Be A Light

10.23.17 Choose The Right. While I was reading Jeffrey R. Holland's October 2017 General Conference address Sunday night, I felt the words "Be a Light" enter my mind. I had just walked "Light The Night" with some of my family the night before. After I read the talk, I thought of how being a light to others is choosing the right. We don't always realize that others are looking to us for direction, maybe because we are looking for the light that others provide. I realized that being a light is thinking of others, which is the essence of being kind. Thinking of others isn’t ignoring ourselves at the expense of others. We can focus on others while being mindful of ourselves. It has been said that humility isn’t thinking less of ourselves but thinking less about ourselves. 

11.9.17 Be More Open. As I rode the bus this morning I thought of what it is to be a light.  And to my surprise, I found myself thinking about being more open and not being embarrassed about our weaknesses. Often we let the need to be perfect hide our weaknesses. Pride can cover or hide our true self and then our light doesn’t shine as brightly as it could. Being transparent about our struggles can be inspiring to other who are also struggling. We all have our Gethsemane to walk through in our lives. Our sufferings can teach us to be more compassionate and understanding toward others; to be more like Christ, who loved us unconditionally. During one of her toughest trials, a friend discovered that she had been an inspiration when a person sent her a note thanking her for the positive attitude.

11.19.17 “How are you?” Sometimes it is the simple acts that do the most good. Today one of the speakers in Sacrament Meeting talked of the hymn “Have I Done Any Good?” He spoke of the little acts of kindness that we do each day. Like asking how someone is doing, greeting a person with a warm welcome, opening the door, smiling when passing in the hallway and etc. One of the best acts of kindness I received was when someone didn’t offer advice; she just listened.

11.25.17 Walk With Others. Life is not a race to the swiftest; it is a journey where we walk with each other to each of our finish lines. It doesn’t matter who gets there first. One thing I’ve noticed about “Light The Night” is that is a walk, not a race. No one gets a reward or medal for being first, second or third. Various teams are walking together and there is no “official” start or finish line to cross. Everyone who is registered for the event carries a lantern, a symbol to bring a light to the darkness of cancer. Walking with another isn’t walking ahead or behind, but together beside each other towards the finish line. Although at times it may seem that we walk alone, we really aren't. I have found support as I passed through my trials and it has been comforting to know that others cared.

12.03.17 Who Needs Me Today? (Bonnie Oscarson)  It is easy when we are struggling to ask what others can do for us. It is harder to ask what we can do for others. But it can be done. If my mom can do it, anyone can. In her final days, my mom was not only bed ridden, but she couldn’t speak either. She could still smile at the nurses and somehow managed to thank them for the service they gave her.  Our burdens can be lighter when we serve others. It doesn’t have to be big; it can be a random act of kindness, like opening the door for a person who hands are full or like my mom - smiling at others. So instead of thinking what others can do for you; ask yourself what you can do for others. So let's be a light in our communities, let's bear one another's burdens. Let us love others as Christ loves us.