My motto in life comes from my high school choir teacher... he taught us to sing out loudly and proudly, that way you'll know when you make a mistake and can fix it. I make all sorts of mistakes, but my friends and family love me anyway. Through all of life remember to just keep breathing.
Missionary care packages can brighten the day of any missionary. They don't need to be fancy, just full of love and personalization. I picked up a few fun things for my missionary today at the dollar store and from around the house. This is what I came up with.
Granola Bar: "And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye - for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day, and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar..." 2 Nephi 33:11
Gummy Eyeballs: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things..." Psalms 119:18
Jaw Breaker: "... and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." D&C 122:7
Sour Gummy Worms: Don't let "Sour" moments "Worm" their way into your companionship.
Reeces Pieces: "Peace (pieces) I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
Gummy Airplanes: "Fly High" in your missionary service.
Tootsie Rolls: Remember your "roll" as a missionary is to bring the good news of the gospel to all the world.
Kool-Aid: It's "Kool" to bring Spiritual "Aid" to the world.
Mouth Ring Pop: "Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind and strength. Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness. Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you. Yea open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." D&C 33: 7-10
Puzzle: Just like a puzzle piece is vital, every individual is important to our Heavenly Father.
Gum: "...choose (chews) you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Hi-Chew Candy: Take the "Hi" road and "Chews" to be a support to your fellow missionaries.
Swedish Fish: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
Firefly Launching Toy: Just as a "Firefly" can light up the night, let your testimony light up the lives of those you teach.
So lately I've been a "Pity Party Princess"... feeling sorry for myself and that I don't measure up. I know in my head that this is nonsense, but oh how I seem to wallow sometimes. This morning I was even thinking to myself that I just wish people could have known me "before". Before I was boring. Before I was calloused. Before I was tired. Before I was poor. Before I had gone through the trials I've gone through. Before... well, before I became the me I am today.
I thought... if they could have known me BEFORE maybe they would be able to see the person I used to be, the person I think I still am somewhere deep inside.
But the truth is, I'm not the same person. Some of the old me has gotten lost in the battle of life. I'm not as spontaneous, not as trusting, not as open. And I'm a pretty good actress. I can fool most of the world most of the time. I put on a mask and a whole lot of armor. Only a very few ever get inside to see the real me. Is it any wonder I don't have the same fun relationships I used to??
I was listening to the radio and the song Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth & Emile Sande' came on. What an inspired message for me today. I am going to have to let my wall down if I expect to have the quality of relationships that I want. It's hard. I've been burned and broken so many times.
Behind your Broadway show I heard a voice say please don't hurt me You've carried on so long You couldn't stop if you tried it You've built your wall so high That no one could climb it But I'm gonna try
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful Would you let me see beneath your perfect
One thing that I've learned about people is that they WILL let you down. They WILL disappoint you. But then again, I let people down and I disappoint people. Maybe it's time for a little less expectation and a little more grace...
Maybe it's time to start turning more fully to the One who WON'T let me down, the One who WON'T disappoint me, the One who will ALWAYS be there to support and love me right where I am, and will encourage me to become better. Maybe it's time to worry more about my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ, and less about my relationships with others.
Maybe as I come to love myself as the Savior loves me, I can open up and let others know and love me too.
And through it all remember to simply Keep Breathing.
