Baby Steps toward Eternity
As I was typing up my Women's Conference notes on our family website, I started thinking about how little I have had to sacrifice, and wondering how difficult it would be for me to sacrifice something that means a lot to me. I believe I'm making progress in this area, but I have such a long, long way to go. Here's some of my thinking:
When Roger, Megan, and I fasted and prayed to decide if we should move from ABQ to NY, and the answer was "yes," I thought I was making a big sacrifice. After all, I was moving far away from the West and from most of our family. But a loving Heavenly Father made that sacrifice so much easier. When we first moved here, Randy and Coleen were only 6 hours away, and Kimberly and her family were only 2. For the first 3-1/2 years Megan was still living with us, which made the move and its transition so much easier, and for the next 3-1/2 years Blake and Cheryl and their family lived only 1-1/2 hours away, making the empty nest transition easier.
It's strange that for the first time in the 7+ years we've lived here, this is the first time that Roger and I don't have some family members living geographically close. How spoiled we've been! Maybe the fact that we are still here, without any idea about our future is a sign of His confidence. I hope so, and I hope that we prove ourselves capable, willing, and worthy of his trust.
I am sure that there are much much bigger sacrifices ahead for us. That's part of the Plan. And I'm also sure that when that happens, there's a possibility that I will wonder why this seemed like such a big sacrifice at the time. But for now that's just what it is to me. It may be a baby step in the sacrifice department, but I'm sure it's leading my heart and mind where He wants them to be.
This thought process has reinforced my knowledge and assurance that Heavenly Father knows and loves each of us personally and that He will never leave us alone. His gospel contains everything we need to know and do to find peace, happiness, no matter what we are asked to sacrifice along the way.
posted by Linda @ 10:21 AM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
I like this quote by President Kimball and have discovered that what he says is true. Often what we think might be considered a sacrifice turns out to not really be one at all - because of all the blessings that follow. I haven't figured out yet if that makes sacrifice easier or harder though! How can you really learn to sacrifice if it doesn't end up feeling like a sacrifice?
"We must sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord. We begin by offering a “broken heart and a contrite spirit.” We follow this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and in our callings. We learn our duty and execute it fully. Finally we consecrate our time, talents, and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. In the Church, we can give expression to every ability, every righteous desire, every thoughtful impulse. Whether a volunteer, father, home teacher, bishop, or neighbor, whether a visiting teacher, mother, homemaker, or friend—there is ample opportunity to give our all. And as we give, we find that 'sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!' And in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all." (March 1985 Ensign)
Thanks mom. I wish we lived next door to you guys...then you wouldn't get a thing done and we'd love it.
Thanks for sharing mom, I am sure learning that right now and hope to learn as much as you did.
I love and I'll miss you tons!....
.....hopefully I won't have to miss you though :-)
Mom,
I miss you too. If you move here you can have me all to yourself again. :)
Megan
We talked about sacrifice in Sunday school yesterday, and one person made the comment that sacrifice really depends on what is in your heart, how you feel about it. Probably this has to do with what Becky said about a broken heart. And just so you know, I feel like it's a sacrifice to be so far away from you too. Then again, I was complaining about this very fact to one of my friends and she pointed out that even though we all live geographically far away, we are all close in spirit. She has a sibling that lives close geographically, but he's in prison and not making very good choices, and that is such a source of heartache to her. And that helped me to see this all in a better light. I am so grateful that we all love eachother and are striving to make the best choices we can in our lives. Love you.
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