Making conscious decisions to change.

 Happy Sunday, my friends!

I am so grateful for the beautiful days that have been occurring this past week! It's a friendly reminder that it is FALL! 

This week, I have been learning about making more (and better) conscious decisions in my life. It's not always easy, because sometimes when we are living in the moment, things just happen. But I've been learning that when you take a step back, slow down, and remember those who you need to help, your capability to make those conscious decisions increases. 

I am reminded of the story of the woman who was found in adultery (odd segue, I know, but bear with me). The Pharisees bring the woman to Jesus, and tried to catch Him in His teachings. But Jesus stops and stoops down, and says nothing. After they continue to ask Him, He stands, and says, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." The Pharisees, "convicted by their own conscience", walk away. 

Let me tell you why I was reminded of this story. I have been working on my temper lately, and sometimes I remember in the moment of anger to take a step back, so I can calm down and come back when I am calm again. My anger can be represented by the Pharisees. I am like Jesus, and my conscious decision is when He chooses to stoop down. The feelings of anger are like the Pharisees, and they keep pestering me to explode. But, like Jesus, I can stand firm, and not be provoked. 

I know that that is an odd comparison, but I love that the stories and parables found in the scriptures can be applied to so many different situations and circumstances in our lives!

While I haven't been perfect at working on my temper, I know and treasure that I am doing better. I am recognizing when I am upset, and when I am unable to discuss why I am upset. I am getting better at saying, "I don't want to talk about that right now." I am grateful that I have a loving Father in Heaven and Savior who are working with me to become better, and I am grateful that I have a loving and patient husband who has been so understanding.

I'm grateful for the chance to start over each and every week. I am grateful for my Savior, who loves me, and who is by my side. I am grateful for His Atonement, and for His willingness to die for me so that I can repent and try again in order to be able to live with Heavenly Father again. I am grateful that I get to be with my husband for time and all eternity. 

Hope you all have a great week!! September is almost over, and October is almost here! Happy Fall!

Xoxo

Mattie

He loves us anyway.

I was reading a blog today and I found this line that I thought was really deep: "Just because an unhealthy enticement comes to your mind . . . that doesn’t make you a bad person. It is what you do with your thoughts that will determine what road you will take" (The Moments We Stand "The Tempting Road"). I love this! We are all tempted with things that are unhealthy–unhealthy things to say, unhealthy things to do–but it is what we do with them that makes us who we are. If you do not act on them, you are stronger than Satan, and you have won that battle. If you did, however, try again; you can win the next one. Repent, and ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness, commit to not doing it again, and the next time that temptation comes along, kick it right out of the ball park, far away from you. Tell it, "You have no power over me!", just like Sarah from Labyrinth tells Jareth. We should always be trying to be a better person, but we are people, too, and we make mistakes, and that is okay. We are imperfect people trying to become perfect, and we make mistakes. God does not expect us to be perfect people trying to become a better perfect. He knows we are imperfect people trying to become perfect, and develop Christlike qualities, but He knows it will take us some time; we are slow learners. But He loves us anyway. Just remember that: He knows we are imperfect, slow learners, but He loves us anyway.