why?

Have you ever heard of Kennecot mine? It's a copper mine in northern Utah that is SO large you can see it from space. Eric has always thought that would be the place to work (as an electrician). Not necessarily his dream job, but if he could have picked anywhere to work, Kennecot would be his number one choice. He got a phone call from them a few months ago and did a phone interview. Eric was so surprised but way excited that they would even think about hiring him! But when they offered him a job, Eric was even more surprised that he was turning it down. We couldn't figure out why, but it just didn't feel right to accept the offer. Kennecot proceeded to call 3 other times with offers to come work for them. Each time we still felt like "no" was the right answer.

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Last week a giant mudslide wiped out a huge chunk of the mountain side and covered 2/3 of the pit. Thankfully they predicted a slide was coming so they shut down the mine and no one was present to be injured. But how long will the mine be shut down? How long before the employees can start working again? What if Eric had accepted the job offer? We would have moved (which is ridiculously costly) just to be out of work. I mean.... yikes! We prayed and prayed about taking that job and we were disappointed when we were prompted to say no. Ask me if I'm disappointed now, ha! Our prayers were answered and we were lucky enough to see why the Lord was warning us that this wasn't the right choice for our family! 

Although our prayers are always answered (even if it's not the answer we are hoping for), we usually don't get to see the the consequences that could have been until much further down the road, if at all. It is so easy to ask why? Why me? Why this, why that?! As we all heard the horrific news about the bombings in Boston, I know I was asking why, as I'm sure the rest of the nation was. As I saw the picture of a missing young girl circulating instagram and facebook two nights ago, I asked why?! That young girl was found, but an 8 year old boy that was killed in the bombing won't be reunited with his family in this life time. Why?! God gave us our free agency. He helps us when He can, but it is not God's place to intervene. Nature must take it's course. We have to choose good or evil. God would cease to be God if He made that decision for us. But God will never stop loving us! If we ask (and usually when we think we don't want it) He will comfort us in ways that we least expect it. It breaks my heart that evil people strive to ruin the lives of perfect strangers. It breaks my heart that I will have to fear for my daughter's life every single time she steps outside of our home. It ticks me off that I can't just have the perfect life, perfect job and live in the perfect city (HA!) but I know that if I put all of my faith in Heavenly Father, I will make it through the craziness of this world and live a happy life.

via the talented Becca