As a presidency, we recently spent the day together. We cleared our schedules and arranged care for our kids and took off. We talked and talked, ate, laughed, counseled, consoled, shopped, encouraged, reassured, and enjoyed each others company well into the night. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we spent some time reliving, together, who we all use to be, before family, bills, and responsibility became our driving force. I have to say, it was a near perfect day.
Life has its way of slipping by unnoticed, until we spend a little time taking a long deep breath. Spending that day with Jill, Wendy and Shelley, made me realize how the simple joys of friendship can truly enhance and garnish my life. Certainly, a tender mercy of the Lord has been given to us... through each other! I always notice Shelley's busy work and school schedule, Jill's husbands' job challenges, Wendy's health issues and busy kids schedules and my family challenges and I am continually amazed that we still show up to all the things we are asked to be a part of. I know it isn't easy, but i am reassured in the quiet contemplative moments that our Heavenly Father is aware of each of us; of our challenges, of our shortcomings, of our heartaches, of our ambitions, and of our self doubt. He is ever sending us the replenishment we need to go on.
I had a chance a couple of weekends ago, to attend my friend Simone's stake women conference in Riverside. Sister Watson-Nelson (wife of Apostle Russell M. Nelson or is it M Russell Nelson?) and Sheri Dew spoke. Sheri Dew is one of my all time favorite writers... and now, speakers. She is full of inspiring thoughts. Her books constantly clutter my night stand, and the pages... they are filled with highlighted paragraphs, sticky notes and comments in the margins, marking the many inspirational insights she has to offer. (I sometimes secretly wish i could be her, just for a few days.) I am so grateful to have been there, to hear those messages that day. I keep thinking about one comment though, out of all three hours... just one little comment keeps playing over and over in my mind. She said..."If Heavenly Father were here today with us, I imagine, that he would stand at this pulpit and something like, thank you for all you do... thank you for every single one of your righteous moments... that is helping to build up my kingdom here on earth." I became very emotional as she said that. Probably because I hadn't ever really thought of what I do, that way before. I hadn't really ever thought of my life in moments before. I usually spend my time thinking about how I can't EVER seem to, CONSISTENTLY, do ANYTHING! Maybe it was for the first time, that I thought of all those little moments of righteousness that have added up over the years. And for a little fleeting second, I had a tiny glimpse of my righteous influence. Is it possible, that we are all like that a little bit? That we spend way too much time thinking about how we fall so short of who we really want to be and not enough time adding up all the little moments of righteousness that fill our weeks and months and eventually our lives. Today... I want to say to Jill, Wendy, and Shelley... Thank you! Thank you, for every single one of your righteous moments, every single one of your obedient moments, and every single one of your reluctant drives out to the stake center to serve along side me. I love you guys!
