A gift . . .

Tonight I recieved a gift. It came from an unlikely source. I was browsing the new lds.org and decided to listen or read a few conference talks. I began to think about -

President Gordon B. Hinckley. I miss him. He always seemed to be able to say things that felt like they were meant just for me - I never meet him but, somehow, he knew me. I wondered what one of his last conference addresses was and came across this gem. Since I never attend the priesthood sessions, I must have missed this. This talk on anger truly came to me in a time of need. I struggle sometimes with my temper and lately it seemed that every little thing sets me off - a crazy driver, the long line at the grocery store, little issues at work - you name it, I'm probably angry about it. I try to hold it all in but just as he says it often begins to fester,

"So many of us make a great fuss of matters of small consequence. We are so easily offended. Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way.

Grudges, if left to fester, can become serious maladies. Like a painful ailment they can absorb all of our time and attention."

I do this ALL the time and I don't like that about me. The good thing about life is that we can change, I can change. I want to be the type of person that is able to do as the Hymn suggests, "School thy feelings." President Hinckley gives me hope -

"Now, my dear brethren (and sisteren:), in closing I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and family relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier. You will do greater good. You will feel a sense of peace that will be wonderful. May the Lord bless you and inspire you to walk without anger, without bitterness of any kind, but to reach out to others with expressions of friendship, appreciation, and love. This is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

So . . . some of you might be wondering, "Great, so you learned that, why share?" Well, dear friends, it's because I need you all to keep me honest and keep my trying to put a smile on my face and speak out with love so that my life can be one lived without regret. I am grateful for little moments that show you that God is mindful, he wants to help and will try to teach us what we can work on. Tonight I was taught, that is my gift . . .

post-edit - - - - I am supper jazzed! I tried my links and they actually work, first time for everything!

also . . . funny side note - I have typed this while laying down on my bed and the whole time I have been feeling really hot, especially my back, and it's been bugging the crap out of me (anger issues much:) - just realized . . . I've been laying on a heating pad!