That We Might Have Joy

Throughout our lives, we have people, and experiences that cross our paths, usually to inspire us and lift us, reminding us to look up to He who gave us life.  Today I had such an experience. I felt enlightened and inspired and moved to action.

This epiphany came from a complete stranger’s blog, shared to me by my dear sister.  As we perused through the different posts, I noticed a common theme.  This woman remembered she is a daughter of God, and she was living a beautiful, and joyous life. And she was creating beauty for her family and friends, (and strangers such as myself) all along her journey in life. 

Normally it would be so easy to tell myself how she is yet another “perfect” woman living in this world, with a “perfect” life and everything she could ever dream of, without ever facing any turmoil along the way.  However, thankfully I was detoured from my typical reaction by the trials this woman had faced. 

She was a young mother and wife, who had been through a tragic accident with her husband, leaving them both burned and scarred, yet she rose above the trial as she looked higher, and remembered who she was and from where she came.

Those few minutes reading her blog, sharing her life, I was reminded of our purpose as children of loving, heavenly parents, that “…[we] are, that [we] might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Key word being might, as it is ultimately up to us what we choose.

The purpose of this new blog is for me to recognize the joy that I am blessed with each day.  After all, each day is a gift from my Father in Heaven, a blessing, and it is time for me to start seeing it as such. 

Thank you Stephanie, and Cassie, for providing the opportunity for me to be enlightened. 

Today, I choose Joy!