Learning From Joy

Joy = Confidence = Trust in the Lord = Faith

Last week, I got an email from a fellow writer about a teleconference she'd be hosting about "Writing Humor for Children" and so I jumped at the chance to learn.  I paid the $15 fee and although was 15 minutes late dialing in...I learned loads.  Then, the lightbulb turned on when the next day I received a request from a publishing company to submit full manuscripts to a series I'd pitched to them.  And boy...did I need to know how to write humor into the series.  If I'd gotten that email without having taken the class, I'd probably just pass by the opportunity, but instead I felt qualified and confident to at least submit something to the publisher.  JOY FILLED MY HEART.

Over the weekend, our baby girl became ill and throwing up.  A doctor's visit proved it was a virus and an ear infection.  I stayed home from work one day.  Yesterday, we went to Grandma & Grandpa's house.  After work, I held her close and in my heart I knew she just needed sleep and stay home.  Then, she puked all over my phone and I wanted to cry right along with her.  In the chaos of cleaning her up, her Daddy called to say that he didn't have any flights today.  So he didn't think hard and drove home.  Baby girl has been snuggling and sleeping all morning.  JOY FILLED MY HEART.

Having so many experiences and seeing a pattern that everything happens for a reason and purpose.  I understand that prayers in my heart and projects in my head are a work in progress.  I have to be confident in the path through the fog, through the forest, through the darkness, because beyond this very tiny small minor challenge, I trust there is a bright and glorious solution waiting to be discovered and that will bring me JOY.

So let's pause and look backward at all the things our Father and His Son have done for us...and the way He's prepared for us to accomplish everything we've set out to do.  For me...here are a few random ones: (1) I thought I was going to be double-major in Bio-chemistry, instead I did Accounting & English -- which has proved valuable in times of crisis and need for immediate employment.  (2) I deserpately wanted to have a yearly budget, but I couldn't ever keep on track.  So after years of failure, I began bugeting from paycheck to paycheck and thinking ahead and saving a little and low and behold...I learned to budget for the year.  (3) I wrote a little poem about the Holy Ghost for a former roommate.  I made many attempts to illustrate for 'real' publication, I shelved the little poem because at the time I didn't have the skills to draw what the book needed-- after years of hope & practice, a friend offered me really good advice and encouraged a resubmission to her publishing company.

Joy builds confidence. Confidence builds trust. Trust in Heavenly Father brings joy. And thus, the cycle continues building a faithful and secure foundation.  Heavenly Father sees far more of our future than we are able, so we need to trust in His wisdom/timing because the joy will be greater than we can imagine when we remain faithful to Him.


Lehi's Dream (c) Greg Olson



Learning From Pain

Tonight, our little boy blue and his brother were playing.  They were laughing hysterically until little boy blue bonked his head on the door jam and started screaming in pain.  To an outsider, I probably looked heartless because I didn't move, I didn't whisk him up and console him.  In the past, whisking him up ended in more thrashing because the initial pain was too great and he too prideful to want to have any help from me.  Although I hurt inside and ached to help him, I had to wait for him to come over to me and ask to be consoled (which I did heartily reassuring both that it was only an accident and no lasting pain incurring).

Now, I'm up in the middle of the night and keep thinking that Heavenly Father probably goes through this every time he sees us get hurt or make a mistake.  He desperately wants to help, but if He rushes in to take away the pain we usually are too prideful to accept and thrash around or take the help for granted.  So He waits until we're humble enough to ask for His help.  Hmm...such an enlightening event!  He's perfectly willing to help, if we ask.  Perfectly happy to send the Holy Ghost to console us on His behalf and to accept our gratitude for pain in this life so that our hearts and minds can be filled with His love and receive confidence in His eternal joy for us.

"...The pain of a wounded conscience comes to us not just to cause suffering. It is an invitation for us to respond in a way that will ultimately lead to joy. To accept the invitation early, we simply need to stop—in midair if necessary..One of love’s fears stems from the continuing possibility that one we love, whether sweetheart, father, child, or sister, may not return after saying good-bye to us one day. Such fear is the constant companion of the wives of soldiers—or even the parents of teenagers just old enough to drive. I will confess that such fear—such pain—comes over me at times, because I have not held back in giving my heart to those special ones who are in my home. I know that leaves me vulnerable, but it is a risk I am willing to take; its pain is far offset by the abundant joy of love... But the Savior of the world knew all these kinds of pain, and many others we can never comprehend. “Man of sorrows” was his name. (See Isa. 53:3.) Surely, he was “acquainted with grief.” Only he was capable of absorbing the mental and spiritual anguish inflicted by Gethsemane. As he himself tells us of that pain—how sore we know not, how exquisite we know not, how hard to bear we know not. (See D&C 19:15–19.) Yet when he elsewhere says, “my joy is full” (3 Ne. 17:20), we are assured that a fulness of joy for one such as he, must be richer, fuller, again more exquisite than we may ever know in mortality. There must be some natural relationship between our capacity to be taught by pain on the one hand and our capacity to receive joy on the other. That might be worth remembering when our own pain seems sore and exquisite. (See Alma 36:21.)...I am willing to remain vulnerable to those painful realities that inevitably come with facing the truth about myself, with learning, with growing, with loving, and with trying to be faithful. Pain of that kind helps me remember that I am in contact with life as it was meant to be experienced, thus preparing me more fully for that appointed reunion with those who sent me here—when, at last, my joy may be full."  -- Bruce C. Hafen, president of Ricks College (Oct 1983) and father of seven children, is a Regional Representative.

Love & Marriage

A little candid advice from a loving helpful friend (me)...

Single Sisters -- (1) there is more to life than sex and babies (2) always be worthy to enter the House of the Lord (3) remember that Eve is the mother of all living (plants, animals, nieces, nephews included), as her daughters, you have many opportunities to prepare and grow and learn and serve.

Newlyweds -- (1) waterproof mattress pad cover (2) Pink is better than KY (don't be too prideful to use it) (3) work hard, play hard, and pray hard together

Married & Deployed -- (1) don't resent the time apart, kiss & love him immediately (2) every week send real tangible snail mail letters via USPS with smiling photos of you, the kids, pets, friends/family  (3) accept his overseas call anytime anywhere with a smile & say "I love you" a lot (remember that he probably waited 3+ hours to hear your cheerful voice for 2 minutes, so babe that's sacrifice & love for you at its finest!)

Married with Children -- (1) check out the Dating Divas...strengthening marriage, one date at a time (2) when the routine becomes a rut, go on a picnic as a family (3) discover the power of reading out loud to your children

Married without Children -- (1) there is more to life than sex and babies (2) always be worthy to enter the House of the Lord (3) remember that Eve is the mother of all living (plants, animals, nieces, nephews included), as her daughters, you have many opportunities to prepare, grow, learn and serve in valuable ways.

Elderly Sisters -- (1) waterproof mattress pad cover (2) Pink is better than KY (don't be too prideful to use it) (3) work hard, play hard, and pray hard together

Divorced & Widowed & Lovely Ladies -- (1) don't pretend he never existed, embrace the future with a steadfastness in Christ (2) discover the power of reading out loud the words of the Lord (3) involve yourself in the good works of your children, grandchildren, and/or the primary children of your ward...become like a child ---submissive, meek, and teachable.

To All My Sisters & Friends (1) SMILE (2) FORGIVE (3) BE WORTHY (4) BE CHASTE (5) BE LOYAL (6) BELIEVE IN THE COVENANT OF ETERNAL MARRIAGE (7) SERVE (8) SAY 'I LOVE YOU' OFTEN (9) PRAY