Mileena is our primary nurse and she has a Bible app where she studies certain plans. She’s been studying with us in mind and I like when she shares quotes with us. Last night’s was on embracing and wrestling in trials. I’ve thought of those two verbs since the conversation.

Wrestling is straight forward. You think of battling, fighting, struggling, and a lot of back and forth. You are up against an opponent, physically matched, sometimes outmatched. All of that makes sense when you connect it to trials and trying to wrestle through the faith or in prayers. My favorite person and verse and visual in the Book of Mormon is that of Enos and his wrestle before God. To me, it’s relatable and real.

Embracing is a different verb that I wouldn’t want to connect to trials. With embracing, I thinks of warmth and comfort. It’s more than a hug, but a sweet, tender connection where you latch and hold, not letting go for some time. It’s after a long separation, or during times of sadness and joy, or when affection is needed to give. But, why must we embrace a trial?

I think if we hold to a trial and view it as a comforting piece of affection, we might be more willing to accept it and then actually use it for growth. That same feeling of hope and love from a tender embrace can be felt when you embrace a trial as a transformative power. I have felt the Lord’s embrace more this last month than I had in many years prior. Likewise, I embrace sweet Navy or spunky Kai or my Heather with more affection, love and sincerity and can feel that reciprocated. 

Embracement has been my greatest joy and source for strength, but my hardest Christlike attribute to continually be mindful of, adopt and apply. When I embrace my loved ones, I’m physically embracing my trials. Spiritually, I embrace the reality of trials less days than otherwise, but I don’t believe I’m less Christian because I’m not always cheerful or positive in my trial. An embrace can be from a low, too. The other E verb with trials is to endure, which sometimes is all you can do.