Miracle

I am so grateful for my job! Also, I'm so grateful I live in a place where I can attend church and take the sacrament while I'm obligated to work on the sabbath. That is so great!

The facility I work in has an Alzheimer's unit where I work the majority of my shifts. Yesterday while I was in this unit, the church members came and held a fast and testimony meeting (when any member of the congregation is welcome to stand and share their beliefs and feelings). Usually, the church leaders are the only ones who stand and bear their testimonies in this unit. Mind you the residents in this unit have pretty severe cases of dementia; they're often falling asleep and some even need to be assisted with feeding themselves the bread and water.

But this Sunday was another story. One of our dear residents reached for someone's hand to help her stand (she's wheelchair bound). We told her she could stay seated, but she shook her head. So, one of the sisters and I helped her stand and held her hands for support as she stood and bore her testimony. Immediately, the other CNA and I were so touched and tears came pouring. This woman's testimony was so beautiful and humble. She talked about loving and thinking of our neighbors and brothers and sisters. She expressed thankfulness for them and her family. She talked about striving to be honest and true. She expressed her deep love for the gospel and her great desire to "put it into [her] life each day".

She's the sweet woman holding the bird. I am so grateful for the woman she is and the faith she exemplifies. I'm grateful that even when ailment befalls us and we seem to be forgotten and lost, the Lord never forgets us. I'm so grateful for the everyday miracles of Christ.

It's Better To Feel Something

I have felt inspired, almost overwhelmingly loved, hurt, humbled, torn, desperate, stressed, worried, freed, joyous, empowered, silly, uplifted, lonely, lucky, fellowshipped, and light all one one day.

Sounds like a mess doesn't it? But I feel pretty good all in all.

Numerous events in the last few days have, very specifically, inspired me to write down my inspirations, enlightenments, thoughts, and feelings. What a better way to do it than to utilize my blog?! Writing can be so liberating (that's another feeling I've felt today). There are a few people, whom I love and learn from, who have motivated me to become more edified and then to share it. I am grateful for those people and I will try to show my gratefulness by being more diligent about my blogging.

My bit for the day:

On numerous occasions in my life, I have given my heart to someone who hasn't handled it with much care (and I don't mean just romantically). After varying levels of being crushed, I have always decided that it was still better for me to love. Today, I questioned that belief I have held true to.

As a result of these disappointments, I have often lashed out to some degree, confronting the person and asking "Why? Why? Why did you do this to me?" (Feeling so victimized, maybe unjustly so.) This question has never gotten me anywhere. Thankfully, today I realized that before I lashed out this time around. Instead, I thought to myself, "After only loving those around Him, Christ was responded to with so much hatred. How did He react?" He bowed His head in humility and tenderness and forgave.

Tenderness, mildness, meekness: a lesson to be learned from the ultimate Teacher.