Do you ever have those days where everything goes perfectly? All your plans and goals are accomplished, all the people you interact with are nice and helpful, no curve-balls are thrown your way, and it could not possibly be better.
Yeah, me neither.
What I do remember are good days that became great, not because they were perfect, but because they were hard and worth it. Typically I can remember the things I wish would have gone better, but those days were great because I got over it and focused on the good. (one from a while ago)
I had one such day recently.
It started early. Not just because I was going to observe high schools and had to be there on time, but also because I was performing with the Women's Chorus at Devotional that day. It was cold, something you wouldn't have seen on my face through layers of makeup. I had been nervously looking forward to this day because I knew there was only a slight chance that everything would work out to my satisfaction.
As I drove to pick up my carpool buddies for observation that day I was a little impatient and nervous about being late, especially since I wanted to leave the school ASAP so I could be on time for devotional. During observation I had plenty of time to think and chill out. When it came time to leave I again became nervously impatient because one of my passengers was 10 minutes late. As I drove them home (which is a bit out of the way from everywhere, hence more impatience) I made on-the-go plans for where I would park to be able to get to the Marriott Center the fastest and not get a parking ticket. I almost ran down to the choir section, but got trapped behind some slow people and my adrenaline, nerves, and impatience got the better of me for a few minutes. Still, I made it in time for it to start, although not for any warm-ups like I had ideally planned. Again I had some time to calm down, realize it wasn't such a big deal, and let go of my frustrations.
We sang my favorite song of the semester, How Great Thou Art, and then I got to listen to an amazing message from a general authority in the church. After devotional was over I made my way back to my car and drove to the temple, because Tuesdays have become my temple days (so many other stories). Every time that week (and successive weeks) when I had passed the MTC, I thought about my friend who had just entered as a missionary and was completing her first week of training.
As I parked and started walking to the entrance of the temple, I saw some missionaries who had just come out of the temple and were getting their picture taken. As one of the sisters gave someone her phone for the picture, I had the distinct thought that it was her. After a minute of awkwardly trying to see if it was really her and waiting for them to finish with pictures, she retrieved her phone and I called out "Sister ____!" As she recognized me and came in for a hug I could see and feel that she really needed it. Her voice on the edge of cracking and blinking back tears, she squeezed me hard, and I squeezed her right back. Words were exchanged, but more importantly, love. Another hug and we went our separate ways. Short, sweet, hopefully not grounds for a homesick heartbreak.
Then I got to participate in ordinances for the relatives of a sweet brother I frequently see in the temple (What goes on in LDS Temples). After I left the temple, my day went on as usual: food, homework, class, repeat. Looking back on that day -even hours later- I realized how different it would've been if I had gotten caught up in the things that didn't go my way, or let myself be frustrated over those little things like waiting an extra 10 minutes here and there.
In my religion class the day before, we had talked about Elder Rasband's story of his niece and nephew who ran into each other while he was on his mission. A coincidence, except we don't really believe in those, so he called it Divine Design. We discussed two schools of thought "Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous" and "Coincidences are God's way of making himself known." God knew what each of us needed, and he brought us together so we could fulfill each other's needs. My sister, a source of infinite wisdom, said of my experience: "You aren't supposed to see family on your mission, but when you do it's because you need it." There have been many times in my life where I needed the reassurance that I was loved and that things were going to be ok. While these confirmations haven't always come from Heavenly Father, my friends and family have helped me realize that there is so much love around me. And it's great! He wants us to find the good, make it better, and become great by overcoming our daily trials.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't planned. It wasn't spectacular.
It was a great day.
... And that's enough
(for additional stuff see the several links throughout, our title today comes from the musical Dear Evan Hansen)
Yeah, me neither.
What I do remember are good days that became great, not because they were perfect, but because they were hard and worth it. Typically I can remember the things I wish would have gone better, but those days were great because I got over it and focused on the good. (one from a while ago)
I had one such day recently.
It started early. Not just because I was going to observe high schools and had to be there on time, but also because I was performing with the Women's Chorus at Devotional that day. It was cold, something you wouldn't have seen on my face through layers of makeup. I had been nervously looking forward to this day because I knew there was only a slight chance that everything would work out to my satisfaction.
As I drove to pick up my carpool buddies for observation that day I was a little impatient and nervous about being late, especially since I wanted to leave the school ASAP so I could be on time for devotional. During observation I had plenty of time to think and chill out. When it came time to leave I again became nervously impatient because one of my passengers was 10 minutes late. As I drove them home (which is a bit out of the way from everywhere, hence more impatience) I made on-the-go plans for where I would park to be able to get to the Marriott Center the fastest and not get a parking ticket. I almost ran down to the choir section, but got trapped behind some slow people and my adrenaline, nerves, and impatience got the better of me for a few minutes. Still, I made it in time for it to start, although not for any warm-ups like I had ideally planned. Again I had some time to calm down, realize it wasn't such a big deal, and let go of my frustrations.
We sang my favorite song of the semester, How Great Thou Art, and then I got to listen to an amazing message from a general authority in the church. After devotional was over I made my way back to my car and drove to the temple, because Tuesdays have become my temple days (so many other stories). Every time that week (and successive weeks) when I had passed the MTC, I thought about my friend who had just entered as a missionary and was completing her first week of training.
As I parked and started walking to the entrance of the temple, I saw some missionaries who had just come out of the temple and were getting their picture taken. As one of the sisters gave someone her phone for the picture, I had the distinct thought that it was her. After a minute of awkwardly trying to see if it was really her and waiting for them to finish with pictures, she retrieved her phone and I called out "Sister ____!" As she recognized me and came in for a hug I could see and feel that she really needed it. Her voice on the edge of cracking and blinking back tears, she squeezed me hard, and I squeezed her right back. Words were exchanged, but more importantly, love. Another hug and we went our separate ways. Short, sweet, hopefully not grounds for a homesick heartbreak.
Then I got to participate in ordinances for the relatives of a sweet brother I frequently see in the temple (What goes on in LDS Temples). After I left the temple, my day went on as usual: food, homework, class, repeat. Looking back on that day -even hours later- I realized how different it would've been if I had gotten caught up in the things that didn't go my way, or let myself be frustrated over those little things like waiting an extra 10 minutes here and there.
In my religion class the day before, we had talked about Elder Rasband's story of his niece and nephew who ran into each other while he was on his mission. A coincidence, except we don't really believe in those, so he called it Divine Design. We discussed two schools of thought "Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous" and "Coincidences are God's way of making himself known." God knew what each of us needed, and he brought us together so we could fulfill each other's needs. My sister, a source of infinite wisdom, said of my experience: "You aren't supposed to see family on your mission, but when you do it's because you need it." There have been many times in my life where I needed the reassurance that I was loved and that things were going to be ok. While these confirmations haven't always come from Heavenly Father, my friends and family have helped me realize that there is so much love around me. And it's great! He wants us to find the good, make it better, and become great by overcoming our daily trials.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't planned. It wasn't spectacular.
It was a great day.
... And that's enough
(for additional stuff see the several links throughout, our title today comes from the musical Dear Evan Hansen)
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