Joy

After a plethora of errands, I finally sat down to start putting the finishing touches on my lesson for Sunday School tomorrow. While studying supplemental material,  I came across this quote from Richard G. Scott.

Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, “Men are, that they might have joy.” ~Richard G. Scott

I appreciated the gentle reminder to seek for the joy in the simplest of things. Sunsets. Twinkling Stars. Changing Seasons. Music. Smiles. Fresh Baked Cookies. Service. Family.

Where do you find your joy?
Maybe you can find joy in his talk HERE

Lucky me.

Yesterday, Saint Patrick’s Day, was my brother’s birthday.
In fact, he is my only sibling.

We were “normal” siblings… we DID NOT get along.
We fought constantly.
Our parents even staged a fake fight between them
in an attempt to illustrate how awful our fighting was.
Their point was well taken…
for a minute.

Things changed after I moved out.
Relationships that were taken for granted, we missed.
Reassurances that someone had my back when it matter most were absent.
The realization of how important my brother was to me was immense.

He is now, one of a few most important men in my life.
He is one of my best friends.
He has blessed me with a sister and a handful of nieces and nephews
and I love all of them beyond measure.

I cherish being a witness to the love he has for uncle-hood.
My daughters also have a deep love for him.
He truly is a great blessing to all of us.

My dear brother…
I hope you had a fabulous birthday.
I am so lucky to have you.