How Firm is Your Foundation?

I loved the lesson in Relief Society today.  Cindy presented it very well....in fact so well I felt like I should write some of my thoughts down.  One of the thoughts she put on the board was this: "The hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing."

It kind of boils down to our perspective and our attitude.  When things are tough we have a choice to work through it with the best attitude we can muster up or let it get us down.  God allows bad things to happen so we can get closer to Him.  It's our choice though but as we work through are challenges we become stronger and more refined.  The thought came to me that our trials aren't just for us either.  We all learn and grow from each others trials.  Just recently I was involved with a friend who was going through some hard times.  She chose me to share those trials with me and I know I was able to help her pull through. But, by helping her it helped me.  I felt very close to my Heavenly Father and I know that He talked to her through me.  It was truly a blessing and I am stronger because of her trial too.  Funny how that works.

It was brought up that sometimes we need to let others serve us.  Oh my heck that is so hard but can and will be a blessing if we swallow our pride and let it happen.  Just the other day a friend of mine was telling me that I should relax and sit back and bask in what others thought of me.  This friend said I probably had no idea how good I was or how important I was to others.  That made me think.....it felt good....but is really hard for me to believe.  I want to believe it though at least just a little.  Why not in fact.  Other's are so important to me why not have that reversed?

We talked about "foundations".  In building, foundations are essential in holding a building in place and makes it strong and immovable.  We each have our own foundations that we build upon throughout our lives.  Our foundations are strengthened as we read our scriptures, serve others, pray, go to the Temple, read the Ensign and follow the teachings of the Prophets, etc.  At times are foundations are tested and might not be as strong as maybe it was yesterday.  It's okay when this happens.  Through the test our foundation will get stronger.....we might even be able to help someone else strengthen theirs in the process.

The story of the wolves also came to my mind.  We all have wolves inside of us....and the one we feed is the one that will be strong.  If we feed the wolf of hatred it will become stronger.  But if we feed the wolf of love it will become stronger.  I have learned that attitude is everything.  Our minds are so stinking powerful.  Our thoughts are so stinking powerful.  If we allow ourselves to be bugged by others we will continue being bugged and it will pull us down.  If we allow to be scared we will find reasons to be scared.  If we think about the positive things we will notice more positive things.  Feed the right wolf....if we aren't happy we had better think about the wolf we are feeding.  It's never too late to make a change and something we will continue to have to do as we live this life.

Trials are for our good and the good of others!  We need to learn from them and not allow them to keep us down.  I remember a teacher in Roy saying he was glad when a trial came because he knew a blessing would be following it.  Try not to focus on the trial but work through it and look forward to the blessing.  Stay close to Heavenly Father.  Pray more and be sure to read the scriptures so that Heavenly Father can answer your prayers.  Smile......it's hard to be sad or upset if you are smiling.  I know that for a certainty because I have consciously worked on that and it works!

Write down the good things happening in your life.  Just the other day I received this text from Cindee at Larry's work:  "U look very pretty today.  Not a day over 39." :)  That was a good thing that day!  It made me smile!  It wasn't a big deal probably to Cindee but it was a Big Deal to me.  Do those simple little things for others too.  I have a gratitude book and I write down one thing a day that I am thankful for.  You could write down more but one works for me.  It helps me think about the good going on around me..There is so much good...not so much bad.  Focus on the Good!