Journal Blessings... It Will All Be Worth It!

Hi. Do you keep a journal of some kind? I do. I didn’t realize it until today, but I have several “journals.”

I have my basic personal journal in which I write day to day happenings, thoughts, feelings, and a mix of really personal stuff that I know I need to moderate some how so my posterity can one day read it. :o

I have my “I Believe” journal, in which I write things that I believe it… especially when I need to strengthen my own testimony about something; writing what I believe reaffirms truth to me which causes my faith to grow and gives me a peace I can not live without. If I am rejoicing in truth, or if I desire to find comfort in truth, I often write of its existence in my “I Believe” book…

I also have my “Thankful” journal. But don’t use it very often, probably because I write what I am thankful for in my other journals and just don’t feel the need for it like I do the others (though I can’t imagine NOT writing what I am thankful for, for me, gratitude just spills out all over the place rather than in just one place).

I have a new journal I was given a couple of weeks ago (by my Visiting Teachers) which I am very excited about. It is sort of like a gratitude journal now that I think about it, but I call it My Book of Gifts. In this I write of the kind things that others do for me, and for others. It is about forgetting what I have done, and remembering that I am truly blessed and that there many wonderful angels among us.

This journal is especially cute. On the front cover it has a picture of a little girl in elf shoes; striped socks; a red coat with big buttons and white polka dots all over it; a holly and cranberry halo about her head; and a gift wrapped in beautiful packaging with a big lovely red bow and confetti streaming from it. It also has a little Christmas tree on top of the gift.

I also have my blog. I see it as a journal now more than ever because of a couple of experiences I have recently been blessed with. I have twice been led to fall upon a writing I wrote which has given me the precise insight that I needed. I have seen progress in my own life from looking back upon my own writings. And I have received insight to help me rejoice in the progress of my family as well. I have been reminded of truths I needed to be reminded of… which have been of great comfort to me during difficult times. And I am truly blessed to have been given the gift of finger gab! J

This evening I came across another piece of writing of my own which lifted my spirits (no, I already lifted my spirits; it rejuvenated me and gave me the strength to endure well). I have really struggled a great deal off and on for about the past month. I wrote about it once but lost the flash drive that I wrote it on, so word of the struggles never made it to my blog. I have no desire to write about it now, but I will say that after having gotten through past struggles, I have been thankful for them all – not so much during the struggles, but after they are over I am consumed with gratitude for the growing experiences.

Since I am struggling at this time, it is obvious to me that sometimes I need to be reminded DURING struggles that what I am going through is actually for my own good; and that I should not grumble, but instead be thankful for the experience and opportunity for growth (it is a major goal of mine to keep a perspective which will cause me to be thankful during a struggle, and not just after it is through). The writing I read today was just the sort of reminder that I needed to help me to rekindle this type of perspective. I would like to share a piece of it with you now...

Life is so filled with ups and downs - challenges and struggles - successes and failures (or seeming failures) – etc.; and though we aren’t inclined to wish struggles or failures upon ourselves or others, the truth is - they are what make life SO GREAT!

When my kids were little I recall pointing out to them how unhappy Nellie and Nancy Olson were in the Little House on the Prairie series, compared to Laura and Mary Ingalls.

 It was obvious (even to the kids) that having life go just right - getting everything those girls wanted - having a mother who lived to eliminate every struggle that she possibly could from their lives - was precisely what made them miserable.

These girls never had anything to look forward to. They had no struggles to conquer and feel good about overcoming. They had no “going without” to help them to appreciate all that they had.

And it isn't just about things/stuff. It is about having goals. It’s about having accomplishments, struggles to overcome, weaknesses to turn into strengths etc. The only happiness those girls had, came from struggles which their mother could not take away from them.

As I reflect upon my life now - I feel good about it. I am happy with it. Though my life is filled with ups and downs and "blond moments" which I must have a sense of humor and some humility to be able to admit; I love it. And, I think all the struggles and weaknesses and mistakes are a big part of what cause me to feel so accomplished, and to love my life.

This is what I need to remember! I feel so at peace when I read this tonight. I know these things are true! :) I know God lets us go through struggles – not to punish us – God will never let us go through more than we can handle, but he does stand back and let us go through the refining fires that are necessary for us to become the people we can feel so good about being! Is there any gift greater than the gift of being blessed to overcome and to really LOVE others and ourselves? This is what the Savior does for us. He loves us, and polishes us into people that we can feel good about and even love. I like that. I like loving myself; and I owe that to Him, and to the struggles that He allows me to conquer. I can’t imagine who I would be without Him, and I don’t want to. But I am thankful for what He is making me; and since there is still much refining to do I am willing to be refined some more! It is all worth it; it really is!! :D And I’m so thankful for the counsel to journal; it has blessed me to see progress and to discover greater joy in living!

 PS. I hope your New Year is going great! :D

PPS. Here is a great quote about journaling I would like to share with you:

"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experiences." — Gordon B. Hinckley

Corine :D