Sharing

Hi. It's been a while since I wrote one.  I knew it's been a long time but didn't realize it's actually been a year!

I've been thinking about getting back to blogging and after the last conference and reading my patriarchal blessing, I decided to go back some. At least I will try harder to do my part to follow my blessing:)

One Sunday morning I felt so uplifted.

Short version of the story starts here.
I wondered why and realized it is because I had a chance to share something I had learned with my friend who is going through a very hard trial.  When we share our light, not only we get a chance to help others shine brighter but we actually make our light brighter.  It is because we focus on the light we have within us.  And the good thing is, when we focus on that, our physical and spiritual eyes reflect it and shine to those around us.  Sharing something spiritually uplifting doesn't end at one text.  Isn't that amazing? I am so glad she shared the scripture with me.

Now here's a long version.  I thought about deleting this but this blog can be like a journal anyway right? So here it is I am just jumbling...!!

After I woke up, I studied scripture, checked emails and decided to text back to my friend who has been going through a huge trial.  I respect and love her even more now because of that and seeing how she is dealing with it.

After that I made breakfast, had good conversation with family, and decided to make emergency cookies that I will freeze for family and friends whoever need them.
Then we had an interview with Shule.  I was wondering why I felt so lifted and realized.  This is why.

In the text I sent to my friend, I shared some of the thought I had regarding the scripture she had shared with me.  It was about how we fall away because our hearts start to turn away from the Lord.
It is in the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 2:1-3 

"1 And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—

2 Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing.

3 And it came to pass that the people began to wax strong in wickedness and abominations; and they did not believe that there should be any more signs or wonders given; and Satan did go about, leading away the hearts of the people, tempting them and causing them that they should do great wickedness in the land"

 

As I read, I thought how easy it is for us to turn away.  This case it was easy to see because it is visible. I used to think "Oh they are just forgetting and becoming unhappy.  How do they not see this?"  Yet we need to realize how easy it is to turn our hearts away.  One thought, one action, anything. And the truth is, if we don't recognize it and try to put ourselves back in the right place, it will go on and before we know it, we are standing far, far away from the Lord or where we want to be. We are to try to examine ourselves daily and try to improve.  By this I mean not only pointing out the weaknesses but also the strength we have and learning how He sees us. 

Anyway.  Back to the good day.  I realized that because I shared my thought with her, I actually felt happier.  Sharing really brings happiness because as we recognize the light within us and try to share the light with others, we not only shine others but make the light within us brighter.  Sharing is a tool to help us recognize that light so we can make it brighter too.

What are we sharing today?

Eternal Family

Gee, I can tell I am really getting old!  I am constantly having to fix my typing nowadays.  I am typing the second letter before the first letter, or third letter before the second etc.  Cannot be happening to me!  haha

Well, back to the title.  Those of you who know me know this but, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as Mormons.  I was 16 when I first heard about the church and started taking lessons.

One of the things that the missionaries were excited to tell me about was this.  Eternal Family.
They looked very happy and delighted that they could share this with me.  My reaction?  "So what?". 
I never really thought of that because to me, family was the group of people who lived together and had
obligation somewhat to take care of each other in time of need.  We did our own thing and when things
required permission from parents, I would talk to my parents about things.  They were pretty much just there
but out of my life in many aspects, as much as I was to them or- so it seemed.

But now I have my own family, I yearn to stay with them for a long, long time even to eternity.
I want to do my best so that we can stay together, even though I struggle with my weaknesses constantly. 

Then, a thought came to me.  Does everyone in the family feel the same way?  Am I doing enough things so that everyone, each one of us in the family desire for the eternal family?  Then I freaked out because I was not sure. 

So, that's my goal now.  I want to create the home setting where everyone who lives and enters the house will feel comfortable to the extent they feel "eternity" somehow.  I want each one of us to feel and desire this feeling among the family to last forever.  I want us to feel peace at home.  And by doing this, I hope I will have the desire to have eternal family with my family I was born in someday.

What do you do so everyone in your family have desire to have eternal family with current family?      

Talents

As some or most of you know, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  And by now, many of you are singing the primary song "I belong to the church of..." haha.

I just wanted to share some thought on the lesson we have had in Relief Society or Sunday School so I will remember how I felt and get some insights from you-whatever they may be.  No unkind comments, please :) 

Last week, no maybe the week before, we learned about Talents.  When I used to hear the talents, I thought of a big accomplishment that people were making, or getting trophy playing sports, arts, etc.  Any kind of recognition people get in public start with talent.  That's what I used to think. 

I was so wrong!  Talents have to be something that are recognized on the stage or by any media or anything.  It could be some personality traits that we have.  If we all have talents and that have to be recognized in public somehow, that would be a mess... maybe the best talent is the one that is shown when nobody sees it shared. 

I tried finding the list of talents people have spiritually but couldn't find it.  Oh well.
Talents can be something we never knew we had until people point out for us.
Also, talents can be something that could be seen as a weakness. 

Here is my story. 
I have this 14 yrs old son who is quiet.  He is content and likes working alone and likes reading books.
When he was in 5th grade, the teacher gave him a certificate that says "most quiet".
When he read that to us, we all laughed...  it's not because he is louder at home.  When being quiet poises negative meaning in this society, it sounded a little sarcastic to get an award for that.  To be honest, I felt disappointed in the teacher. 

Then there's this 6th grade teacher.  She always said positive things about each kids and somehow knew how to bring out the best in the kids.  It must be because she really believed in them.  On the certificate he got from this teacher said "most focused". 

This case, I believe the latter teacher has a talent to see and find good in people.  And also, my son has a talent to stay focused.  He really does. 

It's just how we look at it. 

I believe talent and weakness go back to back at times.  If we don't do anything to overcome the weaknesses,  those talents cannot be developed until it happens.  Just like the movie King's Speech. 
He needed to overcome his stuttering problems before he could function and be the great tacer is

I hope we all can find talents we possess and develop them to the fullest with help from above.