Saturday, March 21, 2009

21 Day Challenge: Day 2

Today was actually a really great day. Never mind the fact that I was stuck in my home until 4:00 this afternoon, but hey, I was really friendly with Shae.
I do have a good excuse for being part hermit today!
I have been distracted by these little babies below.



Yes, I sew aprons. There I said it!! The cat is out of the bag!

I had to sew 2 aprons because I owed one for participating in the Skinny Service and the other one I am donating to auction off at the YW Spaghetti Dinner and Auction. Girls camp will not be cheap this year and they need all the money they can get.

Alright, Focus!! Back to the challenge! Tonight was Ward temple night!

We pulled into the temple grounds and I exclaimed to Brian that I always love seeing the temple. A sudden peace came over me. For some reason the challenge was going to be easy tonight.

We were late and we shoveled in Chicken Enchiladas from the cafeteria down stairs and ran upstairs to change our clothes to make the 6:00 session. I was thanking and smiling to all the people in my path.

Last month, Brian and I were alone for Ward temple night, however this month there were 4 couples and Brother D were there representing the ward.

For me, it has always been easy to be myself in the temple. I am calm, at peace! I am at home there. Plus, everyone is Super Duper nice and it is hard not to catch on to that vibe.

I had no idea who the women I was sitting in between were but I smiled and tried to be as polite as ever a silent woman could be. I tried to smile at everyone I could, even a man in dark glasses.

When I walked up to my ward friends in the Celestial room, I was over taken by a love that was a little overwhelming. For a brief moment, I saw these wonderful people through loving eyes that were not my own and that was much deeper than I can comprehend. All I wanted to do was hug them.

And so I did! I think I startled one woman, but oh well!

And that is the beauty of the temple. Where love is abundant, everyone is kind and happy. We understand the bigger picture in life and somehow for a brief moment, our insecurities dissipate and all that matters is that we work hard and help each other in our journeys.

There are many moments in my life when I can look at someone and I see the spirit child of a loving Heavenly Father, and all I can think is that I love them. This happens with the YW every time. I see them how God sees them and it is so easy to love them. Because they are slices of apple pie! ;)

I guess the lesson to learn today is that I should try to keep seeing people how God sees them, and that makes it all the more easier to talk to them. This is brilliant!! I love it! To look at someone and only see their positive qualities makes all the fear go away. To find the light in their eyes and realize that they are loved and I should stop and see why He loves them, then that is all the more reason to love them too!

I am very blessed for this epiphany! Now the challenge will be to keep seeing and loving people even when they don't really want to love me back. Hmmmm....

5 comments:

{Mo} said...

Suzanne~
Thank you for sharing this challenge with us. This is trully something I need in my life right now. I'm feeling self concious and out of my comfort zone more often than not, and it's my problem, no one else is to blame and no one else can fix it but me.
Also, thank you for sharing about your Temple experience tonight. I am desperately in need of a Temple trip and need to find a way to fit it in SOON and you've made me really want to go even more! Wouldn't the world be so wonderful if we all tried to see others as our Heavenly Father sees us? Can you even immagine?
Thank you again for sharing!
♥ Monica
BTW~ Those are some SUPER darling aprons.... WAY TO GO GIRL!

Faithful said...

Sounds like a wonderful experience. I miss living in Utah and being so close to the temple. We live "so far" from the nearest temple and with the hectic military schedule that my husband has we just can't make it.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Carrie said...

Why can't I ever sit by someone like you???? I have only been 3 times. Yes - 3 times in almost 9 years. Shame on me, I know. The last time I went (about a year ago) I got a little ahead of myself. Granted I had not been in 8 years and Lane and I just went by ourselves. The worker sweetly came over to help me and the girls I was sitting next to started giggling while looking at me. I hope that they were not laughing at me, but being as insecure as I was, that is how I took it. I wanted to run to the dressing room and cry and did so as soon as I was in Lane's arms. I need to go more often so I have more experiences like yours!!!!

Jenice Henrie said...

Glad to hear that your goal is going so well. Keep up the good spirit.My thoughts are with you every day.

Heather said...

I am truly loving your challenge. Thanks for sharing these wonderful moments.

I love the temple and you made me feel the peace that comes from the temple from this post. You painted a beautiful picture of how it feels to be in the temple.

Love the aprons you made. They are darling. I take it that one of those styles of aprons is what you are making Ann. Totally cute!

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