!
When we were leaving the field, I literally couldn't put any weight on my foot. My companion, Elder Bartley, helped support me on my right side so I could hop along with my left foot. But it wasn't super comfortable, and staring in front of me was the final obstacle between me and the car. A LARGE grass hill, both steep and long! Looking at it, I was wondering how on earth I was going to hop up this hill! Just when all seemed pretty darn lost, two missionaries (Elder Hiner and Elder Bunch) came up with the idea to carry me. They put their arms together and made a chair for me. And with me sitting down, they started up the long hill. Now remember, I'm no slim fella, but with some red faces, Elder Hiner and Elder Bunch got me to the top of the hill! They ended by saying, "Okay, let's put IT down," which was a little offensive... being called "it," but I was so grateful for the help, it didn't matter haha;)
Just like how there was no physical way I could get up that hill by myself, there are often many hills in our lives that seem insurmountable! We all have our challenges, trials, and difficulties! Whether that be physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, or social. We all have challenges! I felt like I was at a point in my life where I was at the top of the hill, but over just the past couple of weeks, I've realized I have another couple hills ahead of me. I've got some physical hills, some mental hills, emotional, etc. There have just been a couple things that have felt like I got pushed down and now I'm staring at a hill. I won't lie, it's been tough! I thought I was done with this whole hill climbing thing haha!
Well, just like I needed Elder Hiner and Elder Bunch to help me up the physical hill with my ankle, we need the Savior to carry us up our own individual hills! I know He'll carry me because He has each time in the past. Sometimes it's hard to feel/see in the moment, but I've always been able to look back and see His tender mercies guiding me continually!
I love the word "succor" in the scriptures. One of my favorite verses is found in the Book of Mormon. It's Alma 7:12 and it says, "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to SUCCOR his people according to their infirmities." In this verse, it provides additional reasoning (one of many reasons) the Savior performed the atonement. The Atonement of Christ allows our Savior to know "how to SUCCOR his people according to their infirmities."
Let's start at the beginning. There I am, head in the game for the Turkey Bowl... it is the 3rd play of the first quarter. Needless to say, the game is close (0-0). I am on defense making sure no ball flies past my head! I lock eyes with the quarterback and can see him looking at someone to my left. I start to shuffle that direction. Boom, the ball is launched into the air and the pig skin has a pretty nice spiral to it! The sun is in my eyes but I'm too focused to care. I go up in the air, my hands make contact with the ball, but then, a 3rd player comes in from the side and jumps. His velocity bumps me to the side and I land a second before he does. One of his feet lands on the ground, the other lands on my ankle, twisting it into oblivion! Just like that, number 23 Luke Steadman is out for the game! I hobble off to the side and quickly realize that my right ankle is double the size of my left one. I try to stand up but I can't put any pressure on my right ankle. That is it... game over.
That was how my Thanksgiving started haha! And for everyone's information, I did catch the ball and I did get the interception! So, was it worth it? Of course! Besides the interception, there have actually been some really cool lessons I've learned from this!
When we were leaving the field, I literally couldn't put any weight on my foot. My companion, Elder Bartley, helped support me on my right side so I could hop along with my left foot. But it wasn't super comfortable, and staring in front of me was the final obstacle between me and the car. A LARGE grass hill, both steep and long! Looking at it, I was wondering how on earth I was going to hop up this hill! Just when all seemed pretty darn lost, two missionaries (Elder Hiner and Elder Bunch) came up with the idea to carry me. They put their arms together and made a chair for me. And with me sitting down, they started up the long hill. Now remember, I'm no slim fella, but with some red faces, Elder Hiner and Elder Bunch got me to the top of the hill! They ended by saying, "Okay, let's put IT down," which was a little offensive... being called "it," but I was so grateful for the help, it didn't matter haha;)
Just like how there was no physical way I could get up that hill by myself, there are often many hills in our lives that seem insurmountable! We all have our challenges, trials, and difficulties! Whether that be physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, or social. We all have challenges! I felt like I was at a point in my life where I was at the top of the hill, but over just the past couple of weeks, I've realized I have another couple hills ahead of me. I've got some physical hills, some mental hills, emotional, etc. There have just been a couple things that have felt like I got pushed down and now I'm staring at a hill. I won't lie, it's been tough! I thought I was done with this whole hill climbing thing haha!
Well, just like I needed Elder Hiner and Elder Bunch to help me up the physical hill with my ankle, we need the Savior to carry us up our own individual hills! I know He'll carry me because He has each time in the past. Sometimes it's hard to feel/see in the moment, but I've always been able to look back and see His tender mercies guiding me continually!
I love the word "succor" in the scriptures. One of my favorite verses is found in the Book of Mormon. It's Alma 7:12 and it says, "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to SUCCOR his people according to their infirmities." In this verse, it provides additional reasoning (one of many reasons) the Savior performed the atonement. The Atonement of Christ allows our Savior to know "how to SUCCOR his people according to their infirmities."
Now, what in the world does the word succor mean? I think that Elder Holland (a modern day apostle for Jesus Christ) gives a beautiful explanation. He says, "To succor means to 'run to." How cool is that?! I can quite literally picture the Savior running to me in my trials! He doesn't waste time. He is intimately aware of our pains and trials. He doesn't want us to go through them alone. I find myself on my knees at the base of my hill(s) pleading with Heavenly Father for Heavenly assistance. And each and every time, Jesus comes running in... picking me up from off my knees and getting ready to go up the hill WITH me. I'm so unbelievably grateful for my Savior. I'm grateful for the individual relationship I have with Him! I KNOW that everyone can have an individual relationship with Him, He stands ready to run to you in your trials!
I want to end by adding my testimony to Elder Holland's when he says, "I testify that in my fears and in my infirmities, the Savior has surely run to me. I will never be able to thank Him enough for such personal kindness and such loving care." I couldn't say it better myself! I know that my Savior is so aware of the hills I'm staring at right now! I know He's run to me and I know that I'm never alone! And you aren't either:)
Have an amazing week! Your Savior loves you so much! Never forget that! He is running to you at this very moment! Love you all!
再见,
Elder Steadman
I want to end by adding my testimony to Elder Holland's when he says, "I testify that in my fears and in my infirmities, the Savior has surely run to me. I will never be able to thank Him enough for such personal kindness and such loving care." I couldn't say it better myself! I know that my Savior is so aware of the hills I'm staring at right now! I know He's run to me and I know that I'm never alone! And you aren't either:)
Have an amazing week! Your Savior loves you so much! Never forget that! He is running to you at this very moment! Love you all!
再见,
Elder Steadman
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