I was cleaning out my inbox on my hotmail account.  I had over 300 emails and I was deleted a page at a time, until I noticed this one email.  I subscribe to a ldscopywork yahoo group.  We used copywork during our homeschooling.  You get a scripture or qoute or something and the child writes it down word per word.  That teaches handwriting, grammer and they can read a worthwhile piece too.  Anyway, I still get these even though I only homeschool chris and he doesn't do copywork, but he does use them when he needs to have an inspirational thought for seminary.

Anyway..I just read this one and it hit a cord in me. 

Faith is a very personal thing that comes and goes sometimes.  Life changing events can grow it or destroy it.  Sometimes only little changes can grow it or destroy it.  I have had both instances.

One that comes to mind is when my brother in law and sister in law had their twins and one passed away at the age of 2 days.  I broke down..somedays I would be driving around and I couldn't see the road because the tears would just come down.  Soon after that my friend had a still born baby.  It was hard, but the blessing was that I had turned to scripture when my nephew passed and I think I was more prepared to help my friend, even if it was just to be there for her.  It was hard, and I did question God, but I allowed the anwers to come.  Sometimes, the bitterness, and anger stop the ability to just listen to what God wants you to know, and to learn. 

So..this qoute reminded me of that.

Neil L. Andersen: 
Several years ago a friend of mine had a young daughter die in a 
tragic accident. Hopes and dreams were shattered. My friend felt 
unbearable sorrow. He began to question what he had been taught and 
what he had taught as a missionary. The mother of my friend wrote me a 
letter and asked if I would give him a blessing. As I laid my hands 
upon his head, I felt to tell him something that I had not thought 
about in exactly the same way before. The impression that came to me 
was: Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision. He would need to 
choose faith. (bold mine)

My friend did not know everything, but he knew enough. He chose the 
road of faith and obedience. He got on his knees. His spiritual 
balance returned.

It has been several years since that event. A short time ago I 
received a letter from his son who is now serving a mission. It was 
full of conviction and testimony. As I read his beautiful letter, I 
saw how a father's choice of faith in a very difficult time had deeply 
blessed the next generation.