Just a Start

I think throughout life we all want to improve ourselves and do things that bring more joy and fullness to our lives.  I am on such a quest.  I love my life.  I love my husband, my kids, the gospel.  I fill richly blessed and have much gratitude to the life I've been given.  I couldn't ask for much change in my life.  I am healthy, my husband and kids are also.  We have a wonderful house, a great neighborhood, family that cares for us and a strong foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  So, though it might seem when I say I want a "change" is that I want something different than what I have now, that's not true.  I love what I have and couldn't ask for anything greater, but I do want to improve upon what I have and increase the love, harmony and sense of worth and fulfillment in my life.

I was reading something today and it talked about happiness and how happiness comes when we aren't thinking about ourselves, but are reaching out to others.  I know that is why marriage and children are so fulfilling and bring so much joy, because we are looking out for the best interest of someone else.  I know as a mother I naturally give, it's just part of the job.  I cook, I clean, I wash faces and clothes, I kiss ouchies, I mend broken hearts, I listen time and time again.  My husband fulfills these rolls right along side me.  Our kids also give as they play with one another, share their things, say they're sorry, and help out around the house.

When I think of giving I often think of doing something for someone outside of our family and we always seem to fall short.  But then I have to stop and remember that my family and their well being is one of my greatest callings here on earth.  For if I can teach them to be good people, ones that will honor their baptismal covenants, ones that will look out for others well beings, then I can say that I've done my part.  So as I go through this my hope is to continue to establish a tight bond within my own family (my husband and children) and then incorporate times of reaching beyond the comfort of ourselves and look for the needs of others and with my family help those around us.