Live Your Bumper Sticker

What a wonderful time of year!  What a blessing to celebrate the gift of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ who is called- Wonderful, Counselor , the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Now we settle down for another season, a New Year of resolutions and solutions, of commitments to recommit, to renew, and refocus, from good to better to best.

All of us are at the starting line somewhere in our lives.  The opportunities for change are endless.  For some of us, change can be difficult, for others, it is a way of life.

Last fall I had an opportunity to observe this change in action. I was parked waiting for my son to finish play practice and noticed a vehicle a distance off in the parking lot with this bumper sticker:  “Love God, Love Others, No Regrets.” I thought about those words, contemplating the nature of the owner of the vehicle. Sisters, do we live our bumper stickers?  I imagined sisters I know that are in constant motion of putting their Father in Heaven in first position in their lives and automatically loving others with no strings attached-no regrets.  Shortly thereafter, I saw the owner of the vehicle.  As she was getting into her car, a stranger approached her in need of help to jump start his vehicle.   Without a second thought, the woman got out of her car, rummaged in her trunk, retrieved the cables and moved her vehicle to align it with the troubled vehicle.  I love how this woman was immediately present in her actions.

Love God, Love Others, No Regrets.  No looking back. No lost time. Love is the answer.  That scene was love in action.

A gift we can ‘give-back’ to our Savior, showing our great appreciation for Him as this New Year ensues is the gift of being present. When we are “present”, we are accountable; it is as if we are among one of the Lord’s ninety nine.  I find comfort in that!  

How can we be more present as sisters, daughters, wives, mothers and friends?

Here are a few ideas and areas where we can be present-

• ·         In our Prayers-  by truly showing gratitude, asking specifically for our needs and then patiently and faithfully waiting for answers.
• ·         Our Family-by really seeking for quality (not always quantity) one on one time- a phone call, face to face time, weekly date nights. Being fully present in our relationships blesses the relationship.
• ·         Our Church responsibilities-  attending meetings, partaking each week of the holy sacrament, attending the temple, visiting teaching our sisters in the gospel, and magnifying our callings with pure intent. 

While I know that for the most part our lives do have meaning, purpose and direction, sometimes we can get lackadaisical in our intent.  All I know is when I personally put this principle to practice, I know that I am accomplishing more and feeling the Holy Ghost more present in return.  I know that the concept of being more present will place us in a holier place.  It will help us receive more spiritual promptings, and help us feel closer to our Heavenly Father.

Former LDS church President, Gordon B Hinckley stated in the October 1997 LDS General Conference: “I see a wonderful future in a very uncertain world.  If we will cling to our values, if we will build on our inheritance, if we will walk in obedience before the Lord, if we will simply live the gospel, we will be blessed in a magnificent and wonderful way.  We will be looked upon as a peculiar people who have found the key to a peculiar happiness.  Great has been our past, wonderful is our present, glorious can be our future.”

Now a charge:  Go live your Bumper Sticker!

Best to all of you in 2014~