“Life isn’t what I thought it would be.” I heard someone say that recently and thought about how I have felt that myself. It’s a funny thing and it makes me think, “What did I think life would be like?” Whatever it was, I don’t think it was this. However, I believe a part of all this, knowing that life isn’t what you thought it would be, is also being able to see how much better it is, and not in a superficial way, for life’s greatest happiness does not come without its testing or its trying. It is rich and so beautiful. The gospel of Jesus Christ has the ability to give each of us the greatest joy. I believe if we hold faithful and have the courage to stand strong in all things during this life, we will find the brightness of our lives to be brighter than the noonday sun.
One quote that has come to mean a lot to me is one by President Gordon B. Hinckley. He spoke at a BYU devotional a few years ago, about the seemingly little experiences that had touched his life in an unforgettable manner. At the end he said:
“You likewise will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of these meaningful and significant things.
“Some of them may be funny. Some may be of significance only to you. Some may be sacred and quietly beautiful. (And then, this part that I love) Some may build one upon another, until they represent a lifetime of special experience.
“God bless you, my beloved friends. May this be a wonderful season in your lives . . . is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
feeling grateful today and everyday
Tonight I feel a lot of gratitude and I cannot help but desire to express my feelings for the many joys I have been blessed with. With all of my heart I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, which fills my soul with the fullest amounts of love and joy and peace and safety and freedom. More than anything, almost, I wish I could share this beautiful gift with the entire human race. My knowledge and application of the truths of the gospel have changed me for good, and though I'm not perfect and continue to make mistakes on a daily basis, my soul longs to be better and to be made more pure through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
I have thought and pondered recently about what it is I really want in life and what would make me truly happy. Sometimes things conflict and I wonder if one day I'll have to choose. Here are the things I have come up with...
To discuss, live, and teach true principles with the people in my life that I love
To work together--through good times and bad--and enjoy the simple things that make life so wonderful and priceless
To share everything I have--material and the love of God--with as many people as realistically possible
To share everything I have with my family and those closest to me
To have the most fun in family traditions and spending time together
To giggle and to laugh and to share memories in each moment
To grow and become better
To have my heart changed to be more like God
To finish off this very thoughtful post (ha, just kidding) I want to share a scripture I read a few weeks ago while I was in Arizona at Jessica's wedding. I had been thinking about what I wanted and would I ever have what I want, and trying to have faith, yada yada, and I found this wonderful little scripture that I'm sure I just passed over many times, without really noticing it. It's in Hebrews 6, and it says starting in verse 10:
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”
How wonderful is life :)
I have thought and pondered recently about what it is I really want in life and what would make me truly happy. Sometimes things conflict and I wonder if one day I'll have to choose. Here are the things I have come up with...
To discuss, live, and teach true principles with the people in my life that I love
To work together--through good times and bad--and enjoy the simple things that make life so wonderful and priceless
To share everything I have--material and the love of God--with as many people as realistically possible
To share everything I have with my family and those closest to me
To have the most fun in family traditions and spending time together
To giggle and to laugh and to share memories in each moment
To grow and become better
To have my heart changed to be more like God
To finish off this very thoughtful post (ha, just kidding) I want to share a scripture I read a few weeks ago while I was in Arizona at Jessica's wedding. I had been thinking about what I wanted and would I ever have what I want, and trying to have faith, yada yada, and I found this wonderful little scripture that I'm sure I just passed over many times, without really noticing it. It's in Hebrews 6, and it says starting in verse 10:
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”
How wonderful is life :)
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