A Thought

It has been said that Selfishness is the cause for most sins - lying, cheating, stealing, swearing, adultury, idolness, etc - it's all because of selfishness, and that if we could just learn to be selfless the world be a much happier place - more pure and full of joy. Everyone struggles with it because the world teaches you to look out for numero uno, to make money, to do what feels good, to guard your feelings, to guard your stuff, and to do ultimately what is good for yourself regardless if it is unethical, immoral, or just plain inconvenient. Care about yourself first, and then whatever you want second and third and so on.

Getting married is a good step towards becoming less selfish - something you'd never really see coming until you were actually there living the experience. It's impossible to have a good marriage where selfishness is involved. Having kids is the next step towards selflessness and I think is the ultimate step - with every child that comes, the more selfless you get- your almost forced to get more and more selfless whether you want to or not because you're spreading yourself thinner and thinner giving all the time, energy, and love you have left.

I think the real test is being able to be selfless while enjoying it. Doing it because you have faith in the blessings, and because what motivates you is pure love, even when it's rarely fair, and rarely appreciated or noticed, and even when the pay off is never worth the work that you put into it. Doing it purely because of the love of Christ. Never wondering what you're going to get out of it, never feeling sorry for yourself and wishing you could have more time for yourself, giving up your life to share the love of Christ with those around you (with your family being the first recipients). There's a saying that says "God couldn't be everywhere at once and so he gave us mothers" - that's a tough burden to bear- trying to be as Christ-like as possible serving and loving it - never complaining, never wishing your life were different; performing pure service because it's the right thing to do. It's seems so daunting and impossible - to not actually fake it with a smile on your face (secretly wishing you could be somewhere else doing something you actually enjoyed), but to actually become that Christlike person- where you really do enjoy it and where there's nothing you'd rather be doing in all honesty.

Maybe someday after my 10th kid (Yikes) I'll learn what it's like to be that person.

President Hinckley was and is of my heroes. He inspires me to be better and to me he was a perfect example of selfless service. He has been gone now for almost a year (January 27, 2008) but I think his life legacy will inspire many for years and years to come.

"Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds" - President Gordon B. Hinckley