$40 Gift Card

I had a conversation with someone new to me. I was in pain that day and spilled out some of my problems and concerns—money, health, and children. I felt bad afterward and planned to call her the next day to apologize for putting my burdens on her. Before I could do so, this relative stranger showed up on my doorstep with a $40 Gift Card for one of our needs. I’ve thought a lot about this since. I’ve heard compassion is love in action. This woman saw a need and took action. Much like Matthew 25:35-40, “I was a stranger, and ye took me in.” I gained a new appreciation for this stranger to me. I am more impressed with her. Now, I want to know her better. Someone who saw a need and took immediate action might just have a heart of gold. I also felt indebted to her, even over the amount of $40.

As I contemplated this, my thoughts turned to another being, the Savior of the World. He did far more for me than $40. But He often does small things for me to show His love and concern, to answer my prayers. God may choose to answer our big concerns in small ways. “By small and simple means are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6).  When I speak with God in prayer, does He seem like a stranger to me? Do I want to share my deepest concerns with Him? Am I impressed by him?

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Do I want to get to know Him better because of what He does for me? Another scripture says, “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” (Mosiah 5:13). Do I feel indebted to God for His giving so much more than $40 to me? How do I feel about Him giving His life for me? How grateful do I feel? It’s fun to reread the first paragraph of this post with God as the giving stranger.

Imagine what a difference a small donation of time, money or service for our fellowman could make. I have another friend who is keen to see other's needs and quick to act on them. She has helped me with tending kids and when my dryer died. Today, I told her I was looking for an important document and she asked what time she should be at my house to help me look for it. She is the “real deal.” God knows He can count on her. Wouldn’t it be great if God could say that of each of us? Give of yourself today.

Goldilocks Syndrome

Once upon a time there were three bears... well, you know the story. Goldilocks, in every situation presented to her, wanted things to be “just right.” She wouldn’t participate unless it was “just right.” Do we not like ourselves if our bodies aren’t “just right?” Do we withhold love from our significant other if he or she doesn’t meet our needs “just right?” 

One thing I know about Goldilocks is that she really wished she were a brunette. I’ve heard many hairdressers say, “People always want what they don’t have.” Isn’t that human nature? I have brown hair along with my husband and two oldest children. My youngest, a toddler, has beautiful blonde hair, naturally curly. When her hair is brushed, it turns to sumptuous soft bouncy princess hair. She has the perfect hair. But even as a toddler, she wants to be a brunette, to have hair like the rest of her family.

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 Many years ago (in a galaxy far, far away), I had a wise hairdresser. I wasn’t very happy with myself, my health, or my life. She told me that the word “disease” is really “dis-ease” or not being at ease with yourself because you aren't "just right." I was blown away as what she said was true.  Do we set ourselves up for failure by expecting these “just right” experiences? Do we withhold being content because our family room couch is not “just right” or our job isn’t “just right?” What do we let keep us from contentment? Do we have the "Goldilocks Syndrome?"

On a family road trip (let me tell you, those are never “just right”), we stopped to buy milkshakes at an old-fashioned burger joint. It was hot outside so we went inside to drink our shakes. The decorations were quaint. My eyes happened to stop on a nondescript plaque, which read “The Secret to Having it All is Believing That You Do.” My jaw dropped. I was so excited to have found the meaning of the universe! I didn’t know why everyone else wasn’t as excited as I was.  Long ago Epicurus said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” Contentment is being happy with what you have. Do something daring. Decide to let your life be “just right” today.

Never Count Yourself Out

My husband got a text. It was from his writing group. It said our local newspaper was looking for correspondents to cover cities and also mentioned an upcoming writing class. This piqued my interest at first as I’d like to expand my writing. But then I shot it down as I compared myself to others. I was sure that the writing group members had more writing experience and had been published, unlike me. I gave up the idea. 

