Today I am very grateful to be surrounded by so many amazing people that I like to call my family.
I started out yesterday with a sore throat. I thought it was just because I woke up so early to go to the temple, and that it would warm up and be fine the rest of the day, but I was wrong. It progressively started feeling worse. Then my muscles started feeling sore and I started having aching pains in my back. My face couldn't be cooled and my head started to hurt. I tried to just ignore all these things, truly thinking it was just because I got up so early and hadn't had time for a nap, but by that night, I really just felt so sick.
We watched an episode of Bob Ross (I know, we're the coolest), and I thought that would relax me (because Bob Ross has the most soothing voice ever, and his paintings are gorgeous), but I just felt achy the whole time. The episode ended and I laid on our bean bag, started to feel every little pain, and I couldn't move very well. Stephanie helped me up real slow, but I still got light-headed and just felt like collapsing again. I filled up my water bottle and started making my way upstairs. Stephanie realized I wasn't doing to well and asked if I was okay. I just explained some of the things and she said to just go up to bed and get sleep.
Matthew had just started walking home when Stephanie asked if I wanted a blessing. I hadn't thought of it, and didn't know if I was truly sick enough to get a blessing or anything, and it was eleven o'clock at night and everyone was probably in bed/getting ready for bed and I didn't want to disturb them. But she called after Matthew to come back, and then went and got Trevor and Brooklyn. I sat on a chair in our front room, waiting for Trevor to come over. When he got there, he had brought Chaz too.
Trevor asked me some questions about how I was feeling, and they determined that I was in fact feeling sick, haha:) And then asked if what I wanted was to have a blessing to heal sickness with consecrated oil. I replied yes, and then he asked who I wanted to give the blessing. I almost felt bad for a second because I wanted Trevor and Matthew to, but I didn't want to make Chaz feel bad, but I realized that it was okay to ask for Trevor and Matthew to do it because I'm closer to them, and I think they knew I wanted those two to do it anyway. Trevor asked me if I wanted anyone to leave the room, which my first thought was to have my roommates leave, but then I just told everyone that they could stay if they were faithful about the blessing and that they wouldn't distract from the Spirit. I was able to ask that we start with an opening prayer, and chose Brooklyn to say it. Then Matthew consecrated the oil on my head, and then all three guys came over so Trevor could give me a beautiful blessing. I was so very emotional, from all the pain I was in, but also from the sweet Spirit and love I felt as those young men worthily blessed me. It meant so much to me to have them do such a thing for me.
After the blessing I got up, wiping tears from my face, and just wanted to squeeze them all so tight, but I also don't know if I'm contagious or anything. So I said that and started giving Matthew a handshake. He chuckled and said that he didn't care about that and pulled me into a hug. And so I gave them all hugs of love and thanks. It is an experience I don't think I'll forget.
As they were all leaving, they kept saying that if I needed anything at all, to just tell them and they would do it. They started saying they'd bring me cookies and brownies and chicken noodle soup, and they were just the cutest things. I love that I have a family here that wants to help me in anyway, and I know I would do the same for them because even though we've only known each other for a month, it feels like we've been a family forever.
I also gained a stronger testimony on always living worthily, so that at any given time, we may give or receive blessings through the Priesthood. I love that those young men were prepared at that very moment to give me a blessing; it brings so much comfort to me to know that I'm surrounded by worthy priesthood holders that are so willing to use that power to help others.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each of us so much, and even though they don't take your struggles from you (the blessing didn't immediately heal me, I'm still really sick this morning), they will bless you in so many other ways to help you have the strength to endure. The tender hand of the Lord is in the details of your life, you just have to look for them and live worthy of them. :)
