So ... I had some stresses last week. There was the "lost checks" debacle, which ... incidently ... is not resolved, but I have not given up hope. Then topping the list with sadness rather than stress, was news from my dear daughter who teaches me volumes about hope. In the midst of all of that there was the "big project" ... the kind of thing that makes you only hope for time to pass until it's over.
PDaddy and I had been asked to put together a game-show format for a church Youth Conference. I won't go into all the details, but it eventually involved a power point presentation with 45 multiple choice questions (We're talkin' Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ... or as we preferred to call it ... Who Wants to Be a Millenial Heir.) PDaddy did all of the difficult technical configuring and I helped come up with questions and did the data input. Oh ... and I got to be Meredeth Viera.
As the week progressed, I just kept thinking about how great it would be "when it was over." Even when I woke up on Saturday morning and everything was completely ready, I had the thought, "In six hours this will be done." The interesting thing was that once we were actually playing this game, I never thought of it once.
Why?
Because we were having a fabulous time, that's why!! The kids were smart and paid attention. They earnestly wanted to get the questions right and often cheered for people on opposing teams. When it was over my first thought was "Why was I so anxious to have this over?"
And then last night we received the news that our dear prophet and President of the Church had passed away. President Gordon B. Hinckley was 97 years old. He lost his precious wife and faced serious health issues and yet continued to travel the globe and direct the church until the very end. He could have wished it over, but instead just wished it ... right.
I guess I am just very grateful that I had the chance to learn so many invaluable life lessons at once. Since this nasty habit has been a long time in the making, it will take some work to overcome.
But ... there is always hope.
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7 comments:
But seriously, is January over yet? I hate this month!
i'm with ya! i could totally be done with january, too!! bring on february please :)
Of course, with the pictured clock things are frequently over before their over because it is perenially 10 minutes fast. But, other than the few minutes of game show glory, it's been a tough month, and Januaries historically haven't been great for me. But President Hinckley's example of just keeping on keeping on is pretty amazing.
Maybe it's too much contrast to say he reminds me of some of Satchel Paige's famous sayings, but I don't thing President Hinckley would mind comparison to arguably the greatest pitcher ever, who, because of segregation didn't get to pitch in the Majors until he was 42 and who pitched 3 scoreless innings when he was 59. Among his sayings were: "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you"; "If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts"; and "Age is a question of mind over matter; if you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
And so it is with bad times--if you don't pay them too much mind, they don't matter so much. Good advice for pitchers and prophets and Januaries.
Grandpa Fabulous's Grandma Openshaw also passed away Sunday and was 97 years old, and kept it going garndening, quilting and being an example of being true to the faith and enduring to the end by serving others. That ol' "enduring to the end" starts to have more of an empact now as I get older and have thoughts of "been there, done that" Isn't it fabulous that we get to keep growing not only in our talents but most importantly in our faith and ability to serve. Pdaddy and my simplehappy bff are true examples of this concept. And yes, I do the same thing, thinking "this will be over soon" while it was the process of the preparation, the actual event, and the testimonies that were stengthened that we don't and might never know about that really meant the most. I just love you guys!!!
i love this post. it is a good reminder i guess for all phases of life. when is diaper changing going to be over, when is this or that going to end? then it is over and you think, it's over already - hey i wanted more time.
you always have been full of good reminders.
Okay, it should have been "there" not "their" and "Januarys" not "Januaries" (twice) and "think" not "thing" but, as glamma fab said, these things should have spellcheck.
I know how you feel. You put so much work into things (take Christmas for example) and at least sometimes I wish it were over and then whooosh in a couple days and so much work (and money) its all over. And it was worth it. Maybe life is like that! haha
I love your sweet comments about our dear beloved prophet. I'm so happy for him to be at his (has to be) fabulous reunion with all on the other side. Hurrah! for him.
Thanks for vising my blog, too. I'm amazed at the great, strong, creative women out there that are involved with creativity that share our beliefs.
Nanette
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