A little thought, a little challenge

Some of you know that I'm on the stake primary board here in Malad. I'm the music leader and it is so much fun. We just held a stake leadership training meeting in which our Stake Primary President had issued all of us on the board a 2-week challenge prior to the meeting. The challenge came from Virginia Hinckley Pearce's book, "A Heart Like His" (a short 100 page masterpiece- HIGHLY recommended). We as Primary workers were to pray for an open heart toward all children we came in contact with. We weren't supposed to bake cookies for them all, just open our hearts and ears when speaking to them. So I tried this and I mainly associate with my own kids, so it really was difficult. But it was amazing how this simple little, subtle change impacted my life so immensely. I was able to keep my cool a little better and sacrificed some housework for a mere two minutes to listen to Jacey tell a story or went downstairs to see how Jaxon had set up is bowling pins. It is amazing how little effort this took. I simply started the day with a prayer of grattitude for my children and then asked for an open heart in my dealings with them. I had one particularly good day where Jacey kept telling me out of the blue that she loved me! And when I'd go to bed at night, my heart was full. It had actually grown! I cannot describe to you the emotions and the depth of gratitude I've felt for simply looking at my children through God's eyes. I also tried it with other people. For instance, I met a woman in the drug store the other day with whom I was aquainted but did not KNOW. I didn't just say "Hi, how are ya" like I usually do. I actually stopped, looked deep into her eyes and truly and sincerely inquired as to her well-being. We spent the next 20 minutes laughing and almost crying as we swapped stories about being mothers and she told me a lot of her problems with her health. It was such a privelage to be able to ask her if I could help her by babysitting one of her daughters from Jacey's preschool for an afternoon. She was so grateful, and so was I! I just want you all to have these feelings for people that you normally maybe wouldn't care about, or think about, or develop a relationship with. It is sincerely AMAZING what happens to your heart. Try it, you'll love it. If you do, please let me know what wonderful experiences you have. I think sharing experiences like this can really strengthen and uplift one another. It doesn't take any extra time to do and minimal effort and the benefits are astounding! Please, please try it, for me. And read the book too, if you get the chance. ("A Heart Like His" by Virginia Hinckley Pearce) THANKS. Hope to hear from you soon!