Its the little things . . .

 

Be thankful for the little things;
If you can talk awhile
With someone whom you love to see,
Just bringing you a smile,
If you can linger in the sun
To greet a bird that sings,
And gather daffodils again . . .
Be glad of little things.

I think that is the secret to a happy life. Being able to enjoy the little things . . . small pleasures, like the feel of the sun on your cheeks, or the whisper of the breeze as it waltzes down your street. 

Things we most often take for granted . . . like clean air, and water, or a warm roof over our heads. So often we may find ourselves wanting . . . desiring to have more. A newer car, or posh furniture, perhaps the latest model of this or of that. And then . . . when watching the telly, we catch a glimpse of a mother holding her starving child in her arms, unable to do anything to help the child . . . and we are reminded again of how much we really do have already. And we are humbled.

 Life is not about wanting more. Real joy comes from being content with what we do have, and in sharing that, however little or however much it may be, with one who has less . . . and there is always someone who has less.

And sharing doesn't only mean material things . . . time is probably the most valuable resource that we have, next to being loved. If you have love . . . you have everything. If you have time to share it with someone else, then you give everything. There are so many people out there who are alone and lonely . . . who desperately want to matter to someone, to anyone. You could be that someone for them. Is there some little thing that you could do for them today? A few minutes of your time? A listening ear? Some of those cookies that you are going to bake for your children? A few sunny daffodils from the garden? It needn't be much . . . but I guarantee it will be everything to them.

“Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley  

Little things . . . small gestures, and simple acts of service. They're not so little. Today in your walk, be ever mindful that you may be the only glimpse of the Saviour that some people might ever see . . . be kind.

A thought to carry with you  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.sometimes the smallest step
in the right direction
ends up being the biggest
step of your life.
Tip toe if you must,
but take the step.
 ~unknown•。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER

Today's Reading - Alma 5:1-25 

Question - Please take the time to be prayerful and answer Alma's questions to yourself today. What have you learnt from the reading? 

Thoughts - I've always wondered about the phrase 'clean hands, pure heart'. So today I read a talk with the same title by David A Bednar. And found this which I love: 

 

"Prophets throughout the ages have emphasized the dual requirements of (1) avoiding and overcoming bad and (2) doing good and becoming better. Consider the penetrating questions posed by the Psalmist:

 
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3–4).

 
Brothers and sisters, it is possible for us to have clean hands but not have a pure heart. Please notice that both clean hands and a pure heart are required to ascend into the hill of the Lord and to stand in His holy place.

 
Let me suggest that hands are made clean through the process of putting off the natural man and by overcoming sin and the evil influences in our lives through the Savior’s Atonement. Hearts are purified as we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better. All of our worthy desires and good works, as necessary as they are, can never produce clean hands and a pure heart. It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that provides both a cleansing and redeeming power that helps us to overcome sin and a sanctifying and strengthening power that helps us to become better than we ever could by relying only upon our own strength. The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and for the saint in each of us". 

 
I like how Alma refers to a testimony as a mighty change of heart. It's not just about gaining a knowledge and thinking 'that's nice' and getting on with our lives like we were before, it's about allowing Christ to change our hearts and our lives until we live by His will rather than our own. 

 

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 144) - Alma 5:26-42 

Question - What is pride? Why is it important that we are stripped of pride? 

 

 

 

In the kitchen today, a delicious Couscous Salad, with spring onions, baby spinach, plum tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers and a punchy lemon & tarragon vinaigrette.  This is incredibly tasty!

Have a great Wednesday!  Don't forget! 

 

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And I do too!!