Day 31, January 31

Here it is the last day of the month.  I'm still trying to accomplish a few things.  When I review the last thirty- one days, I realize that I am happiest when I remember my priorities:  faith, family, friends, and purpose.

I frequently find that these priorities overlap.  When I did some family history work, with the help of a dear friend, I realize that I am incorporating all four ideals:  faith, because our church encourages genealogy work, family, because I am helping to redeem those of my family who have gone before; friends, because a sweet friend is there to encourage me; purpose, because I am doing something worthwhile.

Joy for today:  overlapping priorities.

Day 30, January 30

Yesterday I wrote about complaining, mean-spirited people.  I am loathe to admit that, at times, I have been that person.  I have been the person other people want to avoid at all costs.  I have been the person who tears down rather than uplifts.

It sucks.

When I find myself falling into that pattern of negativity, I go through the various stages of grief:  denial, anger, bargaining, and, finally, acceptance.  When I accept that I'm a pain in the patookie (is that how you spell it?), I resolve to do better.

I push myself up and try to find something good to comment on and someone nice to compliment.  You know what?  It isn't that hard.  It isn't hard at all, in fact, to find the beauty rather than the ugliness, the flowers rather than the weeds.

Joy for today:  finding beauty, finding flowers.

Day 29, January 29

We're skipping back to the subject of two days ago:  planting, reaping, and harvesting.

In that post, I described a couple who have planted good seeds all of their lives.  Chances are you know people like that.  I hope you do.  Chances are you also know others who have planted not-such-good seeds.  Most of us don't get away without knowing at least one or two of these people.

You know who these people are because of how you feel when you are around them.  You probably feel discouraged, depressed, or just plain tired.  They drain energy and zap good feelings due to their endless complaints and mean-spirited comments.  You endure their company because they are a co-worker, a person on the PTA committee where you've volunteered, or (horror) a family member.

Joy for today:  finding people like my friends who uplift rather than tear down.

Day 28, January 28

We're going to switch subjects and move on to Steven, Larry's and my second son.  Today is his 35th birthday.  (It just gets harder and harder to convince anyone, including my grandchildren, that I am only 29!)

Steve is our middle child, third out of five.  Some might say he is a peacemaker because of this birth order position.  However, I believe Steve came from heaven with this disposition already in place.

He is quiet-spoken, with emotions that run deeply.  But when he does talk, people listen.  He doesn't prattle on, as I do, but speaks with deliberation and thought.  He sets goals, then goes after them with equal parts dogged determination and faith.

Joy for today:  loving Steven.

Day 27, January 27

Lately I've been thinking about planting and harvesting.  My thinking is somewhat out of sync, as this is neither spring (planting time) nor fall (harvest time).  But I am often out of sync with the rest of the world, so I  will go with it.

Last fall, Larry and I planted some bulbs, hoping they will bloom this spring.  (Our gardening skills are iffy at best, so we wait and pray.)  As we planted the bulbs, I was put in mind of a dear couple in our ward, who have planted bulbs (or seeds) all their lives, seeds of service and love and compassion.

Those seeds have come back to them in glorious bloom in the love that others return to them. It is no surprise that they are loved and revered in our ward; nor is it a surprise that their example spreads to others as we try to emulate them.

Certainly, this comparison is not original with me.  The metaphor of planting seeds of flowers and love is an old one.  Perhaps it is an old one because it is so very true.

In a world where many people try to circumvent (or skip altogether) the steps necessary to lasting rewards, the law of the harvest remains immutable.  There is no circumventing it.  We truly do reap what we've planted.

Joy for today:  appreciating the law of the harvest.

Day 26, January 26

You may have noticed that this posting is late.  What can I say?  It seems my memory decided to take a vacation!

Well, it's back.  It will probably go on vacation again, but what can you expect from a woman who has passed that 60 mark and now looks upon her 50s as the "good old days?"

I had the opportunity to be humbled recently when I needed to call on a friend to help me with a computer problem.  I call her up and said, "Suzanne, I have a problem.  I need help."

Suzanne dropped everything to come to my aid.  When she saw what I was trying to do, she volunteered to go back to her home and bring something else.  She spent several hours of her day helping me, running back and forth.  I would hae been lost without her.

Joy for today:  turning to a friend for help.

Day 25, January 25

The men among you may want to skip this first paragraph.  It is directed to women:

Have you ever tried one-size-fits-all pantyhose?  If you have, you've discovered what I have:  they don't work.  A five foot nothing woman cannot wear the same pantyhose as a five foot ten inch woman.  Even with my limited knowledge of physics, I can figure that out.

However, this is something that fits all of us.  (Okay, men, you can join us now.)  The Gospel of Jesus Christ fits everyone.  It doesn't matter our size or our gender, our weaknesses or our strengths, the Gospel is for you.  No, we won't all wear it the same way.  Nor will we all find it at the same point in our lives. But the fact remains, that the Gospel--a belief in Christ and His teachings--fits all of us.  And isn't that wonderful?

Joy for today:  finding that the Gospel of Christ is a perfect fit.