"At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor.
The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.
I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)
But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up.”
As we parted, the words of a scripture came to mind: “Believe in God; believe that he is … ; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth.” As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator..."
--Carl B. Cook
A woman from church dropped by last week with THIS printed talk and a helium balloon (you have to read the whole talk to entirely understand the balloon idea ).
She is not my visiting teacher and I never considered us especially close friends...but she was there, I am convinced, as an answer to prayer. My heart needed the message, and it provided strength to do hard things.
My favorite passage:
"President Monson’s encouragement to look up is a metaphor for
remembering Christ. As we remember Him and trust in His power, we
receive strength through His Atonement. It is the means whereby we can
be relieved of our anxieties, our burdens, and our suffering. It is the means whereby we can receive the faith and strength to endure
all things."
And I love my happy, yellow balloon. :) Isn't that a cute idea?
3 comments:
I listened to that talk 3 times yesterday and it was so what I needed to hear. That balloon is such a good idea!
Thank you for posting this. I found your blog while looking on Pinterest and then wanting to know how to make a construction paper wreath. It is amazing how just when I needed it, I was feeling horrifically overwhelmed and crying to my husband about 20 minutes ago, it was there.
Thank you!
What a sweet post and what a sweet lady to bring the yellow balloon. This is so good and goes so well with the new theme this year in Mutual. Love it!
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