Before I talk about the challenge, I want to share an experience I had last night actually. Last week I felt very strongly that I needed to go visiting teaching. I haven't done it very consistently since we've been married. I've gone-but not every month like I know I should. So I coordinated with my visiting teaching partner to visit our 2 girls. My heart was in it- but I was nervous what I was going to talk about and share. So, without me asking, my visiting teaching partner picked the talk from Elder Uchtdorf from this last conference- titled "Grateful in Any Circumstance." I read it a little bit before we left, and I kept praying on my way over there that God would help me know what to say- and that I would have the spirit with me. I was really nervous because the past month I've had a hard time being grateful in my circumstance.
We visited our first girl, and my partner taught her. I was trying to hold back my tears the whole time. The spirit was really strong- testifying to me that what my partner was teaching was true- and it was exactly what I needed to hear. It was weird- but it was what I needed at that time, in that apartment, with 2 girls I had just barely met. It's interesting what God knows we need in our lives, and how he so gracefully puts them in our lives at the right time. Right then and there- my testimony was strengthened a little bit from my dear visiting teaching partner. Throughout the lesson, my throat choked up several times and I kept holding back my tears as best that I could. Until the girl we were teaching asked, "So you're pregnant aren't you?" I immediately lost it. Not because I was mad that she asked that, but because I knew I needed to let my emotions out and talk about it. I told her that I was, but that I had a miscarriage a month ago. I continued on talking about how the last month has been the hardest month of my life- and how this talk by Elder Uchtdorf was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I testified to the 2 girls that being grateful during times of trial is hard- but right then- I KNEW. I felt that what I was saying was true- and that God needed me not only to hear it, but to share it.
There's a part from the talk that just hit me like a brick. Here it is:
Being Grateful for Things
But some might say, “What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?”
Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. It is difficult to develop a spirit of gratitude if our thankfulness is only proportional to the number of blessings we can count. True, it is important to frequently “count our blessings”—and anyone who has tried this knows there are many—but I don’t believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. In fact, most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude.
It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?
Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.
There is an old story of a waiter who asked a customer whether he had enjoyed the meal. The guest replied that everything was fine, but it would have been better if they had served more bread. The next day, when the man returned, the waiter doubled the amount of bread, giving him four slices instead of two, but still the man was not happy. The next day, the waiter doubled the bread again, without success.
On the fourth day, the waiter was really determined to make the man happy. And so he took a nine-foot-long (3-m) loaf of bread, cut it in half, and with a smile, served that to the customer. The waiter could scarcely wait for the man’s reaction.
After the meal, the man looked up and said, “Good as always. But I see you’re back to giving only two slices of bread.”
Here's the link to the whole talk- it is SO good.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/grateful-in-any-circumstances?lang=eng#watch=video
I just love the story he shared about the waiter who was determined to make the man happy. He tried and tried so hard, but the man was never satisfied. I've learned the past month that it's all about
attitude and being grateful for what you DO have. As much as I hate to admit that- it's true. WE are the ones that choose how we react to things. WE are the ones that choose if something is going to upset us or not. WE are the ones that choose happiness. And it's all about our attitude and gratitude.
Ok- so on to the challenge.
YOU CAN'T RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY!! YOU CONTROL YOUR OWN HAPPINESS!
This has been my motto lately. Because it's something that we all have to come to terms with at some point.
I challenged our visiting teaching girls to find at least 1 thing every day for the rest of May that makes them happy. So... I'm going to take on the same challenge and find 5 "happy things" that happen to me every day.
For the rest of May- I want to do this. And anyone else reading this- please please PLEASE do it with me! I think anyone can benefit from this- and what's better than doing it with other people? I know for me, positive thinking trumps negative thinking, so let's challenge ourselves and do it.
Since there's 17 days left until June, let's see how the next 17 days of "happy things" goes.
So what I'm going to do is post on my blog every day my 5 "happy things." Then- under the post anyone and everyone that wants to can post their 5 happy things that happened for that day.
Share my blog with anyone and everyone. Maybe your friend is having a bad day. Maybe your dog. haha. Maybe your spouse. Your grandma, you, seriously...anyone.
Let's see how many people we can get involved in this eh?
My 5 "happy things" yesterday:
- I went visiting teaching- and felt amazing afterwards.
- I successfully made a delicious meal for dinner last night.
- I listened to the disney channel on pandora and sang my heart out.
- I slept in until 8 am!
- I got a back massage from the hub.
Feel free to post your "happy things" that happened yesterday in this post! I'll be writing another post tonight for my "happy things" that happened today.
Let's get crackin!!
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