I was visiting another ward last week, I rarely get to hear testimonies of the elderly. My heart was so full, as so many gracious and inspiring women in there 70's and older stood up to testify of the truth and wisdom they have learned and gained over their precious years. These women were so graceful in their words, and full of wisdom in their hearts that I couldn't help but think of the woman I hope to become someday. So... I wrote a poem about it.
While pondering on women in their later years, I consider the reflection I will see in future mirrors. As I am growing in wisdom and learning from age, I realize how often I take for granted this stage. The years all seem to quickly pass by, as the moments linger and scarcely satisfy. How I desire to treasure my single years more, for I am finding how quickly they really do soar. I yearn to strive in being more diligent in humility, and as the days pass, to always look for God's mercy. I have a need for service to be written on my heart, and this I know, that now is the time to make that start. Faith is the foundation of character I want to possess, and in this process, there are many lives I wish to bless. A strong, devoted woman of courage I long to be, trials that have created a softened heart for Christ to see. Longing for spiritual beauty to show in my face, and to fully recognize every drop of God's grace. Wrinkles to show where all the smiles have occurred, And to be a strong follower of His every single word. Possession of luxury, fame, and fortune I need not, Beholding a generous spirit is how I want to be caught. Living of His every word so faithful and true, Always valiant and virtuous in all that I do. Looking to the future of my own posterity, An example I wish to set of familiarity. A life full of praiseworthy quality we have thrived, to the home of Heaven we have finally arrived. Yes, this is the woman I wish to become, For I will not waste another of my days young.
Today has been hard. I would put it into words for you, but I can't... I already tried to in my journal and it didn't work as well as I would like it to. I'm trusting that it's one of those journey's that will make sense to me later, while right now just embracing the fact that I just don't even understand all that Heavenly Father saw in my heart today. When I go through painful situations, I try to do my absolute best to prevent it from happening again. Why would I want to go through it twice or multiple times when once was hard enough? I believe I only made my situation worse because I wasn't just dealing with how I felt in the moment, I was so worried I would feel this way over and over again which would lead me with no hope in all that I want most in life. Now is this true? NO! With Christ, there is ALWAYS hope. But in that difficult moment I became so overwhelmed with my future. What would life look like if we took it one moment at a time? How would our thoughts and our actions be different if we focused on THIS day? Would our attitude and faith change if we were to put the energy of our hearts on this very day?
Elder D. Todd Christofferson tells a story: "In the 1950s my mother survived radical cancer surgery, but difficult as that was, the surgery was followed with dozens of painful radiation treatments in what would now be considered rather primitive medical conditions. She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since: “I was so sick and weak, and I said to her one day, ‘Oh, Mother, I can’t stand having 16 more of those treatments.’ She said, ‘Can you go today?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, honey, that’s all you have to do today.’ It has helped me many times when I remember to take one day or one thing at a time.”"
3 Nephi 13:34: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof."
Being concerned about many days at a time can very quickly lead to negative thinking. Our futures, and the trials and evils we feel we will encounter therein can overwhelm us and become so discouraging that somehow the faith we have worked so hard for becomes buried in worry and anxiety. There is enough to worry about in just one day's time, and it's our trials and worries that often bring us to seek out God. It is vitally important we seek out God on a daily basis. Can you imagine as we worried about many days at a time and He took away those worries all at once what that would be like? Would we seek out His loving guidance and direction daily if we had all the answers? Would our relationship be as close and as strong if we didn't have a constant need for Him?
We will have very difficult days, on those days we can use them to learn more about ourselves, about our faith, about our strength, and about our relationship with our loving Heavenly Father and His beloved son, Jesus Christ. On the good and happy days, we should make the choice to live it to the fullest! We should take the time to do the things we know we should do that we won't have the strength for in our weak moments. Just like a squirrel collects nuts and stores them for later, we too must collect the blessings and the tasks that we only can experience on our strong days, that way we will have them to look back on when we need them the most.
Thomas Carlyle said "Our main business is not to see what lies dimly in the distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand." As we practice having a positive belief that Christ knows our names and walks by our side even when we don't see or feel Him, our faith will grow brighter and brighter. It may seem like a slow process, but why do you think Heavenly Father decided to break our mortal experience into days, so we could take it step by step at a time, choosing to seek Him more often through prayer and His word for divine help. Day by day you will find how close to Him you've grown and that you can get through every single trial with Christ by your side.
Don't let all the days attack you,
live in this day, and this day alone
and blessings will pour! Watch this CES Fireside "Give Us This Our Daily Bread" By Elder Chistofferson January 2011
