@Dear Harold,
Thank you for taking the time to write and for highlighting that quote. I wish I could take credit for it, but it actually comes from Darla Isackson, who found healing after losing her son to suicide.
Darla taught me so much about learning from our hard experiences. Even after her passing in 2019, her words continue to resonate deeply within me, filling me with gratitude for the promise of embracing friends and family again after this life. As you pointed out, we will be able to continue serving and loving one another—a truly joyful promise.
Thank you once again for your thoughtful comments.
Your sister in the gospel,
Patricia
Patricia PottsApril 30, 2025
@Dear Amy,
I am so sorry to hear about the estrangement you’re experiencing with your son. It breaks a mother or grandmother's heart when that bond feels lost, even if only temporarily. It seems we both share a sensitivity to life’s emotions, which can make our experiences more intense.
I've found that cognitive therapy, along with a three-step process, has been incredibly helpful for me as I navigate my own "Refiner's Fire" experiences. On my website, patriciapotts.com, there's a video titled "Leaving Your Negative Feelings Behind" that you may find helpful.
Please let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.
God bless you on your journey, Amy. ❤️Patricia
Amy LondonApril 28, 2025
I need to read this book, but I'm afraid it will bring greater fear of all I have imagined since my own estrangement from my son. I cling to the person I knew several years ago, the happy, considerate, fun-loving, and charitable man. I catch glimpses of this occasionally when a friend will tell me they saw him or heard from him, then reassure me that he's ok. My heart breaks, but my love and hope for his well-being are as strong as ever. I pray for his safety and happiness, and for our reconciliation.
Harold RustApril 28, 2025
Patricia Polls provides one key concept underlying our fundamental purpose of life when she states "I’ve learned that creating the ideal is not what life is all about. Instead, we are here to learn from our experiences and to recognize our dependence on the Lord. We all experience disillusion as we learn and grow. It’s an important part of life, a blessing because it means learning to see the truth more clearly."
That concept is so vivid in the teachings of all the prophets, and yet becomes difficult and hazy for us as we encounter real-life day-to-day challenges of career, employment, health, social interactions, and all else that seems to be overwhelming at times during our mortal existence. The concept becomes even more real as we better comprehend how even in life after death our purpose will be to continue learning and building faith in and love for our Savior.
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Patricia PottsApril 30, 2025
@Dear Harold, Thank you for taking the time to write and for highlighting that quote. I wish I could take credit for it, but it actually comes from Darla Isackson, who found healing after losing her son to suicide. Darla taught me so much about learning from our hard experiences. Even after her passing in 2019, her words continue to resonate deeply within me, filling me with gratitude for the promise of embracing friends and family again after this life. As you pointed out, we will be able to continue serving and loving one another—a truly joyful promise. Thank you once again for your thoughtful comments. Your sister in the gospel, Patricia
Patricia PottsApril 30, 2025
@Dear Amy, I am so sorry to hear about the estrangement you’re experiencing with your son. It breaks a mother or grandmother's heart when that bond feels lost, even if only temporarily. It seems we both share a sensitivity to life’s emotions, which can make our experiences more intense. I've found that cognitive therapy, along with a three-step process, has been incredibly helpful for me as I navigate my own "Refiner's Fire" experiences. On my website, patriciapotts.com, there's a video titled "Leaving Your Negative Feelings Behind" that you may find helpful. Please let me know if there's anything else I can do to help. God bless you on your journey, Amy. ❤️Patricia
Amy LondonApril 28, 2025
I need to read this book, but I'm afraid it will bring greater fear of all I have imagined since my own estrangement from my son. I cling to the person I knew several years ago, the happy, considerate, fun-loving, and charitable man. I catch glimpses of this occasionally when a friend will tell me they saw him or heard from him, then reassure me that he's ok. My heart breaks, but my love and hope for his well-being are as strong as ever. I pray for his safety and happiness, and for our reconciliation.
Harold RustApril 28, 2025
Patricia Polls provides one key concept underlying our fundamental purpose of life when she states "I’ve learned that creating the ideal is not what life is all about. Instead, we are here to learn from our experiences and to recognize our dependence on the Lord. We all experience disillusion as we learn and grow. It’s an important part of life, a blessing because it means learning to see the truth more clearly." That concept is so vivid in the teachings of all the prophets, and yet becomes difficult and hazy for us as we encounter real-life day-to-day challenges of career, employment, health, social interactions, and all else that seems to be overwhelming at times during our mortal existence. The concept becomes even more real as we better comprehend how even in life after death our purpose will be to continue learning and building faith in and love for our Savior.
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