Just this week as my pain suddenly was gone again I read Elder Uchtdorf's talk from October 2015 General Conference entitled It Works Wonderfully! In it he makes the comment of how often we make our discipleship too complicated and that we need to simplify our worship and our energy and time. However, it had a different meaning to me. I had been praying on how I could better appreciate the things in my life even while in the midst of a trial. I diligently look for my 'manna' each day and write down five things I'm thankful for each night in my journal, but I felt like I was missing small blessings God was granting me, I felt like I wasn't appreciating everything He did/does for me. When I read this talk I realized I needed to look for the simple things that make me smile and bring me joy. Another talk of Elder Uchtdorf's I read recently called A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose made me realize I was focusing too much on what wasn't working, what wasn't helping, and what wasn't happening that I wanted to. I became aware that even though I'm facing this seemingly awful trial there are still miracles and joy all around me. In his talk He said "But I know people who, even when things don't work out, focus on the wonders and miracles of life. These folks are the happiest people I know." I wanted to be one of those happy people. I know that I would be happy when the pain was gone, when I could participate in life again, but I didn't want to wait, which ties into the first talk I mentioned, noticing and being thankful for the small miracles, the small smiles, the small everythings that bring me joy. I love this Gospel and that Heavenly Father created us to have joy, He doesn't want us to be miserable, that's Satan's desire. God's desire is for us to have faith that He knows what He's doing and that His love for us is eternal! I love Him and all the things I've learned on a daily basis because I choose to be in tune with His Holy Spirit.
Love,
Kenzie
https://www.lds.org/study/ensign/2015/11/general-womens-session/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/study/liahona/2015/11/saturday-morning-session/it-works-wonderfully?lang=eng
