"Thank You"

So I’m sitting in sacrament meeting on Fast & Testimony Sunday with that Holy Ghost lump in my throat that’s telling me I have something to share today.

I should’ve known better.

Sometimes on that ever-important day I don’t feel the spirit telling me to share. But this last Sunday I did. And if you ever have that feeling and DON’T act on it…

While I listened to some little ones bare theirs, “I’d like to bare my testimony, I know the church is true…” yada yada (I know that might be blasphemous but I just wish their parents would teach them another way to start out.), I searched my soul for the things I thought I should share.

#1 Worked out at the gym this month — no, that’s not it.

#2 Finally called landscapers to bid our backyard — no, that’s not it either.

#3 Survived having my MIL and 3 SIL’s stay with me and go to Women’s Conference without killing anyone — nope.

#4 Helped a non-English-speaking lady at the temple dial a number only to find out it’s long distance from Provo to SLC (I don’t speak Spanish) — no, certainly not it.

#5 Am realizing that I’m learning more than I’m teaching in my 16-19 year old Sunday School class — sure, that’s a good one, but not the clencher.

Then I figure that it must be what I’ve been repenting of recently.

Anyone who comes into contact with me (notice I didn’t say anyone who KNOWS me; because it’s more than the people who know me) has witnessed my prideful demeanor. I don’t mean it in a mean or snotty way, but when something I’ve done is good I realize that and say, “Yeah, that WAS good” instead of saying Thank You. I’m not very good with saying Thanks.

So I get up there and here’s pretty much how it went…

“I am here as part of the repentance process.

{eyes get big across the chapel as you can see the wheels turning in everyone’s head trying to figure out what it might be}

I have a problem that I’m working on.

When someone compliments to me on the beauty of my kids I say,
“I know.”

Same with crafts I make or pictures I take,
“I know.”

I thought that being proud of something I’ve accomplished is a good thing, but I’m finding that there is a place for pride and a place for humility in regards to the talents we have been given from Him upstairs.

So lately I’ve been trying to say “Thank You” when paid a compliment and feel the humblness come over me more and more each time I say it.

My testimony is of the gifts we receive from Heavenly Father in ways of talents and without those where would I be? I love to do things creatively and really hope they bring joy to others.

So I am here to say “Thank You” to Heavenly Father for the talents he’s given me and I pray that I use them for good.”

Then, without stopping to think about what was going to come out of my mouth next, I said…

“And I made the gorgeous blanket the baby was blessed in today. Oops, that was prideful again, wasn’t it? Well, I’m still working on it.”

Amen.