100 Days of Happy

Day 28 - It's Okay! - April 6th

Something that my doctors advised me from the very beginning of this journey has finally begun to set in.  Not all by choice at first, but after this learning period, I am slowly getting to know, how vital this advice really is! They said it's okay to take a rest, if you feel tired, take a rest, it is vital to your recovery! I think how many times as women (and men) we feel the need to just keep going at our top speed even though we might be sick, hurting, overburdened, or broken. We just feel that it's our moral duty to do everything, be everything, and fit every thing in our schedule! Sometimes however we find ourselves becoming less effective, less ourselves, less like the person we intended to become. Sometimes we just get sicker. It has taken this journey to finally get me to see, It's Okay to take a rest!

I was so struck by Elder Scott C, Grow's talk in LDS General Conference, when he talked about his experience with Elder Maxwell. He mentioned that when Elder Maxwell was diagnosed with cancer, he had said he just wanted to be on the Lord's team, whether on this side of the veil or the other. He was very reluctant to ask for the Lord's help in his behalf. Elder Maxwell's wife had to remind him that even the Savior had petitioned the Lord that if it was God's will, that the bitter cup might be taken from Him. Of course we know that Elder Maxwell's life was extended another 7 years as a part of the Lord's plan, but here is the part that caught my attention, Elder Maxwell's treatment took about a year before he was able to serve again. He sought the Lord's will, and then followed His plan, he took time to get better, and then was able to be all the Lord intended him to be.

I wondered if we applied this to our lives, how much better we too could become. When we are sick, broken or just plain exhausted, if we seek the Lord's will in our behalf, and we finally realize, it's Okay to rest,  It's Okay to take time to get better. He will guide us to know what we need to do to become the person He knows we can be. I am so thankful for the experiences that the Lord has allowed me to partake of, for the lessons I am slowly learning, and for the wonderful leaders that guide and direct us in this gospel, both present and past.