While most of you are probably pretty familiar with this talk, I think it is a great reminder to us of just how special each and everyone one of us is. This is probably one of the talks that I read the most because of the wonderful Spirit I feel when I read it. I feel happy; I feel like what I am doing is important; I feel that I am never forgotten, even when it seems like no one notices the little things that I do.
I would like to share a few of my favorite parts:
"God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect, and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.
Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.
In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences."
"In the beloved children’s story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the mysterious candy maker Willy Wonka hides a golden ticket in five of his candy bars and announces that whoever finds one of the tickets wins a tour of his factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate.
Written on each golden ticket is this message: “Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket … ! Tremendous things are in store for you! Many wonderful surprises await you! … Mystic and marvelous surprises … will … delight, … astonish, and perplex you.”
In this classic children’s story, people all over the world desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future happiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket."
"You are not forgotten.
Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.
Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!
He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the daughters of His kingdom."
I just love how President Uchtdorf speaks.
I really love how he talks about our weaknesses becoming strengths. This implies that we need to be patient with ourselves and know that one day we can become perfect, but today or tomorrow or the next day or one day in twenty years is not that day. I have seen in my own life that I am much more patient and "compassionate" (as President Uchtdorf says) with others than I am with myself. I think a lot of us are like this, and it's probably because we know ourselves so well and we know when we didn't reach our potential. But failing and not being perfect is totally normal! I think once we start understanding this, especially when it comes to how we view ourselves, we will be so much more patient.
That story about the golden ticket really hits home to me right now. It is so easy for me to long for the future. I can sit here and think about how much better my life will be in the future: One day I will be done with school; one day, I'll have a house; one day, I'll be able to have little kids of my own; one day, Greg and I won't be so poor; one day, one day, one day..... Just like President Uchtdorf says, the things that we have now seem disappointing and they don't make us happy anymore because we are longing too much for the future. I find myself wishing I wasn't in school anymore, when I should really be happy that I am here at BYU! I mean, come on, it's BYU! My dream since before I can remember. Sometimes I wish I could have a house and live in California, but shouldn't I really be happy that I have a place to live? I live in a cute little apartment with my amazing husband, and we are making memories that will last forever. If we just wish and long for the future and forget the here and now, we probably won't be as happy as we could be.
Now, I love the part where President Uchtdorf talks about the fact that NONE of us are forgotten. Did you read that? Not a single person is forgotten in the sight of God. Haven't you had those moments where you feel like you've done so much work, you've exhausted so much effort on cleaning the house or making dinner for others or whatever it is? And you feel like you've gotten hardly any thanks and no one has even noticed how hard you have worked? Well, I have. It's really hard to keep up motivation to do things for others when they don't seem grateful. But guess what. Heavenly Father always notices. He always sees those little things we do. And I'm sure He is so happy when we do those little things. Just always remember that we have a God who is watching over us, and He will always love us. It's as simple as that. When life seems hard and you feel like you're completely overshadowed by someone else or not even noticed at all, just remember that there is someone that thinks you are invaluable.
Please, don't forget how important and how special you are. I know life gets hard and it's crazy and you probably feel like giving up sometimes. But just don't! You are worth so much!
The Forget-Me-Not flower
You can find President Uchtdorf's full talk here: http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2011/09/forget-me-not
