An Applicable Visiting Teaching Message

Every month, my Latter-day Saint (or Mormon) visiting teacher comes to my house and, while my kids go crazy, she tries to share a special message with me. Here's what she shared today:

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you something to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During these times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who

are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they become your blessings.

-Author unknown

I could write an enormous post dedicated to my troubles and inadequacies, my setbacks, frustrations, limitations, and challenges. But here's some of what I'm thankful for, in light of the above poem:

1) I'm thankful that Isaac gets me as a mommy, particularly because I have the time to coach him through his emotional frustrations with obedience and inconvenience. If he was lost in the shuffle, he would have such a hard time growing up the way Heavenly Father wants him to.

2) I'm thankful that a receptionist at BYU-Idaho told me today that I should be getting an email before Thanksgiving, and that the news is good. She couldn't tell if I'll get to teach in the spring or if I'm just going to teach for BYU-Idaho at some later date, and while it baffles me that she would consider teaching "at some later date" good news remotely comparable to getting to teach soon, I know that everything will be okay. Come what may and love it, right? In light of #1, waiting could be a good thing, right?

3) I'm thankful that Isaac pooped in the toilet tonight. Some day, I may take that for granted. But tonight, it was the crowning event of my day and of our nightmare potty training experience.

4) I'm thankful that Lucy took 12 steps today--her longest walking stretch yet. She's been taking a few steps at a time since just after her birthday, but it still isn't her preferred method of transportation. So those twelve consecutive steps were precious.

5) I'm thankful I didn't pass out on the spin bike at my first spinning class last night. If I had stayed on that seat even a minute longer, I would have thrown up and passed out. Thank goodness I was able to stumble out of the small, over-packed, too smelly room and collapse on the floor, a limp rag doll for the last 5 minutes of the class. I'm thankful I've fainted before so I recognized the pre-faint feeling and knew I needed to lie down immediately to overcome it.

6) I'm thankful for the "current" end result of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Tara