The Quote {being offended}

I realize that people say things, well, wrong.
Heaven knows I do this ALL the time.
Humans tend to “speak their mind”. It is not easy to remember to “think before you speak”.
I often wish my words had a ten second delay… giving me the opportunity to sensor, revise or delete.
But things are said that cannot be taken back.
Feelings are hurt. People become offended.
I have been the giver and recipient.

The single, most important [and perhaps the most difficult] thing to remember is this…
Offence it taken, not given.

When we believe or  we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

David A. Bednar  … And Nothing Shall Offend Them [October 2006 General Conference]
(You can listen to, or read his talk HERE.)

How easy it is for us to blame others for our feelings.
It’s hard to look inward and take responsibility for how we react to things that are said [or not said].
After all, if we take the responsibly, we have to do the work to “fix” it within ourselves.
But that can be easy too, through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:165 … Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

change

This morning I was able to participate in the rededication of the Ogden Utah Temple.
The words of the speakers were amazing and touched me in a personal way.
I often do not remember what was spoken, but I always remember how I felt.
Today, however, it is what I felt that helped me remember words.

The temple is the Lords house. It is dedicated to him.
When I heard the speaker tell us that His presence was here,
I FELT it.
I KNEW it.
Even in the simple chapel of the church that was a temporary extension of the temple.

Later in the day, my daughter and I drove up into the mountains.
It was a wet and drizzly drive that gave me a new perspective of the changing leaves.
The trees were enveloped in fog. At times, the visibility ahead was not always clear.
These views caused me to turn my thoughts to the temple.
A sacred place where I learn truths.
A holy place where I feel loved by my Heavenly Father.
A peaceful place where I can ponder the many ways I need to change..

What a blessing the temple is to me.

(Sharing todays quote[s] on photos taken on our drive…)
   

Assumption

a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
It is in our nature to assume. It is very difficult not to… We see, we interpret, we react.
Assumption is necessary for us to function in our daily lives, however, it can also become dangerous.

Termites are silent killers; it takes years before you even notice the damage they've done to a home! Like termites, assumptions slowly eat away at our respect, trust, and love for one another. But we can start healing our relationships by assuming the best of each other.
~Henry Winkler

Communication is KEY.

Quotable

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know
are those who are obsessed with themselves;
the happiest people I know
are those who lose themselves in the service of others...
By and large,
I have come to see that if we complain about life,
it is because we are thinking only of ourselves."
— Gordon B. Hinckley

Quotable

HOPE!

“You could ask yourself, 'How did God Bless me today?' If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God's hand in your life.” - President Henry B. Eyring

How did God bless me today?

• I woke up to a glorious beautiful day.
• I was kissed by a loving husband.
• I received my daily phone call from my youngest daughter.
• I tried (but failed) to meed up with my nieces and nephew at the park.
• I enjoyed a hike with my oldest daughter.
• I listened to a cascading waterfall.
    
  I was blessed today with a reminder of how much I love my family. immediate and extended. I enjoy every moment I have to spend with them. I am so grateful for the moments that I walk away from household chores or work, and use that time for the more important things... time with those I love. I have been blessed with people to love.

Quotable

Patience

The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness. ~DIETER F. UCHTDORF

And patient we are trying to be!

Dad is still in the hospital. Going on the third night. The Doctor is keeping him for another night. Both the Cardiologist and the Neurologist have given him the thumbs up, so once they get a handle on his heart rate it should be go time.

The most difficult part for dad is the fact that he feels fine. Other than his “episode” he has felt strong and healthy. It is difficult to understand and determine what it is that his body it trying to tell him.

As I was visiting with mom and dad in the hospital today, he admitted that he is impatient. Perhaps there is some spiritual growth that will be gained in this experience… for all of us.

…patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace. ~DIETER F. UCHTDORF

Quotable

(found here)

Bridges

I read a quote posted on a friends blog.
I immediately looked for the source so I could read the rest of the text.
I am so thankful I did.

In May, President Monson spoke at Dixie College
as they celebrated 100 years.

He spoke of three bridges:

1] the bridge of attitude

"Attitude can make all the difference in our lives, and we control our attitude," he said. "It can make us miserable or happy, content or dissatisfied. To a great degree, it can make us strong or weak."

It was the philosopher William James who developed the "as if" principle: If you want a virtue, act as if you already have it. If you want to be brave, act as if your are brave. If you want to be happy, act happy.

"Change your attitude by trying the 'as if" principle — it can work for all of us."

2] the bridge of integrity

"Being true to oneself is anything but easy if the moral standards of one's associates conflict with his or her own," he said. "The herd instinct is strong in the human animal, and the phrase 'Everybody else is doing it' has an insidious attraction. ...

"Nothing takes more strength than swimming against the current. You, my friends, are strong and must at times decide to swim against that current."

3] the bridge of service

"During your life you may achieve wealth or fame or social standing," he said. "Real success, however, comes from helping others."

All will have opportunities to serve.

"The blind and the handicapped need friendship; the aged are hungry for companionship; the young need understanding guidance; the gifted are starved for encouragement. These benefits can't be conferred by reaching for your checkbook. Personal service is direct and human."

… one's personal service may not be dramatic, but it can bolster human spirits, clothe cold bodies, feed hungry people, comfort grieving hearts and lift precious souls to new heights.

"My young friends, your life will be fuller, richer and happier if you seek for and find opportunities to be of service."

I find myself, again, full of short comings.
It seems, that the simplest things, are the most difficult to live by.
I believe my attitude and integrity are in line with His teachings,
but I struggle with the simple acts of service.
I tend to “pick and choose”.
I know I need to just “go and do”!

I think I will start with Visiting Teaching…

Quotable

… forgive easily.
Even really smart people
do stupid things.
This is especially true
of those you live with.
Calm down. Let it go.
In a few seconds
it will be a brand new minute.

Robert Kirby
(from THIS column)

Quotable (with post edit)

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives,
but I will not rejoice in the death of one,
not even an enemy.
Returning hate for hate multiplies hate,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." 
~  Martin Luther King, Jr** ~

**Post Edit...
Come to find out this is NOT a direct quote from MLK. I still like it, so here it will stay.

Quotable

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;
an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
~ Sir Winston Churchill ~

Quotable

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday....
no costumes, no suitcases, no gifts,
no basket grass and half-eaten marshmallow eggs,
no flags to fly, no pageants to prepare.
Just friends and family
bowed together before Heavenly Father.

Katherine Wirthlin Cannon

I share this sentiment!!
I am looking forward to a great week.

Quotable

‎The greater part of our happiness
or misery depends on our
dispositions
and not on our circumstances.

Martha Washington

Quotable

‎"As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them."

~John F. Kennedy