Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: Payback

Monday, October 19, 2009

Payback

Today I was checking blogs, and started reading a post from one of my favorite friends and bloggers, Charlotte. I was reading along, thinking, wow! Neat! She got put in as 1st Counselor in the Young Women's presidency... she'll do great! She'll have fun! Then... I caught my name. This sweet, beautiful, elegant, wonderful, kind, girl wrote a post to me. Me!

She actually remembered little things from when I was her leader (in a roundabout way) and I actually made a difference in her life. Who knew?? It made me cry rivers of tears today, because there are times now as the young women president in this ward that I have serious doubts that I'm making a difference... and now I have hope that maybe, just maybe, I am. Or I will. And even if I don't, I did make a difference once.

Maybe I can take a little teeny bit of the credit for the amazing woman Charlotte has turned out to be, and that is something I can really be proud of. Charlotte, thank you... thank you for noticing, thank you for remembering, and thank you for letting me know. I know that you will make a difference in the lives of the girls you serve now, and they will make a difference in your life too... I can't even tell you how much joy it brings me to see you in the same position I was, with kids the same age, at a similar time of life, giving back. Love you!

4 comments:

Charlotte said...: Thanks for being you, Mindy. I'm so glad that we ended up as friends. And thank you for your words of encouragment! I hope I can live up to your example.; 11:07 AM
Becky said...: Mindy...I don't know how you are going to do this but you need to send that picture to the New Era. Just feel its important. Its beautiful and touching and strong. Love you; 11:40 AM
Janice {Run Far} said...: you are amazing... really wish we lived near each other so I could steal some running time with you and learn from you. Love the pic.; 11:34 AM
George and Teri said...: Just looked at your photoblog and your pictures are beautiful! Love the editing you did on some.. the way they look old fashioned and vintagy. ( is that a word?) anyways you are very talented!; 11:06 PM

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To Do Today

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

from "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit by F. Enzio Busche