Surrounded By Good

     You can see good all around you if you learn to look for it. Sometimes as a missionary things don't exactly go the way you want them to. When your having doors slammed in your face, people telling you that your wrong all the time, people not keeping their commitments, and walking in the rain, it's easy to say "This World Stinks!" Ha ha it's great isn't it! Living in a time when it seems like there is so much bad all around us, it's hard sometimes to see the good.  One way you can learn to recognize blessings is by making it a habit each night to count the good things you saw that day.
     President Dieter Uchtdorf, one of the leaders of our church, gave a recent talk on this same topic called Looking for the Good:

     "While looking for a new home, a young Latter-day Saint couple talked to potential neighbors about the neighborhood and the schools in the area.

One woman they spoke to said of the school her children were attending: “This is the most incredible place! The principal is a wonderful and good man; the teachers are well qualified, kind, and friendly. I am so pleased that our children can attend this wonderful school. You’ll love it here!”

A different woman said of her children’s school: “It’s a terrible place. The principal is self-absorbed; the teachers are unqualified, rude, and unfriendly. If I could afford to move out of this area, I’d do it in a heartbeat!”

The interesting thing was that both women were speaking about the same principal, the same teachers, and the same school.

Have you ever noticed that people can usually find whatever they are looking for? Look hard enough, and you can discover both good and bad in almost anyone and anything. People have done the same with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning. Those who look for the good will find a kind and compassionate people—a people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him and bless the lives of their fellowman. But it is also true that those who look for the bad will certainly find things that are not so ideal.

Unfortunately, at times this happens even within the Church. There is no end to the creativity, ingenuity, and tenacity of those who look for reasons to criticize. They cannot seem to release their grip on grudges. They gossip and find fault with others. They nurse wounds for decades, taking every opportunity to tear down and demean others. This is not pleasing to the Lord, “for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16)."

    

     So thats what I wish to share today. look for good things Each day. dont dwell on the bad cause it hurts us. God has sent us here to be happy, so look for and focus on the good things that bring joy into life! :)