remember that time

Sometimes when I take a good, hard look at my life and don't understand why things are the way they are or wish that they were different, I ask myself remember that time...?

Remember that time when you were four years old and your mom told you that all three babies were boys and you threw a fit and ran to your bedroom and cried because all you wanted was one lousy sister goshdarnit? And then it turned out that you have the three coolest younger brothers in existence?

Remember that time when you were twelve and you moved houses and consequently had to change schools and wards and you were certain that you'd never again have friends at school or church? And then you turned out to have even more and even better friends in both places, some of who are still your closest friends today?

Remember that time when you were fourteen and you were required to switch schools and you threw a fit and petitioned the school board and were certain it was the end of your existence as a happy, relatively well adjusted teenager? And then it turned out to be the the best possible thing that could have happened to fourteen-year-old you because you were able to form and strengthen some of the most important friendships in your life?

Remember that time when you were nineteen and your friend told you that she didn't want to live with you after all and you were devastated and felt worthless and cast aside? And then you chose a new place to live, and because of that change in location you met some of your favorite people on the planet who've had monumental impacts on your life?

Remember that time your roommate decided to go on a mission after fall semester and you felt abandoned and lonely and didn't think you would ever again have a happy living situation? And then the girl that moved in was (and still is) the bomb.com and listens to your crazy theories on life and the English language and quotes She's the Man like a champ?

Remember that time when you were twenty and you searched for a job for months and months only to get rejected again and again, and you were convinced that Heavenly Father forgot about you and your monetary needs? And then you landed an amazing job that gives you actual experience for what you actually want to do with your life, and on top of that has an amazing boss and amazing coworkers and raffles at staff meetings and Friday parties?

Remember those times when you felt rejected, alone, forgotten, unwanted, or worthless? Those times when all felt lost and nothing felt right and you forgot how to love yourself? Remember those times when somebody hurt you or betrayed you or left you out in the cold? Remember those times when you were doing everything right and everything was still going wrong? Remember those times you suffered and thought you suffered alone? And then you felt Christ's arms around you, holding you, comforting you, and reminding you that you're worth something and that He's always by your side. Remember those times?

And when I remember those times, I can tell myself once again that everything works out in the end and that I'm not alone and that Heavenly Father will never forget me.