Too often I find myself working and worrying about what rewards I will get for my efforts from the world (recognition, money earned, promotions or new responsibilties). In the end, this is what I discovered- I was miserable. It was never enough, there was always more to do and someone better I was competing against. When I stopped worrying about what the world thought, or pushing myself to do things that I didn't really need to do I felt a huge burden of stress lifted. For example, I don't need to work up to being an administrator or be part of school leadership if what I really cared about was helping my students. All I need to focus on is that and then everything else melts away. I don't have to worry about how they are going to plan or organize everything.
I think this is the way it is with our spirituality and perspective on eternal life. Its nice to be important and have responsibilities, but we need to be focused on our own eternal progress and help others to do the same. That's really the essence of what we do and why we should be doing it. That is all we can take with us when we leave this earth.
Peace is so elusive in this world. Just when we think we have a "moment of peace" it is snatched away by the next crises demanding our attention. This scripture reminds me that the eternal perspective brings into clearer focus those immediate demands. I find too often I let the urgent matters rob from the important ones. Last week the urgent matter was to spend additional time with the ten missionary couples. The important need was to go spend time with my granddaughters so Will could attend an award presentation. Fortunately this time I choose correctly and was rewarded with some quality time with three beautiful little girls. That elusive peace of this world quickly appears in our lives as we allow the things of eternal significance to take precedence over the never ending demands of earth life.
Righteousness takes work. We can't say I am righteous and stop trying. We are a continual work in progress. Becoming righteous is the reason we come to earth. It is a process. If we continue to grow and learn each day and try to follow the commandments and keep our covenants then we are on the road to righteousness. We won't be perfectly righteous in this world, because that is saved for Eternity. When we are are about our Father's business, like Christ put the Father's will before his own, then we are doing the works of righteousness and can have peace. Not only peace in this world but peace in the next. Peace is something you can't buy it is something that you are given by Heavenly Father when you have done all you can. It is worth more than all the expensive gifts of this world. As we follow the Savior we get that Peace he talked about "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.
I wanted to do this before I forget and this scripture talks about peace and having righteousness and we need to have both and they will help us out in our life's too. Today we had stake conference and they talked about having peace too. I hope you all had a great Sunday today too. Those are my insights this week. Mariah sparrow
Too often I find myself working and worrying about what rewards I will get for my efforts from the world (recognition, money earned, promotions or new responsibilties). In the end, this is what I discovered- I was miserable. It was never enough, there was always more to do and someone better I was competing against. When I stopped worrying about what the world thought, or pushing myself to do things that I didn't really need to do I felt a huge burden of stress lifted. For example, I don't need to work up to being an administrator or be part of school leadership if what I really cared about was helping my students. All I need to focus on is that and then everything else melts away. I don't have to worry about how they are going to plan or organize everything.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the way it is with our spirituality and perspective on eternal life. Its nice to be important and have responsibilities, but we need to be focused on our own eternal progress and help others to do the same. That's really the essence of what we do and why we should be doing it. That is all we can take with us when we leave this earth.
Peace is so elusive in this world. Just when we think we have a "moment of peace" it is snatched away by the next crises demanding our attention. This scripture reminds me that the eternal perspective brings into clearer focus those immediate demands. I find too often I let the urgent matters rob from the important ones. Last week the urgent matter was to spend additional time with the ten missionary couples. The important need was to go spend time with my granddaughters so Will could attend an award presentation. Fortunately this time I choose correctly and was rewarded with some quality time with three beautiful little girls. That elusive peace of this world quickly appears in our lives as we allow the things of eternal significance to take precedence over the never ending demands of earth life.
ReplyDeleteRighteousness takes work. We can't say I am righteous and stop trying. We are a continual work in progress. Becoming righteous is the reason we come to earth. It is a process. If we continue to grow and learn each day and try to follow the commandments and keep our covenants then we are on the road to righteousness. We won't be perfectly righteous in this world, because that is saved for Eternity. When we are are about our Father's business, like Christ put the Father's will before his own, then we are doing the works of righteousness and can have peace. Not only peace in this world but peace in the next. Peace is something you can't buy it is something that you are given by Heavenly Father when you have done all you can. It is worth more than all the expensive gifts of this world. As we follow the Savior we get that Peace he talked about "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to do this before I forget and this scripture talks about peace and having righteousness and we need to have both and they will help us out in our life's too. Today we had stake conference and they talked about having peace too. I hope you all had a great Sunday today too. Those are my insights this week.
ReplyDeleteMariah sparrow