Forget Me Not

I was privileged to be among thousands of women who gathered for an international broadcast for women. It was full of messages that were inspirational, however there is one that resonated with me as I go down this self directed journey of mine. The talk was by Dieter Uchtdorf and it was based on the forget me not flower.... As I listened to the words that were shared, I felt like every word was for me...Here is what I learnt ;-)

Forget not to be patient with yourself
The best comment that I got out of this was that "the Lord knows we are not perfect" (I already knew this to be true - and by experience no less!!) but what made me smile was when Uchtdorf added that "He also knows that the people that we think are perfect are not!" This is so true and something that I have learnt only in the last decade. For so long I used to look around and think that other families were more better, righteous, richer, happier, prettier, and the children were better behaved and so on... until you realise one day when you talk to these people, they are just like you. They have the same struggles and some are actually worse off. I apply this thinking when watching Keeping up with the Kardashians - and somedays it works :-)Uchtdorf encouraged us to be compassionate and considerate of ourselves and to stop punishing ourselves! We are to celebrate the small successes in our homes.... I need to be more patient with myself.

Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice
This is another lesson that I have just learnt in the last half of my life. I am an aesthetic person and a visual learner - so when I am asked to do things - the first thing I used to concern myself is with how things would 'look' and  stress over getting things perfect like the decorations - I'm pretty particular about that kind of thing - at the expense of the quality of what I was trying to teach or the objective of the exercise... I am still pretty ccommitted to things looking a certain way, but it more about the message and how that is shared that counts these days ;-) Uchtdorf encourages us to ask of ourselves "Am I committing my time and energy to things that matter most?"

Forget not to be happy now
Uchtdorf talked about the golden ticket in the children's story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He used the behaviour of the people in the story who, upon the announcement of a winning golden ticket in five chocolate bars, became more concerned with getting the golden ticket and forgot about the actual joy of eating the chocolate. In most cases the bars without the tickets were overlooked and disregarded. Uchtdorf used this as an analogy for us to explain that "by putting happiness on hold (the life we have right now) in search of a golden ticket (more money, smaller body ;-), better this and better that) we will ulitmately miss out on the small pleasures and the simple and beautiful elegant moments" (notes or texts from friends, and beautiful meals with loved ones). What a wonderful reminder to be grateful for what you have!!

Forget not the 'why' of the gospel
This was directed at the women that were gathered who want to know how to do things and forget about why we do things. Every LDS woman is tasked with visiting other women every month of which most of us do. However we are taught that it should not be seen as an obligation, but rather as Uchtdorf encourages we would be better to remember why we are visiting, which is so that every home is visited and every woman knows that she is loved and supported.... A timely reminder!!

Forget not that the Lord loves me
In my notes I only recorded a few things but contained in those words were valuable messages - first, was "whatever our circumstances - we are not forgotten", secondly, "His love can heal any wound, and soften any sorrow". It was probably at this stage that I was touched the most because I believe this and know it to be true.... and I have never felt it more than I have done these past few months...

I walked away from this broadcast feeling that I was important. I realised and it was reaffirmed to me that my efforts are being counted and the matters that are important to me, and yet are minimal and go unnoticed by others, are actually important to my Heavenly Father...

Yours in friendship,

Mxo