Reason to Rejoice

Life is good.  There are a lot of really happy times that I can remember.  Times where I laughed, times where I smiled, times where I rejoiced.  Some of them include when the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup (we won't talk about them this year), when my high school rock and roll band played a stellar show, and more importantly, when I opened my mission call to the Montana Billings Mission.  Just thinking of those times fills my soul with joy. 

I had an experience recently that kind of threw me for a loop though.  The experience led me to believe that there are so many more times that we can and should rejoice.  In 1 Peter 4:12-13, Peter is explaining how suffering should cause us to rejoice.  He says, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings..."  That scripture hit me like a brick wall.  Never have I ever thought of that we could rejoice in suffering.  Logically, it doesn't make sense.  Spiritually is a whole different story. 

Times of trial should be considered blessings.  Trials refine us and define us.  Often times when hardship is happening, a blessing is the last thing we want to call it, but we can rejoice in Christ.  We can rejoice that we are suffering with him, and through that suffering, we grow that much closer to him.  We start to understand what he went through, while he fully understands what we do go through.  He loves us and will never leave us comfortless.  We must not sulk in sorrow during our suffering, but rather celebrate because of our sanctification, and realize the reason to rejoice!

Make or Break

I'll start off this post with a riddle:

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half of the things you do you might as well turn over to me and I will do them - quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed - you must be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of great people, and alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin - it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

HABIT

This is so true.  So many things in life are done just by pure habit.  They can be good or bad.  The key is to start young.  Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet said, "O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God."  (Alma 37:35).  The things we learn in our youth will make or break us.

Starting good habits is the path to success, starting bad habits will only lead to failure.  Habit really is our greatest helper or our heaviest burden.  Once we learn to master our habits, we will truly have wisdom.  If keeping the commandments becomes one our of good habits, then we will see the blessings and feel the joy that comes through obedience to our Father in Heaven.

How Do You Spell Charity?

Mother's Day is quite a special day.  It seems the older you get, the more you appreciate it.  When I was a kid, well, younger than I am now, I just thought Mother's Day was like a second birthday for all moms.  Now that I'm older, I can see the real reason that we have Mother's Day.  Moms everywhere devote their whole lives to their children and they only get one day dedicated to them in return.  It's incredible that they'd do that for all of us. 

The only thing that can compare to our Savior's love for us is the love that moms have for their children.  That love is called charity.  Paul speaks of charity in 1 Corinthians 13:4, which reads, "Charity suffereth long, is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up."  Moroni, a Book of Mormon prophet, adds to that by saying, "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever" (Moroni 7:47).  These short scriptures just scratch the surface of the unconditional love that each mother has for their children.  No matter what happens, your mom is always your biggest fan. 

I wish there was a way I could sufficiently thank my mom for everything shes done for me.  The best way I've found to repay her comes from 3 John 1:4, which states, "I have no greater joy that to hear that my children walk in truth."  May we all do our best to make our moms proud of us and give them the joy they deserve by walking in truth and righteousness.

A special thanks to all the moms out there and remember that your love and kindness never go unnoticed.  I think I figured out how to spell charity: M-O-M.  Happy Mothers Day!