Some Thoughts...

This is just me journaling. :)

With school being back in session and my feelings of being overloaded, I have neglected writing here on this blog.  I know I don't have many followers, but the point is that I usually write here for ME.  And I tend to put myself last when it comes to "Things To Do".  Yes, I know that going to school is technically for me, but my reason for finishing my degree is to help other people.

I have a hard time saying no to things that are important for others, even if it makes me sacrifice time for things like eating or spending time with my husband.  I am working on this.  There needs to be balance in our lives in order for each of us to be successful.  It has been hard letting go of things that I want to do in exchange for things that are more vitally important right now.  As I have relied on the Spirit to guide me, I have made decisions that have drastically improved my situation and helped me to accomplish things I need to do for myself and still help those around me.  Even those these decisions are heartbreaking at times, I feel more at peace now, halfway into the semester, than I did at the beginning.  This helps me know I've made the right decision.

The General Women's Meeting at the end of last month was incredibly inspiring to me.  The very first talk, by Sis. Wixom, about our Divine Potential was beautiful.  It could have made me shut off, with the talk about giving birth at the beginning, but I can see such an amazing correlation between the act of birth and what our Spirits go through leaving Heavenly Father that I was fascinated.  No other mention about how each woman MUST give birth was even hinted at.  My favorite quote from that talk: "We have come to this earth to help build His kingdom and to prepare for the Second Coming of His Son, Jesus Christ."  NO generalization.  The fact that this quote allows for agency left me feeling happy and uplifted.  The meeting just got better as it went along.

I have enjoyed starting my journey into "ponderizing" the scriptures.  I feel that it is helping me keep them closer each day.  I usually read them twice a day, but I find myself revisiting the scripture I chose for the week to see if I can glean more inspiration from it.  I chose to take all of my ponderize scriptures from the New Testament because the later books are more difficult for me to understand.  It was been a wonderful experience.

I am excited to get to start on these new conference talks for my weekly study! :)  That's all for now.  I will hopefully be back again sometime soon.

The Need for Great Compassion

"A new commandment I give unto you,

That ye love one another; as I have loved you,

that ye also love one another."

John 13:34

I think that we can all agree that life is never what we hope it will be.  Sometimes it is infinitely more beautiful than we could ever dream.  Other times, it is more of a disappointment that we think we can bear.  This is the reason that our world is in such great need of more compassion and charity.

"And of some have compassion, making a difference..."

Jude 1:22

Some may see being kind as a sign of weakness.  Or, perhaps a sign of condoning sin.  There are even those we feel that compassion makes those around us dependent instead of independent.  I would say that when we show genuine Christ-like compassion and charity to those around us, it not only will make the world a kinder place, but it will lift those who would otherwise stay in the squalor of everyday life to a higher plane.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up."

James 4: 10

In order to help those around us and to show genuine charity, there are many things that we have to do.  It is impossible for us to share love that we do not feel or have for God and for ourselves.  As we strive to strengthen our relationship with God and come to understand our divine potential as His children, we feel of the comfort and assurance that this life will be ok, no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in.  

"Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts...in family relationships."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

After we find greater love for God and ourselves, we are more capable of sharing that love in our families.  So many families in our world are filled with hatred, abuse, unkindness towards those we should show the most love to.  Resentment is a feeling that can be common in such close relationships.  Anger and disappointment will come to all.  These are failings of the flesh.  God can make them into feelings of greater love and kindness for those we are in contact with on a daily basis.  There are many people in the world who abandon family relationships as unfixable because of words said in a fit of rage or due to the inattention of personal feelings.  We turn to those who are not related to us for the comfort we should find in our homes.  

If we want peace in this world, I truly feel it must start in our homes.  This is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things that can ever be accomplished on this earth.  To create a heaven within our homes is to bring God's love into our lives each and every day.  It truly is as simple as forgiving and acting in the best interest of those we claim to love the most.  When all in the home participate in these acts, all are uplifted and all feel safe and cared for.

"Oh, how we need each other."

Marjorie P. Hinkley

As our homes become more divine places, the next step in sharing compassion and charity will be to reach out to those around us.  God will shine His mercy and wisdom into our hearts and show us those of His children that we can more greatly enrich and succor.  The more you serve, the greater your capacity for service will be.  The more you listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the more God will speak to your heart and mind.  This is how the world is changed--in small, simple daily acts and not in the large gestures that come less frequently.  A phone call, a letter sent, a smile, an offer to help--these are the actions that will create peace on this earth.

"Many things are good, many are important,

but only a few are essential."

D. Todd Christofferson

Each step towards greater compassion can only happen successfully if the previous stepping stones are securely in place.  It might mean that we devote more time to family or to self when our foundation is not as firm as we need it to be.  To know this and to step back and work on what is essential in our individual circumstances will be what makes us a perfected soul.  Sometimes the two steps back will help us to realize that there are things of a more important nature that are being neglected.  

Never feel that following the promptings of the Spirit to take time for yourself or your family are selfish.  This is God teaching us what is most important in our lives.  Each of us is under a vitally important charge to do the best in our individual situations, and the choices we make are incredibly important not only to ourselves, but those around us.  No other man on earth can tell you what is most important for you in your life--these promptings will only come from a loving Heavenly Father who knows and loves you perfectly.  It is my prayer that we will ever be near to Him so that His Spirit can teach us what these essential things are each and every day, and that we will be seen as compassionate and kind in all we do and say.  I leave these thoughts with you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.  

Sunday Sustenance

This week, I've really been trying to find things that will help me become a better person and help me overcome my shortcomings.  We all have them, none of us are perfect.  I suffer from severe self doubt, depression, anxiety, and general fear of life a lot of times.  I will strike out to do something new when it's comfortable enough.  The last few months, I've been changing this.  It's hard.  It's scary.  It's worth it.  Here are a few things that have helped me along the way.  

Note:  These are all talks given by Brene Brown, a therapist and researcher who has been working on learning about living a full life. There is cussing in some of these videos.  It's ok.  It's nothing so bad that it detracts from the message.  If any sort of cussing offends you, make the choice not to watch them.

The Power Of Vulnerability:  The only way to make connections is to bring those walls down, folks, even though it is PAINFUL.

Why Your Critics Aren't The Ones Who Count:  LOTS of gems in this one, but my favorite is, "There’s an ideal of what you're supposed to be. And what a lot of us end up doing is we orphan the parts of ourselves that don’t fit what that ideal is supposed to be. And what it leaves - when we orphan those parts of ourselves - is the critic."  Deep, true, scary.  I'm finding out that scary can be good, though!

Listening to Shame: Why we need shame in our lives, and how it can make us great.  This one is magnificent!

Blame: Learning to take responsibility so that you can be your best self.  I love her story about blame because I think it definitely relates to all of us!

Empathy vs. Sympathy:  This is actually the first thing of hers I found and loved.  It has completely changed how I am trying to interact with others.  If you won't watch any of the others, you NEED to watch this one.  No cussing, just truth.  Scary good truth.

One last note about this week's list--I know that they aren't at all "religious", but as I've read my scriptures, prayed for guidance, and sought answers, these videos literally are what I was led to as answers.  I love how God allows us to learn from each other, even if we don't all agree with things all the time.  Have a wonderful Sabbath and a fabulous week! :)