😁
A smile doesn't always mean you are ok...it doesn't always mean life is easy...
It can mean that, even with struggles, you are trying.
It can mean you choose to find joy in the moment.
It can mean you are strong...it can mean you are seeking to be a light to others...it can mean you have hope for better things to come.
OR
It can mean you are happy and want to spread the wealth.
No matter what...SMILE 💖
I'm just sayin' 😁
"Some of the most heart-wrenching, discouraging events in our lives - from which we long to be set free - are actually designed to prepare us with the very skills and understanding the Lord needs us to have. As we draw close to the Lord and put our total trust in Him, in His power, and in His timing, we can leave our fires of affliction more pure, more refined, and with more skills and understanding, instead of leaving having been burnt to a crisp."
---- Wendy Watson Nelson
Just sayin' 😇
"Joseph of Egypt could tell us about betrayal. Moses could write a book on lacking confidence. Esther could speak on being overwhelmed with fear. And Jesus could tell us about being hated. So if you are struggling, keep your chin up, you are standing with the best of the best."
---- Hank Smith
Just sayin' 💖
As I was half listening to a speaker share his testimony on the Prophet Joseph and the effects of the First Vision ---
It struck me that while yes, Joseph Smith was asking which Church was right, but in a deeper reality, he was asking "God, are you really there?" and his answer was a very personal one...
God called him by name...Heavenly Father knew him!!!
Heavenly Father KNOWS YOU!!
I'm just sayin' 😙
God likes to hear from you, just as any Good, Loving Father would.
The little things, the big things, the silly things, the hard things, the mistakes, the accomplishments, the whiney things, the things that make you laugh, the things that make you cry. Frustrations, temptations, joys, peace --- He wants & delights to hear it all from you.
Have you ever thought...
The reason we are commanded to pray to an All Knowing Father is the fact that HE LOVES TO HEAR YOUR VOICE 💖💖💖
I'm just sayin' 😇
Old self:
Love the sinner, hate the sin.
New self:
Love the person. Period. No qualifiers.
To label someone as "sinner" or their actions as "sin" is a judgment --- it's causes a barrier, a wall around your heart that can be hard to tear down. It also makes it impossible to have a light yourself...one that can be the beacon they may need. It makes it impossible for you to see past their wrongs to the person they came to Mortality to be. It makes it impossible for them to trust you to help them along their way. So....
Leave all judging to the Lord.
Your job is to love! ❤️
I'm just sayin' 😇
When you walk into a library or a bookstore, you are immediately surrounded by the voices of each author. As you walk through the shelves, it's as if you are walking in a garden, full of life. Then, you find something that speaks to your needs. As you leave with your book, you leave with a new friend...one that will fill you with knowledge or understanding or relaxation or discovery.
And it all happens because of words.
I'm just sayin' 😄
Sometimes, in Church settings (talks, classes, etc.), we are talked to about the "Thou shalt nots" ... "don't do this, bad for you".
So, when someone chooses a "shalt not", the adversary uses guilt, shame, and embarrassment to make the person feel as if they have messed up.
Yes, they messed up - WE ALL DO!!! IT'S PART OF BEING HUMAN!!! DAILY, WE ALL DO & SAY THINGS THAT ARE LESS THAN GOOD, LESS THAN STELLAR, LESS THAN PERFECT.
A better way...a more Christlike way, and one that is beginning to come forward is teaching "Thou shalt" ... "do this for greater joy".
And MOST IMPORTANTLY, we are being taught with greater understanding regarding The Atonement - the one and only way we can take care of our very humanness...the times we, or someone around us, chooses the "not" path...
We can NEVER sin, transgress, or make mistakes that cannot be made right IF we will accept the Savior's invitation to utilize His Gift to us...
THE ATONEMENT.
I'm just sayin' 😇
I'm sending you a quick reading of the Book Of Mormon if written by Dr. Seuss....Take a few minutes and enjoy someone's humor at it's best.
"What if the Book of Mormon had been written by Dr. Seuss?" Author: Unknown
Nephi: Of goodly parents I was born - I've never drunk, I've never sworn
This is Lehi, he's my dad - Laman, Lemuel, they are bad
And who is this? Why this is Sam Yes, this is Sam; Sam: Sam I am
Laman: That Sam I am, that Sam I am I do not like that Sam I am
Sam: In a tent, my father dwelt - Laman: And it's so hot, I think I'll melt
Lemuel: Our father's brain is out of whack - Laman: Yeah, it's too hot, I'm going back
Lehi: Then go and get the plates my dear - Laman: On second thought, I'm staying here
Nephi: You said you'd leave and go away - Now all you want to do is stay?
Lemuel: That Nephi always gets his way
Laman: Here we are in this damp cave Sam: - We would not be here if you'd behave
Nephi: I will go and I will do - There's the angel, that's my cue
Laban's had too much to drink - Now he'll lose his head, I think
Nephi: Look what I found, a brother from the quorum - Sam: We will take him home, we will call him Zoram - Lemuel: Oh great, another pathetic life form
Laman: Our gold and silver we have spent - I do not like it in this tent
Lemuel: I cannot read the Liahona - I must have drunk too much Corona
Laman: We hate it here, we have no lives - Lehi: Then go back to the city and get some wives
"Pain that is denied or ignored becomes fear or hate. Anger that is never transformed becomes resentment and bitterness."
--— Brené Brown
Pain and anger are normal human feelings. Acknowledge them! Feelings are just information - even (and maybe especially) the negative ones!!
It is what we do as we are in the midst of the feelings that matters.
It is how we work through these feelings and what we do to resolve the issues that bring them about that is the TRUE TEST.
We can only truly heal, overcome and return to peace and joy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He will ALWAYS help us and heal us.
I'm just sayin' 😇
Sometimes (ok...a lot of the time)
We are seeking for Divine Guidance, and we receive inspiration
OR
The Spirit directs us in some moment
And we question whether we have received true Inspiration or was it just our own brains giving us positive vibes.
Dear, sweet Sister Camilla Kimball once said, "Never suppress a generous thought."
Here's the thing....if it's a positive thought, a generous thought, or a cautious thought, give the credit to God!!!! More often than not, it IS true inspiration....but if not, it's still a good thing!!!
I'm just sayin' 😇
I know I’m to blame for a lot of this. I don’t complain much. And, more times than not I’m not honest when it comes to how I’m feeling, because it’s too exhausting to realize they didnt pay attention the last several times I tried to talk to them and now try and explain, yet again, what is going on.
One thing having MS has taught me is that just because someone doesn’t look or even act sick, that doesn’t mean they aren’t fighting. That doesn’t mean they aren’t sick or hurting. That doesn’t mean they haven’t had a lot of bad days that week and may need to know someone is thinking about them. I love my friends; but it seems as if most of them forget to focus on anyone or anything not immediately affecting them. And that’s hard no matter who you are! I thoroughly enjoy being a friend. I love listening to others and letting them know they’re heard and cared for, but every once in a blue moon, I like for that feeling to be reciprocated. I want to know that I can talk about me, too.
Does anyone else feel this way with their friendships? Is anyone else exhausted trying to care and listen to everyone else and not feel heard yourself? I know I can’t be the only one.
I'm just sayin'...
I don’t feel sorry for myself often (OK, more often than I feel comfortable admitting), and I wouldn’t say I necessarily feel sorry for myself when others unload their struggles all while seeming oblivious to mine, but I do want to feel like my friends care about my life, too, and that they’re sensitive to what life with MS entails, to try and see what it might be like. I don’t expect them to understand, but I feel like sometimes more light needs to be shed on how tough MS can be. Maybe, just maybe, those like me who hold it all in should complain a little bit more. We don’t even have to complain, just be honest. But that would mean someone else would have to stop and listen...really listen.
Oh, and after their senseless complaining, they can’t even stop to ask how I am…don’t even get me started. All I can think when things like this happen is: maybe if I complained more then they could see how difficult, painful and exhausting some days are. Perhaps they would be more empathetic and thoughtful about the things they choose to complain about. But, I've tried that...the result felt accusatory at best and left me feeling as if there was no one I could trust.
Then there are the friends with their agenda, their own or one put on them, who have a goal in our relationship, and when that goal is met - see you next time.
It hurts to know everything I go through day in and day out and for that not to be acknowledged. Heck, sometimes it would be nice for them to take a breath from complaining about their life for a second and ask me how I am. I most likely would lie and say I’m fine, but at least I’d know that they understand that I have an illness that’s a MAJOR part of my life. I’d know they understand I have a lot of bad days and sometimes I need to vent and complain, too. And sometimes, just need someone to reach out...kindness...someone with "skin on".
I have some friendships where I feel that I pour my all. When they need to talk, vent, cry, whatever, I’m their loyal shoulder to cry on. Even when I’m having a flat out terrible MS day, you can count on me being all ears.
However, often it seems that these friends are so caught up in their personal problems, that they forget that I have my own mountains I face daily. Like MS. I understand everyone has their tough days and their issues, but please don’t complain to me about how hard your day was hauling your kids all over town and how exhausted that’s made you. And no, I don’t want to hear about how sore you are from your workout. Or how exhausted you are after having the opportunity to go out, have fun with friends & family.
I know that these people know about my disease. I know that they know I've been a single-mom, juggling it all with no familial support with MS, so to hear them complain to me about things that I wish were part of my life kind of makes me want to punch them in the teeth. I’m kidding. But, come on!
I’ve thought a lot and written a bit about trying to get others to understand even a tidbit of what its like to live with MS. Another thing I’ve written about is the importance of finding a good support system...and the frustration of not having one.
Today though, I want to focus on one-sided friendships. I don’t talk a lot about my health to anyone but my daughter and my current MT. I know what I have, and I’ve accepted it, so I don’t see the point of complaining and sharing my worries and concerns with everyone else, even my friends. Sometimes though, when I try, they don't pay attention. I wish they did. I wish they would at least try.
I know it can be difficult...I know this disease has changed me, but....
Unforgiveness is like a splinter, starts off small, then it festers & is painful.
I've tried focusing on forgiving 1 person or 1 incident at a time - it works for a bit, then SPLAT! There it is again, my "natural woman" unforgiving heart.
I've been inspired to JUST FORGIVE....EVERYONE of EVERYTHING!! No more this piece by piece - that only results in me being the one splintered.
Each day, each person & situation starts off clean & fresh...and when that nagging of criticism comes creeping in, I can say "they have done nothing today...it's all good". Then if something does occur, I can allow it to be what it is, without the baggage of the past.
I'm just sayin' 😇
(Although, I must admit...easier said then done, but I am trying)
