Faith and Trials by Deanna Webb Mills

 Hello again,

Yesterday I drove my mom to Tabiona to attend the funeral of Wilma Webb, Aunt Deanna's baby sister.  Because of my mom's first marriage to Dale, and having Aunt Deanna as her sister in-law twice, we have been invited to the Webb Family reunions and have run into Uncle Len, Aunt Deanna and their awesome kids' and families over the years.

As I thought about what to share from that branch of the tree today, I felt that sharing Aunt Deanna's contribution was fitting.  She spoke very lovingly about her sister at yesterday's funeral and the title of her story is good advice for all of us on how to handle trials.

Enjoy!  (PS - Aunt Deanna - I should have snapped a picture of you yesterday at the funeral - you looked gorgeous!)  Please send me a picture of your choice to include).

Faith and Trials

 

By Deanna Webb Mills

1969, 2006

 

In this life it seems that we each in one way or another face some trials. I think about the times that I have had to face one trial or another, I honestly feel that our Father in Heaven knows how we will react to those trials but that maybe we need to know for ourselves how we will react. I have often thought of life as a big ball game and that the coach only wants the very best players on his team. After all, it's all about winning, right? The coach wants to know that he can depend on us to do our best in any situation. He has to know that our heart and our head is in the game. This to me is like the Big Coach in Heaven. He is looking for the best players to be on His team.

 

As I thought of the times that I had to exercise faith, my first thoughts go to when Justin was born. We had 3 healthy boys and there was no reason not to expect the same results again. But (big BUT given the situation), that wasn't what happened. We went through weeks anxiously watching this little guy struggle for life itself. It's so hard when you beg God to save your baby and know that everyone doesn't always get their prayers answered the way they want them answered. Knowing that He is in charge and He knows best. I know that every prayer that we uttered our heart was saying, "Please God hear my prayer and answer it my way". But before we would close our prayers we always said, "Thy will be done." I would almost choke on those words. My Mothers heart wanted what I wanted, but I knew that God was in control . I learned a very valuable lesson. That trusting in the will of God was for the very best. This truly takes an act of faith on our part. This lesson has stayed with me to this very day. Just one more experience to share my thought on faith. While we were on our Mission in St. George, Utah, Brandon called his Dad and said "I guess it's my turn." He was talking about his older brother Justin and his experience with divorce and the way it was tearing Justin’s world apart. At this time Brandon was holding down a full-time job and I'm not sure where he was with his schooling. Now all of a sudden here he was faced with 3 small children ages 4, 7, and 10. Their Mother had decided she wanted to be free. No babies and no marriage to tie her down. She was out the door. I struggled with knowing how hard it was becoming for Brandon to work all day and then be faced with coming home to 3 needy children. This also didn't answer how he was supposed to find someone to care for these little ones during the day or else he would have to take the time off of work to stay home when a sitter fell through. He had to cook meals for the kids, clean clothes for them along with every other thing that Moms do every day all day long. Probably the hardest thing was facing these children who had just had their world turned upside down right along with his crazy world. This Mom couldn't stand to see another son go through all these hard, hard experiences, especially if there was something that I could do. I told Len that I was going home and he could stay on the mission. But I felt like my place was with my family. How could I go every day and act like everything was wonderful. My family needed me. I was pleading, "Please Father, help me know how to approach the Mission Director. What do I need to say to him?" Little did I know that God was already working on a solution. As I was lying in bed one morning, of course crying and trying to get God to understand my feelings, a voice spoke to me. The voice was so plain and very clear. It was as if whoever was speaking was standing right by my side. The voice said, "Don't worry. I will take care of it." A peace flooded over me. All thoughts of going home were gone. Of course, I wondered what would happen, but within a little over 2 weeks Brandon called and ask if we minded if he brought a girl down to meet us. The only thing that shocked me was how quickly my prayer was answered. Brandon brought Michele down to meet us and the rest is history. Yes, prayers are answered and sometimes there is even a bonus. Michele stepped into the children's lives and has filled that awful void for both them and their Dad. That is not all the bonus Justin also met a wonderful girl and she too filled a void for another son. This family needed them both. I'm so blessed. Not only did I get a two for one answers but now I have 5 wonderful daughters. I feel like they are all my own. Who could ask for more? I marvel that God is so mindful of each one of us and our every need. I want Him to know that I am on His team.

I will still accept stories until I print the book - and honestly, this has been so rewarding for me, even after, I could still keep sharing stories in email and post them on the blog until I run out of stories.  Let's see where this goes!  Reply to this email or call me at 801-414-9048.  Or complete the form.

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!

Valerie