My family and I recently hiked up to Doughnut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's about a mile hike (according to my husband's memory :} ) My two year old daughter Lucy hiked the whole way there; which if your two year old is like mine, we stop to look at rocks and find ones to throw into the river, we look at plants and bugs, and more rocks and write in the dirt, and more rocks, throw rocks into the river and do it all over again. Halfway there my exasperated sigh must've been a little loud because my hubbie gently and teasingly responded with, "it's about the journey, not the destination." True, true, true! Why do I hurry things along? Hurry up and get there, hurry up and finish, hurry and grow up.... I can't wonder out loud any more where the time goes if I'm wishing it away. So while the rest of my family walked ahead of us, Lucy and I continued our little journey picking up rocks for her to throw in the river. I enjoyed the time exploring the world around us, encouraging Lucy's curiosity. Watching my daughter enjoy the journey was better than the destination. It bonded us together a little bit more, helping me to remember that time flies even when we're not having fun, and I really need to enjoy the mothering moments that come along.
I had one of those mothering moments tonight - you know them. The fleeting moment when life is as it "should" be and you feel successful in parenting. I had most of my children surrounding me and playing together nicely. It was bliss and I enjoyed it; granted it was only about a minute long but it was great! I thought, "it's about the journey...and the destination" when it's applied to our lives in an eternal perspective. I read President Monson's 2008 Conference talk, "Finding Joy in the Journey". He counsels that one of life's important lessons is that we learn what is most important to us, and that often includes our loved ones. Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 33 asks, “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” I could apply this scripture to my relationship with my kids - they being the gift I'm not receiving. Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of casting them aside when I tell them, "in a minute" for "55 minutes" like my 7 year old told me today. So when I put doing chores as a higher priority over spending time with my children, I'm not being so grateful for the 5 beautiful blessings I've been given. I'm also not rejoicing in the great plan of happiness that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given to me.
This reminds me of the New Testament story about Martha and Mary and the choices they made when the Savior dined with them one evening. Mary sat at the Savior's knee and listened to his words and Martha was busy serving the Savior. I can't imagine not trying to be the hostess with the mostest, but the one needful thing was to sit and listen and learn. If I apply this to my family, then the really good things, the best things, come to the foreground. Family prayer and scripture study not only become the best choice, but also show that I am grateful for my gifts. Family Home Evening becomes more important because I need to take care of my gifts. And in order for me to qualify for the Holy Ghost's companionship that I need to do those things I need to pray earnestly, everyday, multiple times and study the scriptures and the doctrine of the gospel.
Making this change will take some time and effort because I love my home to be a clean and organized haven. It helps me feel calm and peaceful, better able to feel/hear the Holy Ghost. It's part of my nature to desire to make things beautiful, and is my little bit of heaven on Earth. I need to learn to find the balance between the two. I wonder if I look at taking time for my children as the one needful thing in my life, that would help me do this new challenge?
What about you? What's keeping you from being like Mary and the one needful thing in your life? What can you do to change and find joy in your journey?
Signed,
Sarah
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Tonight I went to my Stake Conference Adult Session, it was awesome :) So many parts of the different talks stood out to me, but the one impression I had that was the strongest for me was when our Stake President said that Christ was the Great Healer. That is just one of His many titles; He is so many things to us. Some of the many titles He has been given are: Advocate, Alpha and Omega, The Annointed One, Bread of Life, Cornerstone of our religion, Creator, Deliverer, Exemplar, Firstborn Son, Good Shepherd, Holy One of Israel, Jehovah, King, Lamb of God, Light of the World, Lord, Mediator, Messiah, Only Begotten Son, Redeemer, Rock, Savior, and the Word. So what is He to you? What do you need Him to be today?
Tonight I need Jesus Christ to be my Mediator, my Rock and my Savior. I need His help coming back into alignment with my Heavenly Father, I need Him to guide me. I need His steadiness to build upon and rely upon when the winds and waves throw themselves upon me. I need His saving grace and redemption applied to my life.
Take a look at these different titles, He is so many things to us. Tomorrow I might need Him to be something else. I'm going to look at His names and see what they mean in the Bible Dictionary, or Index and Topical Guide at www.lds.org. Then I'm going to seek Him in the role I need. Will you try it too and post your thoughts?
Chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
Tonight I need Jesus Christ to be my Mediator, my Rock and my Savior. I need His help coming back into alignment with my Heavenly Father, I need Him to guide me. I need His steadiness to build upon and rely upon when the winds and waves throw themselves upon me. I need His saving grace and redemption applied to my life.
Take a look at these different titles, He is so many things to us. Tomorrow I might need Him to be something else. I'm going to look at His names and see what they mean in the Bible Dictionary, or Index and Topical Guide at www.lds.org. Then I'm going to seek Him in the role I need. Will you try it too and post your thoughts?
Chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
Okay, okay, I'll do it already!
A few months ago I really felt like I should start a blog...I was working on my major weakness of anger and thought journaling/chronicling(?) my journey and experiences would be helpful for me and maybe for someone else out there. But then fear set in and I kept thinking, who would want to listen to me? So then this "weird" journal would be out there for anyone to see! What was I thinking?!
I say it's funny, but I don't mean comical, when I say "it's funny how..." so here's the next part, it's funny how hindsight is 20/20 when we look back and see how the pieces all fell in the right place in the puzzle of our lives. A few months ago I came across an article about a book that talked about how Satan uses fear as a manipulative tool to keep us from doing something good in our lives; like starting a business or a blog - it's a good thing Heavenly Father wants us to do, but Satan uses doubt and fear to keep us from doing it. So in the past two weeks or so, I keep getting this prompting to write in this blog about the spiritual things in my life I'm noticing. Then two Sundays ago the Relief Society lesson was about keeping a journal. So, hence the title of this post, when I come home from the Adult Session of Stake Conference and I can't get this off my mind!
So An Earnest Endeavor has come to fruition. I don't know where this blog will lead me, but by small and simple things great things come to pass, right? Right. I really need the opportunity to talk about the lessons I'm learning in my life, the trials I have, and the wonderful blessings. I love gospel centered discussions, it helps me remember our Savior day by day, and helps me process and ponder the things I'm learning. So will you join me? We could have fun :) and learn something from each other.
Hope to chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
I say it's funny, but I don't mean comical, when I say "it's funny how..." so here's the next part, it's funny how hindsight is 20/20 when we look back and see how the pieces all fell in the right place in the puzzle of our lives. A few months ago I came across an article about a book that talked about how Satan uses fear as a manipulative tool to keep us from doing something good in our lives; like starting a business or a blog - it's a good thing Heavenly Father wants us to do, but Satan uses doubt and fear to keep us from doing it. So in the past two weeks or so, I keep getting this prompting to write in this blog about the spiritual things in my life I'm noticing. Then two Sundays ago the Relief Society lesson was about keeping a journal. So, hence the title of this post, when I come home from the Adult Session of Stake Conference and I can't get this off my mind!
So An Earnest Endeavor has come to fruition. I don't know where this blog will lead me, but by small and simple things great things come to pass, right? Right. I really need the opportunity to talk about the lessons I'm learning in my life, the trials I have, and the wonderful blessings. I love gospel centered discussions, it helps me remember our Savior day by day, and helps me process and ponder the things I'm learning. So will you join me? We could have fun :) and learn something from each other.
Hope to chat with you soon!
Signed,
Sarah
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