One by One

 

Last year during this time I was traveling back to CT from Salt Lake City. Here I was sitting in the Salt Lake City airport awaiting my oh-so-great red eye flight. As I looked around I could feel the stress on everyone's face. Every one was anxious to get home to their families (including myself). My flight had been delayed once again, but I tried not to let it get to me. As I boarded the plane I rushed into my window seat, plopped my pillow, put on my seat belt and just before I was going to fall asleep a lady tapped my shoulder. She asked if I could switch seats with her so she could sit with her husband. I immediately said yes, not thinking that her seat was all the way in the back of the plane. Thinking about this experience I realized that Heavenly Father had prompted me to forget myself and just help that "one". She said "thank you" and smiled. 

Even though we only have a couple days before Christmas I would invite all of you to step back for a second and reach out to just "one". I know that Christmas craziness can sometimes feel inevitable, but if you look to the Lord for guidance I promise he will lead you to someone that you can serve. It may be something as simple as holding the door, smiling, or letting someone ahead of you in line. Whatever you do, if you do it with love those around you will feel the same love the Savior had when we came down to earth. 

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17

READY, SET, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God's timing

"Humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished"

When I was applying to go to college I applied to 8 different schools, two of which were BYU and BYU-I. It wasn't until I had submitted all my 8 applications that I realized that I really wanted to go to BYU. I felt that I had received an answer to my prayers, but I tried not to get used to the idea because I was still waiting for the oh-so-notorious-acceptance letter. I talked to a bunch of people and every one told me "oh you'll definitely get in". My guidance counselor at the time made it one of my "target schools". I got more and more used to idea and so here I was picturing the next 4 years of my life in Utah. Every one was putting up where they were going to go to college on Facebook and some of my church friends had received their acceptance. I fearfully and excitingly logged on to my computer and there it was DENIED. Now, it wasn't those exact words but I felt like they were. I honestly don't even remember reading the whole letter through. I just ran to my room and began to cry. I was annoyed, frustrated, but mostly disappointed. The next couple of weeks didn't get easier. I had gotten an acceptance to BYU-I, but ignored it because there was NO WAY that I was going to be moving to Idaho. Plus it was the "easy" school. I spent a lot of time on my knees the next couple of weeks.Finally I came to a conclusion that I needed to go to BYU-I. I wasn't 100 % sure why but I knew that I had to go. I knew that going to a church based school would do me a whole lot better than going to a school where I would have to fight a lot harder for what I believed in. I slowly started to warm up to the idea and I even got a little excited for it. A lot of things happened after I made that decision. I moved across the country, made a ton of new friends, but most importantly my testimony grew. The temple was about 5 minutes from my apartment, life was pretty great. Now what does this have to do with humility? Looking back at this whole experience I realize now that God already knew exactly what he had planned for me.It was hard for me to understand that plan at the time, but he knew that I was going to be happy at the end. Moving to Idaho was one of the best decisions I  have ever made. As my testimony grew I knew I had to serve a mission. When the age changed I battled with myself if I should go, but like always heavenly father made it happen. This happens a lot in our lives. Elder Maxwell said, "The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing." Sometimes that takes some humility because although we accept our change of plans we may not always see the Lord's hand throughout it all. I know that the Lord knows exactly where I need to be.  

And for right now it is in North Carolina :)