Just being nice

Wow, that was quite a heavy-hitter of a first post. I do take my decision to write that seriously, but I try not to take myself that seriously most of the time, haha :}

Right now I'm sitting outside in a pretty spring morning (prayers for my friends in the northeast that are dealing with the fallout of that crazy storm), waiting for the car people to fix my car keys. As I was getting ready for the day, I prayed for opportunities to share the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ with others, and it occurred to me that my trip to the car place was probably going to be one of my only chances to meet people outside of my house today (ah, the life of a stay-at-home mom!*)

I felt strongly that I should be ready for an opportunity to share at this appointment, but this time I decided to try something different. Instead of psyching myself out by gathering all my church materials and planning ways to "create" missionary opportunities by "naturally" segueing into gospel topics ("Oh, you say my key needs fixing? Well, did you know that the key to answering all the questions and problems of mankind has been restored to the earth?"), I simply prayed that God would send angels to prepare the way before me—I didn't have to create opportunities to share; they would already be there, and all I had to do was show up. (This gives me a new perspective on what Nephi meant when he said, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do" [1 Nephi 4:6].)

So, I did. I got myself all physically fed and clothed and spiritually centered and fueled, and then I found myself able to just be genuinely friendly in the interactions I had in the normal course of the appointment. Nothing felt forced, I didn't feel nervous or overstretched. I just tried to be nice like I would be if I were totally comfortable, like I am with family or long-time friends. Which meant I actually didn't worry what the other people were thinking of me (without having to tell myself, Don't worry about what other people are thinking of me!)! And I didn't worry that my niceness was coming across as flirtatiousness (which has held me back from being nice in the past)! And I found myself noticing and being genuinely grateful for other people's friendliness! It was pretty cool.

My keys are fixed now, and I'm about to head home. I didn't have any obviously gospel-related interactions with anyone, but I did have several interactions that were characterized by real friendliness and gratitude, which I think qualifies. Because that's the gospel of Jesus Christ working in my life, and if I was letting it work and fill me, then the people with whom I interacted must have been touched by it, too. So, for me now, "just being nice" isn't a cop-out because I'm scared of sharing the gospel directly; it's one of the most direct methods of sharing the gospel I can employ, and I can do it all of the time!

May God go with you and with me!



* I mean that in the most sincere way possible. Meeting new people, while usually actually pretty cool, is not high on my list of Things I Voluntarily Do Because They Bring Me Pleasure and/or Are Relaxing. Stay-at-home momming is actually one of my ideal careers, because (among other things) it gives me a totally valid excuse to not leave my house or talk to other grownups for decently long stretches of time. You know. Until my business partner, Stay-at-Home Toddler, goes stir-crazy and "requests" a "change of venue." It's good. It's good :)

Manifesto

In a revelation given to Emma Smith in 1830, the Lord commanded all of His daughters, "[Thou] shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing and to learning much" (Doctrine & Covenants 25:8; see also verse 16). This blog is my attempt to keep that commandment. Here, I, a beloved daughter of my beloved Heavenly Father, intend to give expression to my thoughts upon various subjects and events about which I learn. I am young, with a perspective borne of a life-experience unique to me; I do not promise omniscient wisdom in every word, but I do promise to seek guidance from the Source of omniscient wisdom as I write. I do not promise that all (or any) solutions I propose will be perfect but I know that Jesus Christ, the Master Healer, will use my efforts to make a part of His perfect (and perfectly practical) solution for the suffering of the world—if I will just ignore self-doubt and fear and give what I have to give. This is my intent. May God be with me, and with you.