Friday, March 23, 2012
We have to work for things that are worthwhile
Dave and I have been reading talks for our scripture study. We just finished one entitled The Inconvenient Messiah given by Jeffery R. Holland at a BYU devotional in February 1982. It really made me think and Dave and I had some good discussion about it. What we both got from the talk is that it is not usually "convenient" to receive worthwhile blessings in this life. Really anything - earning money, parenting, schooling, having a good marriage, losing weight, etc - takes hard work to achieve our goals. I think this is something we need to remember often when we are struggling with our job (be it in the office or in the home) or our calling, or our financial situation. Elder Holland points out that Christ's life was never convenient. Satan will tempt us to try and take the easy way out, but that is never the best way. This talk helped put the big picture into perspective and helps me to remember that life is hard for a reason :) I would recommend this talk to anyone!
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I have been fascinated by the country's obsession with the lottery this past week. It has made me think about this talk and how as a society we want everything to come easily and don't want to be inconvenienced to obtain something. It is amazing how many people will pay money for a one in 176 million chance to win money. One quote that I found interesting was from Dr. Tom Manheim, who offers financial therapy in Solana Beach, CA:
ReplyDelete"After they win the jackpot, most of them self-destruct and they end up much more unhappy than they were before. It's really kind of a sad state of our economy where we think that money, once again, is going to bring us happiness and it doesn't."
While money doesn't bring us happiness, I would further this comment to say that it is really the getting something for nothing that destroys these people. I believe that money, like any reward for hard work, can be satisfying if earned and worked for, but when we get something for nothing, we value it much less, which can lead to poor choices and unhappiness. This concept can be extrapolated to raising kids, the demands the church places on our life, our professions and our relationships.
Thank you for your thoughts. One of the great things about getter older is gaining perspective. One way this perspective comes is by seeing challenges come and then resolve. When challenges are met with humility, faith and prayer, over time it is clear how the Lord works in our life and blesses us through learning by experience. I have had so many experiences that have taught me this. One time being when Dad was laid-off for the third time. I couldn't understand how someone trying so hard to do the right things could have this happen (again). I really wondered if Heavenly Father would allow us to lose our home etc... For months I struggled to feel the Spirit and didn't think I was, even in the temple. It was hard to keep praying and studying the scriptures. I had an experience though that helped me to "hang-on". The thought came to me, "will it make our situation any better if I stopped living the Gospel?" I knew enough to know (mostly through the experiences of others) that it would only make things worse. So, I just hung on and no big spiritual event happened, I just over time began to trust and gain my spiritual strength back. But it was because I hung on and kept at it. Now I look back and it has strengthened me to pray "more earnestly" as it says the Savior did in Luke 22:44. I can say it is a loving and all knowing Heavenly Father who allows us to work for the best gifts. I have always believed you reap what you sow.
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