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A few days later, I felt guilty as I need additional income. So, I decided to send an email to see if there were still any openings for correspondents. I felt awkward composing a letter to a newspaper. I knew my writing would be under scrutiny. I was so sure the newspaper wouldn’t be interested in me, that I was lazy and didn’t even include a resume.  I basically said, “I’ve worked as a proofreader and I keep a blog. Here is my blog address.” Two days later, I received an email from the newspaper, from the editor, no less. She said “What a fun blog that was to read” and then asked me what I wanted to write about for the newspaper. Great things can come out of small and simple things, like writing a blog.

Now, I’m the correspondent for the city of Bountiful, Utah, the largest city for the newspaper to cover. I will be writing news articles and feature articles, and possibly some other articles on the side. I will write for the digital and paper versions of the newspaper. I will be a journalist. That is so cool. But I almost missed it. When you think of giving up, “Get Back Up” sings Toby Mac. “We lose our way, we get back up again. It’s never too late to get back up again. And one day you gonna shine again. You may be knocked down, but not out forever.”  I thought surprises and happy endings were just for the young but I was wrong. Life can still surprise you. Dreams can still come true. Keep believing. Keep trying…and never count yourself out.

Be a Lifeline

I got into some sticky situations at New Smyrna Beach in Florida where I grew up.  As a teenager, I stayed up all night at a friend’s condo to meet boys (who never showed up.) I forgot to wear sunscreen a full day at the beach and my face turned into one big blister (I’m not joking). Who knew that the most painful place to get a sunburn was the back of the knees? I often swam solo far from shore. Those days ended after I saw the movie “Jaws.” I heard about having a swim buddy and this time I just happened to have one. After boogie boarding and body surfing, I was with one of my best friends, Andrea. We had one boogie board between us and Andrea was floating on the boogie board and I swam alongside. As we talked, we hadn’t noticed how quickly we had floated from shore. The main problem was something called an “undertow” which is “A current below the surface of the sea moving in the opposite direction to the surface current, esp. away from the shore.”

My main experience with undertow’s had been feeling a strong undercurrent pulling me under the water toward the bottom of the ocean. Some undertow’s were stronger than others. That day, after being pulled out far to sea, I felt my strongest undertow pull me under. I kicked and struggled to not be pulled under the ocean. It took all my strength to try to rise. I reached up my arm and my fingertips touched the air. I couldn’t even pull my head above the water. But Andrea didn’t reach me. I descended again and this time, I knew I would die. I felt very peaceful with this realization. I started to descend again with my arm still held up, a goodbye to this world. Then I felt Andrea grasp my arm and pull me up to safety. Since we were far from shore and there was still a strong undertow pulling us farther out to sea, we swam with all our might while floating on the boogie board. It took us an hour to get back to shore. My friend was my lifeline that day. Andrea said "I remember that day so well! All I know is prayers are answered because I screamed for Heavenly Father to help us- and He did!"

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Another life or death situation in my life came, now with bipolar disorder, when I wanted to end my life. Close friends and family were lifelines as they were strong enough to ask tough questions.  Another time for a lifeline came when I suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and felt completely alone and misunderstood. A lady I didn’t know from my church left a note at my door. One line of the note read: “I know you are struggling, and although I cannot fully understand your trials, I want you to know that I love you.” Just knowing that a stranger loved me and cared enough to write a note deeply touched me. This was the beginning of healing for me in some aspects of my PTSD.

The song, “Lifeline” by Anthem Lights coins how I felt long ago. “The water was getting higher and higher. My arms kept getting more and more tired. And the harder I would try, the further I would dive down. So I gave up and I finally let go. Stop trying to save myself and be my own hero. And when I opened my eyes, that’s when I realized… you were there the whole time. I’ve got a lifetime waiting for me, ready to save.” It usually takes inspiration to notice if someone is figuratively drowning in his or her life.  It can be simple or profound, for a stranger or a friend, but you can make a difference in someone else’s life.  Be a lifeline today.