On Being Positive

Right now I am reading Way to Be! by Gordon B. Hinckley.  It is a book written for youth, but I have gained a lot of strength from it.  Last night, I finished the chapter entitled Be Positive.  A couple of paragraphs really hit home for me and I thought I would share them.

"My dear friends, in who I have such confidence, don't partake of the spirit of our times.  Don't always be looking for the dark side of life.  Look for the good.  There is so much of the sweet and the decent and the positive to build upon.
Cultivate an attitude of optimism.  Know that God is watching over you, that He will hear your prayers and will answer them, that He loves you and will make that love manifest."
(Gordon B. Hinckley, Way to Be!, pg. 88)


As I struggle through my day to day problems both big and small, I often wonder how I am going to help the young women I have stewardship over through their problems.  I want them to know so many things.  That their Savior cares for them more than they can even imagine.  That through him they can do hard things.  That they are never alone.  That their leaders love them.  That they are wanted. I'm still learning some of those things myself; however, I know that even though at times it may seem a daunting prospect, if I have a positive outlook and patience, the Lord can help me through anything.

Discoveries

I have boxes of my things still in the garage. This drives my poor husband nuts because that garage is "his place." After my repeated evasions from coming outside to unpack them, he has started bring boxes inside for me to look through. This is quite a challenge because I literally keep everything that has ever meant something to me in my life. Just tonight I uncovered some very sweet birthday cards from Cory, thank you notes from friends, letters from missionaries, and even some quotes on marriage I collected. Two of the quotes were from President and Sister Hinkley and they were just so sweet I had to share.

"I like this man a lot, but I like him sometimes a lot more than others."
-Sister Hinkley
I admit I feel this way myself sometimes.

"As I held her hand and saw mortal life drain from her fingers, I confess I was overcome. Before I married her, she had been the girl of my dreams, to use the words of a song then popular. She was my dear companion for more than two-thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord, really my superior. And now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams."
President Gordon B. Hinkley
I will further admit that this makes me cry every time I read it, but I hope I am blessed with a love like that. It may take two-thirds of a century or more but I have a feeling we've made a good start. :)