Gratitude

This week we had a wonderful devotional (click here to listen to the devotional) by a woman named Marilyn Nelson. She talked about her experience growing up with her mother who suffered from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. This was in the days before OCD was understood, and especially before treatments were available. Sister Nelson has gone through an incredible healing process, thanks to the Atonement, to be able to recover from her childhood. As I listened to the closing prayer of the devotional, I was filled with gratitude to live at a time when mental illness is better understood, and there are medications and treatments available. It is not so fun to suffer anxiety and depression, but at least there is help available! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has inspired doctors and scientists so they better understand mental illness and how to treat it! A girl I talked to yesterday described it well when she said that "every day is uphill" but life is more peaceful and joyful than it would be otherwise.