Of Greater Worth

I guess Heavenly Father is trying to tell me something. I heard President Uchtdorf’s talk, “Forget Ne Not” a while back. When I was ordering a book from Deseret Book, I saw that he made the talk into a book. Of course I had to get that too. Well… it came last week. As I was reading, the part that stood out the most was, 

 “... forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.

An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of far greater worth.

Giving up a little sleep to help a child who is having a nightmare is a good sacrifice. We all know this. Staying up all night, jeopardizing our own health, to make the perfect accessory for a daughter’s Sunday outfit may not be such a good sacrifice.

Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade pot holders for each member of your class perhaps may not be.

Every person and situation is different, and a good sacrifice in one instance might be a foolish sacrifice in another.

How can we tell the difference for our own situation? We can ask ourselves, “Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?” There are so many good things to do, but we can’t do all of them. Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective. Sometimes, that may even mean nurturing small but beautiful forget-me-not flowers instead of a large garden of exotic blooms.”

Isn’t that SOOO powerful!!! If you read my Week in the life in the Moxley’s, you would know why this was so powerful to me. The part that keeps ringing in my ear is, “An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of far greater worth.” I thought about that a lot last week. I’ve actually thought about it for months. But it hard last week. When we talk about “uncluttering” our life, I keep telling Barry that everything that our family is doing is good, so what do we give up??? So… now I need to decide what is of greater worth. And it is SOOOO hard!!! 

With that weighing on my mind so hard, I attended Megan’s Governors School graduation. One of the speakers talked about the same thing!!! With tears in my eyes, I looked at Barry and said, “I think Heavenly Father is trying to tell me something, and I guess I need to listen.”  I don’t remember her name, but she was only 23 or 24, maybe a little younger. She had been the FFA State President, and had accomplished so many other things.  She was talking about a lesson that she learned a couple of summers ago. (She was a great speaker!! You could just image how it all went by the way she told the story!) She was driving the truck that pulled the hay. One of her rules was to not go too fast. She had made several trips, but on this particular trip, the truck got away from her, it slid all the way around, and the corner of the hay trailer was wedged inside of the truck. (Her father’s BRAND NEW truck) When she told her dad that she was really not going too fast, he told her, “You may not have been going too fast, but you were going fast enough.” She said that was one of the most profound things he had ever told her. She said how many times in life are we going fast enough to miss out the on the more important things.  I am afraid that I do that way too much! So, next goal, slow down and Heavenly Father will help me know what is of greater worth.

Then… on Sunday, two of our High Counsel members spoke. The second speaker talked about… idol time!!! Spending our time on the better things in life. Again I looked at Barry, crying a little more and said, “I am really trying to do better!!!”

If all of that was not enough, I got an email from Jenny Phillips. I just LOVE her music, her FHE ideas, her talks, just all of her things!! Well… she has a new talk CD/Download. Guess what the title is?!?!? “What Matters Most”!!!!! 

 

I made Barry come look at the computer screen!!! I just couldn’t believe it!!! She also has made these little notepads to go with her CD. The notepad is designed to help you focus your day (and your life!) on "What Matters Most." So of course I had to order that too! LOL

So, how have I been doing with all of this knocking me upside my head??? I don’t usually read, but I have been told to read good books. I have often felt guilty because sometimes, I do not do well finding time reading my scriptures. I told myself, if I can’t find time to do that important thing, then I don’t need to be reading anything else. Well, I am doing a little better reading the scriptures, and I have fallen in love with historical fiction books. Right now I am reading “Abinadi” by H.B.Moore. As I was reading, Abbie wanted me to read with her. Of course it was a good part. (It’s all been good! LOL)  But I put the book down and read with her. That little voice was telling me, “This is of greater worth.” 

I am vowing to declutter my life and try to listen for that still small voice to tell me what is of greater worth!! I know Heavenly Father will help me with this, and I am going to try my best!!