Opposition & making an impact

You Never Know - 

A Mormon Message inspired by words of President Hinckley

I watched this video today, don't ask how I'm just barely seeing it. 
However, I do believe that God's timing is always perfect 
and it was TODAY that this video touched my heart. 

The message was beautiful and made me cry. 
It's about the small and simple things you do that make a huge difference.
It's about loving others in the kindest and most simplest ways.
It's about following the promptings we have been given, 
even if it means putting our needs on hold for just a little while 
because what we are asked to sacrifice will always be compensated
with so much more than we are asked to give up.
It's about knowing there is still light even when our plans fall through.

I'm not a mom yet, but I hope to be one, one day soon.
In 9th grade, all I could think about was being a mom.
I would clean my house from top to bottom every single day, with every intention
of preparing to be a good homemaker.
I was the one helping my mom to get organized so our house could run more smoothly.
I was the girl that loved to make to-do lists and would race to see how fast I could get them done, because I wanted to be prepared for the busy life I would lead when I was a mom.
I was the girl that made a file cabinet full of files on every gospel topic you could think of, 
I would prepare Family Home Evening lessons to be ready for when I was a mom.
Growing up to be a mom was my greatest desire at the young age of 14.

As I was watching this video, my heart ached for this mom.
Her life was crazy and she just wanted a minute to herself as well as a minute to complete
the daily tasks that lied ahead of her.
I saw strength shining through her eyes as this mom kept pushing forward.
She had such an open heart as she was willing to serve those that needed her most.
When she was sacrificing her own needs for the needs of others, 
the Lord always stepped in and made up the difference.
At the end of the day she may not have achieved what she had planned out for the day,
but she got done what He needed her to do and THAT'S WHAT MATTERED!

I know being a mom is such hard work.
I know that days are never, ever going to be perfect
and will never go as planned.
But I also know that it will be the most important and most
rewarding thing I will ever do in my life.
This video reminded me of that.

I was going through the comments of this video on YouTube, 
There was so much opposition about this video.
I'm still confused as to how that can be.
Why is this world so quick to critique something? 
Why does this world try so hard to find something 
negative in everything that has SO much GOOD?

I keep on learning over and over that there is opposition IN ALL THINGS!
No matter what it is, it's impossible to please everyone.
Oh how I wish this would change, but it's not going to and I'm learning to love it.
Beautiful things come from opposition and things always work out.

Regarding the Miss Murray's Outstanding Teen Pageant
a project I worked so hard on for the past year,
there was opposition from the very beginning.
I had much support but also many stumbling blocks.
I kept proceeding because I knew that's what Heavenly Father would have me do.
After much thought and prayer I felt like it was finally going to come to reality.
At the very last minute I had girls drop out, leaving only two girls left.
This peace washed over me that I had had the influence I needed to have and 
it wasn't meant to go any further than that at this time.
In that moment, I knew that the pageant wasn't supposed to happen.
I learned that Heavenly Father had me pursue it as it would all fall into place as a test of faith.
Also I know each one of the girls that were going to compete left a hand print on my heart.
One story sticks out so strongly, I will never forget.

I received some opposition today about the pageant not going through.
It broke my heart because I knew without a doubt the steps I was taking were correct.
In fact, the way this opposition was worded made me worry about something else instead,
it shed some light onto a different story.

I had the opportunity to sacrifice my needs for one of the girls
and in the end, I was compensated for the sacrifice I made.
Heavenly Father always blesses us when we choose to serve Him instead.
This opposition from today showed me that I'm not done serving.
There's a girl who needs more love than I ever even realized,
and just maybe I don't know what I've done for her up to this point.

YOU NEVER KNOW THE IMPACT YOU HAVE 

ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS!

Often the little things you sacrifice mean SO much more to those you serve!

"You are doing the best you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do. Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord. You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price."

- President Gordon B. Hinckley