I received an e-mail from Nat today! I love getting her e-mails and hearing how she is doing! Today
was a very inspiring letter. She included a great conference talk by President Uchdorf about managing your time and slowing your life down. When your life is full of stress, it's important to remember what things really matter. :)
I wanted to include some of Natalie's letter because it was SO good! She wrote:
?We ate Lunch at a member's home, Maria José. It was a wonderful meal. Except, Maria José kept returning to the kitchen to clean the dishes instead of eating with us. Afterwards, we shared a spiritual thought with her and her family. Maria José broke down in tears during the message and could not stop. Her tears grew and eventually the silence around us grew with it. "Maria José, Are you okay?" I asked. She replied, "I am so stressed. My home is a mess and I have so much on my mind. So many things I have to do."
How many times do we have moments like this? ...This is what made me think.
It reminded me of a talk given quite a few years ago in a General Conference. They gave an example of a child cleaning up toys. There was a box for a set of zoo animals and the child started by picking up all the small little animals like chickens, hens, sheep and stuffed it in the box. Nearing the end of all the toys to clean up, the last one remaining was a large giraffe. The child in frustrations tried stuffing the giraffe in and closing the lid to the box. But of course, the lid wouldn't close. Going to her grandma, she asked for help. The grandmother saw that what needed to be done was to dump out all the small animals and start over again placing the big ones in first.
How many times do we stress about putting in the small things first? How many times do we stress about our upswept floors or whether we will have a perfect meal to feed to our kids each day?...or even to feed to the missionaries?, haha.
What are the big things to put in the box first? Elder Uchtdorf explained here...
We need to remember our self worth does not reflect on our to do lists. We must prioritize our lives and decide what is good, better and best. Uchtdorf also talks about 4 relationships that are most crucial in our lives. Our relationship with God, our Families, our fellowmen, and ourselves.
Natalie continues on saying: "Don't let the temporary stresses of the world stop you from taking in the things of eternal value. Remember Mary, who chose the better part, something she will never lose throughout all eternity. Remember to put the small things after."
Lastly, Nat included an AMAZING Mormon message. It includes such basic truths, yet is so powerful.
In Alma 7:11-13 it says:
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities
.
The Atonement of our Savior was an act the is unfathomable!! It effected every person who has lived and will live on this earth. Our Savior continues to live and continues to love us. He died for every single one of us and as he knelt, pleading with God in the Garden of Gethsemane, he felt each and every one of our pains and afflictions, individually. One by one. Because of him there is hope. Because of him there is happiness. Because of him there is life. Because of him there is repentance. Because of him we never have to be alone. Because of him there is no end!
No comments:
Post a Comment