First of all, Saturday morning all four of us sisters were in a minor car accident. We were blessed that it wasn't any more serious. We were waiting to turn left, and there were two cars stopped behind us. All of a sudden there was a loud bang and I felt like a huge wall had just hit me on the back of the head. It took me a second to realize what had just happened...I was in my first car accident. A fourth car had hit into the back of the 2nd car behind us, creating a domino affect all the way up to us. We were so blessed that none of us were hurt. We had some sore necks and shoulders, and Sister Barrow (who was driving) had some soreness in her back, but other than that we were totally fine. One man was taken in the ambulance. I think he was in shock, but I hope it wasn't more serious than that. The bike rack we had on the back of our car is what saved us from getting hit so much worse. Our trunk and rear bumper do have some dents and a couple of holes, but the trunk still opens and closes and the car still works. I know there were also unseen hands that day that protected us. It could have been so much worse, but it wasn't. Sister Boehula and I were still able to go out and teach some lessons that day, and the other sisters had a baptism that night.
What the accident did do for me was put more things in perspective, and help me learn that no matter what, I want to end happy. I wasn't in the best of moods when we left the apartment that morning. I was feeling pretty down and depressed and discouraged. I thought about how I would have felt if I had been called to go to the other side of the veil at that time...how would I have felt about my passing? I think I would have been disappointed that I hadn't chose to live that morning a little bit better, a little bit brighter. The next day in sacrament meeting I was taught something by the spirit: You must be the happiness in your circumstances; not your circumstances the happiness in you.
That hit me hard. That impacted me. I realized that I needed to not just try to find joy in my journey, I needed to make the joy and be the joy. It is when we chose to be joyful that the spirit can speak to us and help to lift us higher. I know that the Lord does want us to be happy, even when times are hard. President Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk in the last General Conference about how the Lord wants us to be grateful in all of our circumstances, not just when we have good ones. I know that gratitude and happiness go together, and so does service. I also learned that I needed to stop focusing on myself - my imperfections and weaknesses and mistakes - in order to be able to help others and be happy. I've realized that by trying to fix me I was trying to save me. The Savior did that. Lose yourself in His work you will find hope and joy. I know that the Lord wants us to love and serve and give of ourselves. As the scripture says, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 16:25)
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe week. Remember that you will be the happiness in your life as you lose yourself in the Lord's work - regardless of your circumstances. I love you all!
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