Possible Perfection.

Last night I think my perfectionism was completely cured.  Finally after years and years, an answer came in the form of something small and simple--a text from my Dad.  Here is part of the text:

"I am glad you had such a good weekend princess :).  I love your family so much, and I am so very proud of you and everything you are and have become.  Thank you for being so good to your children.  You are the most wonderful mother, and please leave room for a tough day now and then because you know it happens.  I have learned that the perfect mother is not perfect in and of herself and she will even make mistakes from day to day, but her love is perfect, and that is what makes a mother perfect.  You are a perfect mother and daughter and I cherish the relationship that we have always shared. Hope your night is wonderful. Love, Dad :)"

And that's it.  A magic secret that has somehow been hiding from me all these years.  I can rest now knowing that I am perfect in one thing and someday, perhaps, (after many aeons of time and through my Savior's help) I can be perfect in all things.

Love for our families.  We can all be perfect in this one thing.

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Possible Perfection.

Last night I think my perfectionism was completely cured.  Finally after years and years, an answer came in the form of something small and simple--a text from my Dad.  Here is part of the text:

"I am glad you had such a good weekend princess :).  I love your family so much, and I am so very proud of you and everything you are and have become.  Thank you for being so good to your children.  You are the most wonderful mother, and please leave room for a tough day now and then because you know it happens.  I have learned that the perfect mother is not perfect in and of herself and she will even make mistakes from day to day, but her love is perfect, and that is what makes a mother perfect.  You are a perfect mother and daughter and I cherish the relationship that we have always shared. Hope your night is wonderful. Love, Dad :)"

And that's it.  A magic secret that has somehow been hiding from me all these years.  I can rest now knowing that I am perfect in one thing and someday, perhaps, (after many aeons of time and through my Savior's help) I can be perfect in all things.

Love for our families.  We can all be perfect in this one thing.

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For Today...

Yesterday fear gripped me as I thought of all the evil and wickedness and turmoil and unrest in the world.  And what I feared most was the unpredictability of the unknown.

But today I am shifting my views to the good that is still left in the world, the beautiful nature that surrounds me, all these tender mercies that a good Father bestows.  It is all grace, even the hard times.  And we must give thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father for all times and seasons.  But sometimes giving thanks for the hard is difficult.  It takes time to learn this new language of thanks when what we want to do is worry, complain about our trials, and be pessimistic.  I continue to work on this language-learning, and until I can master it fully, I will glory in doing the easy gratitude--thanks for all that's good around me.

Because it's there.  We just have to notice it.

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For Today...

Yesterday fear gripped me as I thought of all the evil and wickedness and turmoil and unrest in the world.  And what I feared most was the unpredictability of the unknown.

But today I am shifting my views to the good that is still left in the world, the beautiful nature that surrounds me, all these tender mercies that a good Father bestows.  It is all grace, even the hard times.  And we must give thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father for all times and seasons.  But sometimes giving thanks for the hard is difficult.  It takes time to learn this new language of thanks when what we want to do is worry, complain about our trials, and be pessimistic.  I continue to work on this language-learning, and until I can master it fully, I will glory in doing the easy gratitude--thanks for all that's good around me.

Because it's there.  We just have to notice it.

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Do your Duty.

A talk from Elder Joesph B. Wirthlin shed light upon yet another aspect of happiness.  Said he:

"When we accept duties willingly and faithfully, we find happiness. Those who make happiness the chief objective of life are bound to fail, for happiness is a by-product rather than an end in itself. Happiness comes from doing one’s duty and knowing that his life is in harmony with God and His commandments."

And what are our duties?  They are the assignments given to us from Heavenly Father.  Search your heart to know exactly which duties you've been entrusted with.  May I suggest that for men the God-given duties include being a husband, father, and provider.  For women, a wife, mother, and nurturer.  And for both, accepting the calls the Lord gives to serve our fellowmen.  As life meanders along, calls to serve may change.  But always there will be duties to perform and happiness to find. There is little that compares with the joy one feels after a duty is performed well.  It just feels so good to know that you have done all that is expected of you and your heart swells with gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve.

Happy Challenge:
Think of at least one duty today that you can give your whole heart, mind, and soul.  Do this one duty well and commit to always striving to do your duties with a willing and submissive heart.  Happiness will surely follow.

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Do your Duty.

A talk from Elder Joesph B. Wirthlin shed light upon yet another aspect of happiness.  Said he:

"When we accept duties willingly and faithfully, we find happiness. Those who make happiness the chief objective of life are bound to fail, for happiness is a by-product rather than an end in itself. Happiness comes from doing one’s duty and knowing that his life is in harmony with God and His commandments."

And what are our duties?  They are the assignments given to us from Heavenly Father.  Search your heart to know exactly which duties you've been entrusted with.  May I suggest that for men the God-given duties include being a husband, father, and provider.  For women, a wife, mother, and nurturer.  And for both, accepting the calls the Lord gives to serve our fellowmen.  As life meanders along, calls to serve may change.  But always there will be duties to perform and happiness to find. There is little that compares with the joy one feels after a duty is performed well.  It just feels so good to know that you have done all that is expected of you and your heart swells with gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve.

Happy Challenge:
Think of at least one duty today that you can give your whole heart, mind, and soul.  Do this one duty well and commit to always striving to do your duties with a willing and submissive heart.  Happiness will surely follow.

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Approaching Perfection.

Have you ever considered that happiness, the true kind, the kind that stays in your heart long after a joyful moment or experience has faded into the twilight, bursts forth from the wellspring of a relationship with Deity?  Consider the words of the prophet Joseph Smith:

“We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [1976], sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, 51).

"The nearer man approaches perfection"--in other words, the nearer a man approaches God, for is He not the sum of perfection?  This one little phrase, the simplest and yet by far the hardest test of mortality---to  approach perfection.  This one little key can unlock happiness?  This forging ahead and trying and failing and repenting and rising a little higher?  And with each step closer to God, "the greater [our] enjoyments."  The greater our joy.  The greater our happiness.  And if we feel somewhat unhappy today, could we move a step closer to our Maker tomorrow?  Would we, in turn, feel a bit closer to a lasting form of happiness as well?  Yes, we will.  But don't just take my word for it.  Try it out yourself.  And see.

Happy Challenge:
Identify one step you can take to approach a little closer to perfection, a little closer to God.  Just one.  And when you've taken that step, don't be satisfied.  Take another.  And another.  And another.  Measure the increase of your happiness after the span of a week.  And a month.  And even a year.  Record your transformation.  Each step, each habit conquered, is a molding of ourselves to the image of Christ.  Every step makes a difference, each small effort is eternally needed.  Don't discount the small and simple things.

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