This year I've been focusing on keeping the Sabbath Day holy and have actually done fairly well until the last month or so. Some things I tried doing include wearing my dress all day, not reading books or watching movies, not doing homework, and working on family history. I've had some really great Sundays, and some really boring Sundays, and these last few weeks school has burned me out so much I stopped focusing on the Sabbath and started looking for ways to relax. So today I recommitted!
This school year has been the absolute hardest year of my life, but it's changed me so much. I've learned so much. A few weeks ago my chemistry teacher told us that when you really think about it, you haven't changed that much, but being more educated makes you see the world differently, and it's so true. This year I've learned to love learning. I've also learned to rely on my Savior for help and for strength, and keeping the Sabbath holy has been a big part of that.
But I didn't recommit to doing the same things I've been doing. Tonight as I drove home from a Trek band practice I had a thought, which was actually quite profound if I do say so myself, and it goes something like this.
Keeping the Sabbath holy has less to do with the quantity of time spent not doing worldly things and more to do with the quality of time spent doing spiritual things.
Today I worked on homework, and when I'm finished with this post I'll probably go watch Full House reruns with Ash and Al (since that's their new favorite show since they were introduced to it by hotel television in California). But I also spent time studying my scriptures, went to an awesome sacrament meeting, (my Mom is a great speaker :) ), went to my cousin Sierra's homecoming, also amazing, and listened to the missionaries sing a fantastic rendition of Be Still My Soul -- twice. I practiced piano, went to practice for Trek, and played a game with Alex. And now I realize that it's not about filling a quota of hours spent studying the gospel, it's about spending time with my family, serving others, doing things that uplift and rejuvenate for the coming week. So that's my new goal for the Sabbath.
This school year has been the absolute hardest year of my life, but it's changed me so much. I've learned so much. A few weeks ago my chemistry teacher told us that when you really think about it, you haven't changed that much, but being more educated makes you see the world differently, and it's so true. This year I've learned to love learning. I've also learned to rely on my Savior for help and for strength, and keeping the Sabbath holy has been a big part of that.
So maybe every day I wasn't better than the day before. But now that we're at the end, I look back and see that everything combined has made me who I am right now. And everything in the coming year will make me into who I'll be in a year--hopefully better than I am now.
I think you are just keep getting better and better. You are an amazing person.
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