Tag: clean hands

It is the week before school starts, and it has been a very busy week. I again missed Friday; I suspect that might be the case for a few more weeks as we get things going and get back into our routine. Last minute registrations at different schools, counseling appointments, vet visits and trying to get my products restocked in the local stores has been exhausting lately. But it’s been good, and we were able to work through everything, no matter how frustrating and daunting it has seemed at times, and I think, I really think we are about ready for the school year, except school clothes shopping, which is going to have to happen after school starts.

I have been thinking this morning about growth, personal growth. This week with all the pull in so many directions, I have neglected my scripture study a couple of days and I can tell it makes a difference in my day. I find myself more frustrated with smaller things, and I find myself being more judgmental of others who also are doing the best they can, but sometimes come across as really judgmental as well. But I have also had several people be exceptionally patient with all my questions, repeat questions because I forgot, and tons of help working through the paperwork that needed to be done and I am super grateful for the time they gave to me and their patience.

This morning as I was finally studying again, I listened to a conference talk about having clean hands and a pure heart, and that you can have one without the other. Clean hands are often easier because it is the outward presentation, but pure hearts are sometimes harder as no one else can see our hearts except God. I was thinking about my week, and about the condition of my heart this week and decided sometimes it was where it was supposed to be, but probably more often than I would care to admit it was not where it should have been. But this morning, I am grateful for the reset, not only from the conference talk I listened to, but because it is the Sabbath day, because I get to go to Church, partake of the Sacrament, renew my covenants with my Heavenly Father, and I get to start over and try to do better this coming week.

Through all this I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes, the one that has really influenced my life in positive ways. I think I have shared it here before, but I’ll share it again anyway because it is a good reminder for me, and you might like the reminder as well. It is by Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may just never be enough;

Give the world the best you have anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it’s all between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

The last two lines are in my window above my sink so that I read them every day. It is a great reminder that no matter what I do, and who I become, it is always between me and God, it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks. This week though, I have been thinking about my judgements of others, I guess flipping the perspective. My opinion of others doesn’t affect them in the whole grand scheme of things, who they are is between them and God. But it does affect my heart in a negative manner when I judge them, and it can affect their lives if I treat them poorly because of that judgement. I want to have a pure heart. I am grateful for the reminder, and to see my favorite quote from a new angle. I will be pondering and trying to internalize this different perspective this week so that I can strive to be kind, do good, build, be honest and frank, and everything else along with all that in my own life better. But more importantly, seeing others striving, helping them, being kinder and more patient with their progress. I think part of having a pure heart is sincerely helping others succeed along their paths as well, and I am going to try harder to do that.