I guess this is the year for recognizing things for what they are.
It all starts some where.  This train of thought started from reading that LDS Living published and widely flung article about how it was okay to not marry a returned missionary.  I understood what she said and why she said it, but like so frequently happens, the comments from the average man went bounding off in another direction.  RMs = bad (because we've known a couple that have gone off the rails) and non-RMs = good (because we've known a couple who were absolutely amazing).  The truth is always some where in the middle. 
For me, it remains about obedience.  (Not the marrying an RM part.)  There are a lot of reasons for a young man to not serve a mission and God will recognize the efforts of those who cannot, through no fault of their own.  A young man can choose not to sacrifice two years of his life and still be an amazing, wonderful, gospel centered person.  However, like the rich young man that went to Jesus and asked what more he could do to follow, these men turn away sorrowing.  What ever their richness is, they cannot determine to give it up for a season.  That doesn't make them bad, but it doesn't make them better, either. 
A mission is many things, but above all it is a lesson in sacrifice.  It is a lesson that little of our first world humanity is learning, especially at such a young age.  A mission does not guarantee happily ever after.  Marrying someone who has served a mission does not guarantee happily ever after.  In fact, there is no magic pill for happiness.
Now comes the point where my discovery began.  I have previously written about how I know I have the gift of the Spirit that gives me a believing heart.  It seems so easy for me to grasp gospel concepts and build my testimony on them.  Last night, as I was thinking about the seeming ease, I realized that while I have that gift, it has not been with out a lot of work and right choices on my part.  My testimony has been formed incrementally, line upon line, precept upon precept.  My gospel bucket has filled drop by drop and I didn't even notice.  I am truly blessed to have been given options to be where I needed to be and to learn what needed learning.