SUNDAY SCRIBBLES - July 1

Bonnie Pace gave our presidency lesson this week, and I'm calling it:

Be Of Good Cheer

We began with the following excerpt from the Declaration of Independence:  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

We talked about these three unalienable rights from a gospel perspective:

Life:  Mortality; gain a body with physical limitations; trials; challenges; death

Liberty:  Free Agency

Happiness:  We then talked about what happiness is.  The world searches for happiness in career, education, money, possessions, and other worthwhile but ultimately secular pursuits.  All of these things can make us happier, but they are fleeting, and don't create peace and spiritual happiness (or joy).  President Uchtdorf told us that "... as daughters of God, happiness is our heritage."  We listed happiness as found in the scriptures, church attendance, friendship and relationships, children, and the temple.

We read numerous scriptures where people, including prophets, were down trodden, or facing serious danger or challenges.  In each instance they were commanded to "be of good cheer."  At the last supper, the Savior comforted his disciples and reminded them to be of good cheer, even knowing what was shortly to come.

This reminds us of what my mother has told me dozens of times:  We don't just need to endure our trials, but we should strive to endure them well.  I don't think this is easy, do you?

This reminded me of a silly thing I always think about when I'm not enduring my trials well.  My kids were all eager to get jobs when they were in high school.  One of the boys got a job at Les Schwab Tire Center.  His day consisted of wearing an 'awesome' blue Les Schwab jacket, and throwing heavy, filthy tires onto piles.  All day.  Over and over again.  He still says that is one of the funnest jobs he ever had.  Really???  He just figured that this was what he was going to have to do to get money, so he may as well have a good time doing it.  (Really???)

Sometimes, our lives might feel like this:

But there are always things to be thankful for, places to turn for peace, and happiness to find in simple things.  We are promised that when our time on earth is done, our trials will seem like moments when compared with eternity. 

We also discussed the need to stop taking ourselves so seriously, stop comparing ourselves and our lives to others, and ask for comfort when we are in need so that we can be of good cheer as often as possible, bringing good feelings and peace to our homes and families. 

Finally, I love the handout from Sister Pace that says:

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer.