Joy In The Journey talk

Assigned talk years ago- notes and thoughts Joy in the Journey a Mother's Perspective

What is it that makes you happy?  Brings you joy?

My mother was ill for a few years before any of us realized she was ill.  She was losing weight and obviously weak but kept her pains and ailments to herself.  This was typical I would call home to see how she and dad were doing but and at the end of the conversation I’d realize once again she  had turned all conversation toward me, the grandchildren or the good news of the day.   As I was preparing this talk  I kept reflecting of the example my mother taught of motherhood.  Because she made it look so easy, always told us how wonderful we her children were, she always told us not to worry about the mishaps and embarrassments we suffered.  Like I said she made life look easy she just fixed things.  The things she did in her life all centered around the family.

She was a loving wife and mother.  She raised 4 daughters and she wanted them to take piano lessons so she found a second hand piano, it was painted and was ugly, so she refinished the piano, and it became a beautiful piece of furniture.  She wanted an out door table for the patio, so she learned how to cut glass and fashioned a sturdy mosaic table. She enjoyed crossstitching, making costumes, dresses and prom gowns.  She was a terrific cook.  She was a  wantabe photographer and  videographer and was good at both.  Because she took the time and insisted that her children and grandchildren cooperate she created precious videos and pictures that bring joy and laughter to her family.  She enjoyed life- and wanted everyone else to enjoy it to.  When she was the ward librarian she had a candy box and encouraged the primary children to stop by the library for a treat each week.  She had many friends, and was the go to lady for advice. Family dinners included anyone who needed a place to eat, the widow across the street, all our friends and sometimes people off the street.

one day I looked at myself with 7 children in toe and remembered what my mother had told me.  I was pregnant with my 5^th child and called my mother from Germany to tell her she would have another grandchild.

She laughingly said, Diana you know you’ll have to raise those those children and they will be teenagers one day.

Was she living  a perfect life?  Are any of us? 

There is joy in every sound when there’s love at home

Packard He said the joy of motherhood comes in moments and counseled mothers not to rush past those fleeting moments.  "Don't over-schedule yourself or your children," he said. "Take time to listen, to laugh and to play together."

--Thomas S. Monson,May we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed."

We are not left alone, the savior gives us a plan a pattern to follow:

We are suppose to be happy  suppose to find joy.

~ Harold B. Lee

Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you; it is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life.

2 nephi 2: 25 ^aAdam ^bfell that men might be; and men ^care, that they might have ^djoy.

Why would the Lord expect us to be happy? Because He has borne our sorrow that we might have joy, and He blesses us when we are obedient. The Savior atoned for our sins that we might be happy.

I love the scripture Nehemiah 8:10 ....for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

D&c 11: 13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall ^aenlighten your ^bmind, which shall fill your soul with ^cjoy;

I know when I feel the Spirit  it does feel like I have a renewal of hope and joy.

Revelation and companionship of the Holy Ghost

If we share the gospel with others.

D&C 18: 16 (14-16).

  16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the ^akingdom of my Father, how great will be your ^bjoy if you should bring many ^csouls unto me!

If we are a faithful and wise steward

Matt 25   21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful ^aservant: thou hast been ^bfaithful over a few things, I will make thee ^cruler over many things: enter thou into the ^djoy of thy lord.

 Money

Bruce R. McConkie, in Mormon Doctrine, wrote this under joy:
“Men are that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25) That is, the very purpose of man’s creation is to enable him to gain joy; it is the object and end of existence…. Here in mortality men gain joy only by obedience to gospel law, the gospel itself being the “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) … Joy is a gift of the spirit. It comes from the Holy Ghost….

True joy can only come from giving ourselves to correct causes such as the building up of the kingdom, causes that are in a sense larger than we are. Pleasure tends to be self-centered. True joy always includes others.
Sister Marjorie Hinkley. She said, “As you create a home, don’t get distracted with a lot of things that have no meaning for you or your family. Don’t dwell on your failures, but think about your successes. Have joy in your home. Have joy in your children. Have joy in your husband. Be grateful for the journey.”

Pray for joy

Sister Cheiko Okazaki said we have to ask for assistance from the Lord for two reasons: He won't violate our agency even to give us good things, and He wants to lure us into conversation with him. The first step is to ask and we shall receive--a principle reiterated often in the scriptures.

D & c 136: 29 If thou art ^asorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be ^bjoyful.

When the children would walk in the door and say Mother Mother miss it joy thinking about it.

Grandchild says Hi Nani

Running with marty==now walking with Marty

When I can immerse myself in the scriptures  Perhaps the strongest when I read the book in 40 days.  New experience

 

Creating joy in the journey

There is joy in every sound when there’s love at home

Joy is not the absence of sorrow, but the presence of God.

Wise friend it’s what you make of it

If your lonely be a friend

I hope you will take time to write down your joyful moments and find ways to create more

Sleepover for all the grandchildren