Hang Tough, Hang In and Hang On

Everyone I know in my little fam, myself included, is a little tired and burned out. It is, after all, Spring and that is the beginning of long work days for ld. He is busy, busy and more than a little crotchety as a result. Finals keep Kenz and Megs and their hubbys up late writing papers and studying. When you throw in our new Cate in the mix, you can see not much sleep is happening. I shouldn’t be pooped, have no reason really, but I am. Seems like it’s enough just watching those I love being pushed and pulled in every direction. It drives me to the couch in weariness.

But it will all be over soon. Finals will come and go, ld will adjust to his workload, Cate will start sleeping through the night soon. Well, okay I lied about that part. Rather, Kenz will learn to nap when baby does.

So in honor of all my dear fam, those who are messed up, depressed, discouraged, stressed out, burned out, mentally strained, physically drained, and spiritually out of sorts (in other words those exactly like me) here is something to encourage and lift you.

Elder Holland gave this talk years ago at a BYU devotional. It’s especially applicable today as it speaks to our current brain strain and heart pain.

We speak about excellence a great deal at BYU these days, and, by definition, excellence does not come easily or quickly—an excellent education does not, a successful mission does not, a strong, loving marriage does not, rewarding personal relationships do not. It is simply a truism that nothing very valuable can come without significant sacrifice and effort and patience on our part. Perhaps you discovered that when you got your grades last month. Maybe in other ways you are finding that many of the most hoped-for rewards in life can seem an awfully long time coming.

My concern this morning is that you will face some delays and disappointments at this formative time in your life and feel that no one else in the history of mankind has ever had your problems or faced those difficulties. And when some of those challenges come, you will have the temptation common to us all to say, "This task is too hard. The burden is too heavy. The path is too long." And so you decide to quit, simply to give up. Now to terminate certain kinds of tasks is not only acceptable but often very wise. If you are, for example, a flagpole sitter then I say, "Come on down." But in life's most crucial and telling tasks, my plea is to stick with it, to persevere, to hang in and hang on, and to reap your reward. Or to be slightly more scriptural:

Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days. [D&C 64:33­34]

I am asking you this morning not to give up "for ye are laying the foundation of a great work." That "great work" is you—your life, your future, the very fulfillment of your dreams. That "great work" is what, with effort and patience and God's help, you can become. When days are difficult or problems seem unending, I plead with you to stay in the harness and keep pulling. You are entitled to "eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days," but it will require your heart and a willing mind. It will require that you stay at your post and keep trying.

(To view the rest of his excellent speech go to: http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6877)

He essentially is saying to Hang in and Hang on. Gotta love that. Laminate that to your foreheads or staple it to your heart and remember your ‘lil mommy’s mantra lo these many years: Nothing is long that has an end. : )