For the past few years our stake presidency has given our stake specific goals and and tasks to accomplish. They are very standard items, but a handy list to keep you focused and geared towards the Savior. I appreciate a good list. It helps me track my progress.
As I looked over the list for 2011 earlier this week something jumped out at me, one bullet states, "reflect at the close of each day on evidence of the Lord's hand in your life, regularly record your thoughts."
This concept is nothing new. In fact, many keep gratitude journals or even record how the Lord has blessed them on their personal blog. I however, am not always examining my days to recognize just how the Lord has shown His hand in my life, that day.
I want to do better with this.
I recalled a talk by President Eyring, "O Remember, Remember", where he shared his experience of learning the importance of recording just how the Lord had blessed him in his life.
From his talk:
"I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.
More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened.
The years have gone by. My boys are grown men. And now and then one of them will surprise me by saying, “Dad, I was reading in my copy of the journal about when . . . ” and then he will tell me about how reading of what happened long ago helped him notice something God had done in his day.
My point is to urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. It will build our testimonies. You may not keep a journal. You may not share whatever record you keep with those you love and serve. But you and they will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done. You remember that song we sometimes sing: “Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
Considering the season we are quickly approaching, I want to be better in recognizing and recording the evidences of the Lord in my life. How about you? How do you remember this? Do you keep a journal or record of these things? I'd love to hear your ideas or thoughts.
6 comments:
I've just been having these same thoughts. I don't keep a journal and sometimes I don't write things on my blog for fear of being too prototypical, but honestly I think I might try to include more of these reflections on there.
Regular journaling has been a part of my spiritual growth in the last year. I have felt compelled to record the miracles that are unfolding in my life. In 2010, my only New Year's resolution was to find joy in my daily life. It has been a fantastic resolution that has brightened my outlook.
WOnderful thought and wonderful challenge. This is something I will try and do. It is amazing when we recognize the Lord's dealings in our lives, so thanks for the reminder and suggestion!
I haven't always been good at taking the counsel from Pres. Eyring's talk, although I have always wanted to do this since the day I heard it. My mother-in-law even gave us special journals for Christmas one year to write these things down. I think I have yet to use it for this purpose :) However, after Dusty left I immediately had the impression that I needed to write down the tender mercies. At first I was just writing them down in a notebook, but then I started to write a "tender mercy of the day" in my daily letters to Dusty. Sometimes there are several, there is always at least one. It has helped me focus on the positive, has blessed Dusty at Ranger School, has strengthened my faith that Heavenly Father is aware and in complete control, and has taught me that "all things that are good are from God." I think I used to look at my day and go "I don't know...DID I see His hand today?" And some days I just couldn't for the life of me come up with something. Terrible, I know. But during this time, in conjunction with my study of the scriptures, I have learned a wonderful lesson that if it was a good thing, it was a blessing and evidence of His hand. Plain and simple. Some might think that that's a little extreme, but that's fine. I'm happier with my spiritual growth than I've been in a long time, and that is evidence right there. I just need to keep it up once he gets back...
Novel! Sorry.
Loved your thoughts Mary Anne. Thank you.
I have a journal i keep for both of my kids. Sometimes months go by before I write again but it it important for me to write about how they are growing and how thankful i am for them and all the moments they teach me.
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