Come What May, And Love It

     Over the President's Day weekend earlier this year, our 14U Chargers team went to Las Vegas for a tournament. My brother, Tyler, was especially excited to get a new season started and get ready for high school tryouts. We've been working together on his pitching ever since he started playing, and he's turned into one of the smartest baseball players I know. When he's on the mound, he takes control of the game, he locates his pitches well, and he gets outs. I was excited to watch him again and we gave him a start in our third game in Las Vegas. Like he does, he recorded the first out on the lead-off hitter. He then recorded the second out with some help from his defense, and ended the inning with a strikeout. I was a proud big brother and waited for him to jog in. As he approached me, he was grabbing at his shoulder in pain. I pulled him aside and he was explaining what happened. During the second batter, he felt a little pop in his shoulder and the pain was too great to go back in the game. It hurt to throw, but he could still swing his bat. For the rest of the tournament, Tyler was our DH and was hitting really well. In March, we went to Arizona for another tournament where Tyler also served as our DH. However, his pain was growing worse and he went to get an MRI. When the results came back, his doctor said that Tyler had a SLAP tear. He would need surgery to fix it, and his season is done. This was overwhelming news for all of us, as we rely on Tyler's leadership among the players. On a personal level, it was emotional for me because this is the year that players get ready for high school tryouts, and Tyler has been working so hard. Tyler's reaction has been positive, and he still contributes to the team in different ways. His reaction reminded me about how we should all react when unexpected things come our way.

     In October 2008, Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a talk titled, "Come What May, and Love It". He talks about how trials and struggles will come, but our attitude is what decides the outcome. "The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life." Elder Wirthlin opens his talk by talking about his mother's counsel that he received from her when his sports teams were down. He explains that one day, his football team went home after losing a tough game. Elder Wirthlin was discouraged and poured out his feelings to his loving mother. She listened and reminded him of what she had always taught him and the other children. "She taught her children to trust in themselves and each other, not blame others for their misfortunes, and give their best effort in everything they attempted......Joseph, come what may, and love it." 

     Elder Wirthlin then gives four ways that can help us endure to the end among trials and hardships. They are: Learn to laugh, seek for the eternal, the principle of compensation, and trust in the Father and the Son. Learning to laugh in hard situations can ease the pain or lift the spirits of those around you. Elder Wirthlin talks about when they would take a wrong turn on a road trip, they would laugh instead of groan. Seeking for the eternal means that we learn gospel principles when God gives us trials. Look to Jesus Christ and God, with a good attitude, and learn from them. The principle of compensation is an interesting one. Elder Wirthlin says, "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." The last thing is trust the Father and the Son. Heavenly Father knows all about trials, as He gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for all mankind. I imagine it was hard seeing him struggle and be persecuted every day of his life. However, he knew the eternal importance of Jesus Christ's trials and sufferings. On the other side, Jesus Christ bore all of those trials like the man he was always destined to be. Never complaining, never looking left or right, but always praying to his Father. They know how you feel, and can be the best source of comfort.

     As for Tyler, he is in the process of all four of these steps. Even though he doesn't show it, I imagine this trial is very hard for him. I know that Tyler can put himself in a mindset to learn the importance of this trial and what he can help others because of it. Maybe the Lord needs him focused on other things right now, or possibly it was just a test of Tyler's faith. Either way, I know there's a purpose. Elder Wirthlin concludes with these thoughts, I know why there must be opposition in all things. Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it."

Here is the url to Elder Wirthlin's talk:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng