I want us to be joyful.
2012 and 2013 were filled with a lot of emotional turmoil. Some circumstances have improved and some haven't, but I am worn out from the constant worry. I want to be content with my faith that we are in God's hands, that we can weather any storm with His comfort and direction. I want to lay my worry at God's feet and instead spend my days and nights embracing hope.
Life does not have to be one trial after another with little or no reprieve. In the Book of Mormon the prophet Lehi taught his children: "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25) I was talking to Lily the other day and she was bemoaning the difficulty of life. She said, in a downtrodden and somewhat annoyed voice, "But God sent us here to be tested and we're supposed to go through hard things." It appears that I have given her a pretty negative view of life. I told her that while those things are true, the very most important thing that God wants for us is to be happy. It is the aim of our existence to return to our Father in Heaven and inherit all that He has, including an infinite joy.
Now it is time to start living as though I believe that. And to teach my children that it is true. It doesn't mean that I won't have bad days. But when I have a bad day, I want to keep perspective that my life is not horrible, that I can wake up the next day and start with a hopeful attitude. Dan said recently, "Just because I don't walk around with a big grin on my face all the time doesn't mean I'm unhappy." But I think our attitude and temperament are clearly written on our faces. I have had a sad countenance for too long.
My prayer is that 2014 will be filled with many more smiles.
{Christmas morning 2013}
{Mack's 5th birthday spankins, Dec. 28, 2013}
{New Years Eve 2013, after a little too much sparkling cider!}
1 comment:
From Lori,
The fact that Lily said to you, "But God sent us here to be tested and we're supposed to go through hard things", sounds to me like she does know that life is hard but it's God's test and how we handle it makes us better. I think you are doing an amazing job raising your babies and see them as wonderful little children that have such a strong testament to family and God. Keep up the good work and smile! It looks prettier on us. Remember our teeth when we were 16? We need to make up for all the time we wouldn't smile because of the atrocious gaps and braces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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