For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so..., righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
And I'm okay with that. I learn from the hard times and really feel the sweetness of the happy times. But sometimes I "wallow". My life is not perfect. We have been struggling for independence our whole married life and the goal still seems far off. (More on this later). It is so easy for me to see the negative side of "life". My desires for our future are so shockingly different from our 'now' that I often miss the beauty, and peace, and wonderfulness of the moment. I'm working on this.
Not long ago I was cycling through a particularly long bout of "wallowing". I don't like depression, or sadness, or self pity. They don't feel good. So I struggle to fix it. I pray, I read scriptures, I try to find something that will break through my self-made wall of negativity. One day, while driving home, a thought came to me. "Sing a song". So I did. Some random Primary song that always sticks with you once you learn it. And I felt lighter.
That night as a perused the scriptures I came across this scripture, already highlighted by previous study.
For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto
me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.
"Is it really this easy?" I thought. The answer to my troubles is song? I'll do it! I'll try anything! But I wondered what the blessing would be for me.
So I started singing. Mostly in my head, or whenever it's just me and the kids in the car, and always hymns or primary songs. I don't have a huge selection to pull from my memory but I am totally okay with that. And apparently my Heavenly Father is too, because I HAVE been blessed. Do we have our own place? - No. Has our income increased? - No. Do the dishes magically clean themselves? - No. But I'm happier.
By keeping a song in my heart my mood was lifted and I feel capable of really enduring to the end. It is a daily reminder of the goodness of God and His love for me. My thoughts are happier and I am able to more fully enjoy my family and our everyday life. I started singing for my own benefit, for whatever blessings would be bestowed upon my head. Now I sing with a true feeling of praise, as a way to portray my gratitude and love for my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
It is so easy to carry a song in the heart! It is small and light, and creates a positive energy that can lift and protect us from the worry and negativity of this world. It makes me happy!
What makes you happy?
4 comments:
BBQ and getting called Dad.
sweet and saucy, yum!
ice cream, a good movie, a good book, and cleaning my house!
Oooo, good ones Courtney!I'm always amazed at how great it feels to clean! You would think I would do it more often...
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