Thoughts on Forget Me Not

President Uchtdorf's talk given at RS General meeting in October 2011, entitled Forget Me Not is what has capture my attention this week. Here are some of my favourite quotes.

"Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself."

Why? Why is this so hard for us. Or better yet why is it so easy for us to be compassionate and patient with others and not with ourselves. I think that it is because we really aren't compassionate and patient with others. I sometimes find myself working hard on some aspect of myself that I can't stand in others. I will often let them have the "weakness" but then refuse to partake in it myself. I find in this way I try and control others by controlling myself or even worse my kids. I often find myself getting up set with my children for the actions of other peoples kids. ie someone's kids are running up and down the halls my kids start to follow and I jump all over them because what is really bothering me is the other kids running up and down the hall but I can't control them but I can control my own kids to a degree anyway. So am I really compassionate and patient with other people or is it I see the "mote" in there eye so I am making sure I don't have a beam in mine? I also believe this comes back to "love thy neighbour as thyself" I really do believe that we will not be able to love anyone else fully until we fully love ourselves.Next quote.

There are so many good things to do, but we can’t do all of them. Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective.

A really good example of this came from my friend Becky's blog this week. Her son broke his arm so that probably meant messing up the exercise and even eating routine this week for her, but there is no doubt that she is sacrificing good for something eternal. I had a few experiences this week with this. What I find most discerning is I know what I am choosing is the right choice BUT it is still hard to do. It is still so hard to not meet everyone expectations or all your commitments. I ended praying for peace about it.

The lesson here is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.

This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.

Be happy in the moment. I believe this with all my heart. I often think of Dr. Seuss story "Oh, the Places you'll go."...

"The Waiting Place...for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting."

I often find myself all of sudden in this "Waiting Place" again. It is not someplace I try to find or want to be in but when I recognize myself there I get out as fast as I can. I believe that while we are in this place we cannot fully appreciate all that we have or why we have it.

Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.

Love this, and last but not least.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.

If only we could remember and really believe this, nothing could stop us in fulfilling our missions on earth.

As a side note Brene Brown has another Ted Talk on Vulnerability click here for the link. Unfortunately my computer wouldn't let me get through he whole thing but this is one part I really love.

"Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.”~Brene Brown

xoxo

Barb