Have you ever wondered why our days seem to be so routine? Even though we have different things going on, we wake up, eat, work, eat, work, eat, and rest. (maybe you eat a little less or more, or work a little less or a little more--i am SORRY for those who sleep less) Our days seem repetitive sometimes.
I have been thinking lately, well, how do I prove myself to be worthy of the kingdom of God if there aren't any huge trials of my faith? My days are the same, and I don't have a lot of opportunity to get out there and make a difference. I am not preaching all day, I don't have any kids yet to positively influence or teach, my span of influence is with those I come in contact with- so my husband....a spider.....fellow students.....yep, that was the extent of yesterday.
Today in my studies, I was taught about living well from a talk called Enduring Well by Elder Neal A. Maxwell. (you can search for it on lds.org) The disclamer caught my eye. It said this:
Rather than simply passing through trials, we must allow trials to pass through us in ways that sanctify us.
I started to think about my day yesterday. I got frustrated a couple of times with little things, I got a little offended by someones reaction to something I said that was positive, I wasn't all there when we went to the temple, and my night prayer was a short "please forgive me for this being short, but I am really tired" prayer.
I just passed through that day. There were good things that happened, and there were not so desirable things, but you know, it was just another day. EH WRONG! The spirit taught me something important today. That even the days that feel routine are crucial days for growing, learning, and increasing my closeness with my Father in Heaven.
I talked with my mom about my tendency to get frustrated, and I realized while reading that talk, why didn't I let the day pass through me? Or in other words, think about my routine reactions, and improve? There is and always will be an opposition in all things throughout all our days. Every one of them.
Elder Maxwell said:
"So often in life a deserved blessing is quickly followed by a needed stretching. Spiritual exhilaration may be quickly followed by a vexation or temptation. Were it otherwise, extended spiritual reveries or immunities from adversity might induce in us a regrettable forgetfulness of others in DEEP need. The sharp side-by-side contrast of the sweet and the bitter is essential until the very end of this brief, mortal experience. Meanwhile, even routine, daily life provides sufficient sandpaper to smooth our crustiness and polish our rough edges, if we are meek."
What would have happened if I would have had yesterday pass through me? Or in other words, if I had seen ever second, every up and down as a spiritual opportunity to smooth out my crusty looks or remarks, I would be that much closer to my Father in Heaven today! Unfortunately, with the millon de tareas, or the endless amounts of things to do, sometimes, I forget that this day is a blessing, not just time to get groceries and laundry done.
President Hinckley said:
"It is not so much the major events as the small day to day decisions that map the course of our living. Our lives are in reality the sum total of our seemingly unimportant decisions and our capacity to live by those decisions." (Nov 2000, pg 37)
The Savior was truly the greatest example of this. He had more sweet and bitter and sandpaper- but he was already perfect. He did not open his mouth to complain about his suffering, or the temptations he had to go through, or the sicknesses, or the depression, or the sadness (see Elder Maxwell's talk)
I cried and was filled with the spirit as I read the account of the atonement in Elder Maxwell's talk, and I am so grateful for the sacrifice of the Savior. I hope I can show my gratitude by letting days pass through me, and allowing his atonement to purify me as I make my small day to day decisions, and choose not to be governed by my impatient, selfish "natural man," but to let the spirit guide me to know the will of the Father.
If you see me, feel free to say
"Hey Camille, How's your day passing?"
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