Of Pickles & Paper Cuts

 

So in Alma 37 verse 6 it says: "I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..."  

This scripture is so true... and this is how I know:

Because of pickles and paper cuts. 

I probably should explain... Pickles and paper cuts happen to have something in common- they are both very small and simple things! And because of God's goodness, He has used these small and simple things to teach me great lessons at different points in my mortal life. 

Lesson Number One: Paper Cuts Hurt... but who cares?

Let's just say that High School was not necessarily the epitome of a great time for me. Don't get me wrong- I learned a lot... Like which hallways to avoid if watching excessive public displays of affection makes you blush... or how important it is that you close your mouth while passing Jock Jr. at his locker lest you get a mouthful of bad cologne... or that, if you want to get to class on time, it's necessary to dress down for P.E. twice as fast as everyone else when you choose to wait in line for a bathroom stall instead of just horrifyingly stripping down in front of every one else in the locker room. Good times. 

One day, I was having what I thought was a particularly challenging day. Of course I no longer remember the details, but knowing myself, I must have gotten an A- on a test, been passed by without even a glance from the hottie of a 10th grader I had my eye on, and been humiliated by having walked into English class while the bell was ringing knowing fully well everyone must have been looking right at me and judging me for being late. I remember retreating to my locker between classes and silently saying a 16-year-old's version of a prayer of desperation. I remember telling Heavenly Father I just didn't think I could handle one more thing and would He please help me... and then, as He always does, He did.  Not even an entire second had passed after I finished saying those words when SLICE. Paper cut. Seriously? Had I not clearly expressed how my day had been horrific? Maybe God needed a little more information so he could more appropriately answer my prayer...

And then I started to laugh. A paper cut- a very small and simple thing- is all it took to wake me up to the reality of the very temporary nature of my high school drama. I had allowed myself to become burdened and bothered by things that from my current perspective now seem so irrelevant and insignificant. Yes, our temporary struggles in life may sting, but only for a moment, and we are promised that if we maintain eternal perspective and endure well, we will triumph over all of our challenges and one day be exalted.

Although I no longer worry about grades (thank heavens!), boys (I found my hottie), or being on time (yes, despite what you make think, I actually used to be very concerned about this) I still do find myself getting caught up with the temporary and insignificant things that come with being an adult woman- keeping my house clean, stressing about making my neighbor Christmas gifts as crafty and cute as the one Mrs. Jones brought last year, or excessively worrying about whether my earrings really do match the pants and the shoes I happen to be wearing that day. But if I take time to be quiet and say a simple prayer, Heavenly Father lovingly reminds me that mortal troubles are nothing more than a paper cut in the eternal scheme of things.

Lesson Number Two: Spicy Pickles are like Sin!

When I was in college, my mom introduced me to one of the greatest food inventions ever created- the spicy dill pickle. I remember the first time I tried one of those delectable pickles. Wow! What could possibly be better than a "vegetable" that has achieved the perfection of being both sour and spicy? I was in heaven.

Well, I was- until about 30 minutes later. Although my taste buds had become instant fans of this new flavor, my stomach had decided that spicy pickles were unacceptable. I remember writhing in pain, thinking to myself, "I will never, NEVER eat those again!" 

But stomach pain passes and life goes on. And then came that fateful day when I again noticed the lonely pickle jar sitting in the fridge. I suddenly remembered how awesome they had tasted and convinced myself that the accompanying pain I'd experienced may have just been coincidence... so I figured it would be okay to try them again. 

Wanna know what happened exactly 30 minutes later? Yeah, you guessed it. Pain writhing. Again. 

The saddest part of the story: I repeated this insane act at least 3 or 4 more times before I decided something had to change... and I threw that horrible pickle jar away!!

How many times in life have I felt the consequences of making stupid choices and told myself, "I will never ever do that again." But how many times have I foolishly gone right back? From the small and simple thing called a pickle, I've learned this great lesson: The true battle against sin begins not only when you decide to stop, but when you actually throw those darn sin-associated opportunities in the freakin' trash.