Sunshine Sunday!

My relief society lesson was so great today, I couldn't help but share a little with you. The whole talk is seriously amazing and will make you feel 1000x better about yourself, I promise. These excerpts come from the talk Forget Me Not by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. You can click on the link to read the whole talk.


Elder Uchdtorf first talks about the tiniest of flowers called the Forget Me Nots. He explains they are often overlooked because there are many more larger and more vibrant flowers. But the Forget Me Not is just as beautiful.

He goes on to use the Forget Me Not and its five petals as a metaphor for five things that we would be wise not to forget.

First, forget not to be patient with yourself.

"We spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others-usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations fr ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does...

Be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education, and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life's sweetest experiences."

Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and foolish sacrifice.

"Giving up a little sleep to help a child who is having a nightmare is a good sacrifice. We all know this. Staying up all night, jeopardizing our own health, to make the perfect accessory for a daughter's Sunday outfit may not be such a good sacrifice.

Dedicating some of our time to studying scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hourse stitching the title of the lesson into homemade pot holders for each member of your class perhaps may not be.

There are so many good things to do, but we can't do them all. Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective. Sometimes this may even mean nurturing small but beautiful forget-me-not flowers instead of a large garden of exotic blooms."

Third, forget not to be happy now.

In this section of the talk he relys heavily of the classic story of Charly and the Chocolate Factory.

"In this classic children's story, people all over the world desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future hapiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter dissapointment if it does not contain a golden ticket.

So many people today are waiting for their own golden ticket-the ticket that they believe holds the key to the happiness they have always dreamed about. For some, the golden ticket may be a perfect marriage; for others, a magazine-cover home or perhaps freedom from stress or worry."

There is a great quote that I have always loved by Marjorie Hinckley. It goes something like this. "Don't waste away your days waiting for better ones ahead." I think this is so true! It's not saying we can't have dreams and hopes for the future, just simply making sure we are happy in the here and now, as we strive to future endeavors.

Fourth, forget not the "why" of the gospel.

"Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and abligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.

My dear sisters, seek out the majesty, the beauty and the exhilarating joy of the "why" of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.

"You are not forgotten. Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love."

"Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the "why" of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves and cherishes you.

I hope that put a little Sunshine in your Sunday! :)