Wednesday, August 20, 2008

my life right now..., read if you wish.

Currently, I'm trying to overcome some certain personality/natural man traits. I figure, life is difficult for all, we all face challenges and trials, it's HOW we deal with them, right?? I'm the WORST, I tell ya! I've been such a grumpy, mean, witchy hag lately, it's ridiculous. Here I am, living it up at my in-laws beautful home in WA, and all I can think about is getting a better job for Geof., making more money, having a place of our own...etc, etc. How ungrateful is THAT?? So, I'm getting those little voices (not the crazy, in your head kind of voices).., but the Spirit voices, telling me, "Darla, get over it. Deal with what you have. Be a mom, and NOTHING else." I'm really trying to just go with that. Relax, take care of my kids, love them, ENJOY them. They don't know we're poor. They don't care. And really, is there anything I'm going withOUT?? Not at all! How selfish I've been. Whenever I get like this, I have to force myself to think of the impoverished neighborhoods I walked through as a missionary in Argentina. I love those people. They're so happy and have so little. What DO we need, really? A roof over our heads, a bed to sleep in, some food in our bellies (not too much, mind you), and those we love. And I have that and MUCH more. Geof. and I read this article by Richard G. Scott, found in the 1996 Ensign. What a great, uplifting article. Please take the time to read it in it's entirety, if possible. Here's what I thought i'd emphasize...


"Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, “Men are, that they might have joy.” That is a conditional statement: “they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.

You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you. The tempering effect of patience is required. Some blessings will be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil. The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you.

Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be. That path leads to glorious joy and happiness."

Wow. Isn't that great? Truth IS great.

8 comments:

The Gilberts said...

A few years from now, some ignorant person will look at the Bennet family and say - "Wow, life is so easy/ good to them -- Why are they so blessed and I'm not?" And you'll be able to smile and know that a Lord who loves us is a Lord who allows us to grow and be tried...

Growing up, my parents had a lot of financial chalenges but I remember being a happy kid and being around my family and that was enough...

Enjoy Washington! We miss you guys

jordan and maci said...

YES DARLA! I absolutely love that conference talk-- in fact, I have wrote near that scripture that joy IS conditional after hearing it for the first time. It's sad but I feel like we live in a world where we just expect joy to be handed to us rather than us having any part in finding it ourselves. Thank you for this reminder!

Megan Erickson said...

Darla..
I am not sure what Mandy's blog is .. it is a private blog .. she said when she got there and settled she was going to invite everybody!

julie said...

hey darla, i think there should be plenty of room. they've got a big place with lots of floor space. i'm sure your use to sleeping on grandma dots kitchen floors. we grew up sleeping on them haha! anyway, i'll call becca and let her now you guys are thinking of coming. her cell is 5099917469 also feel free to give her a call (shes much more resourceful with this stuff than brian).
i think makaelas baptism is early that saturday morning. my parents are coming, merv, cody & me and arah and brinley.

julie said...

hey darla, i just talked to brian and he said super!! the more the merrier! i wasn't sure what number you guys are using but i told him you'd be giving him a call for directions. they live in a little town just northwest of seattle called duvall. anyway, his number is 206.713.1576. you can give me a call too: 509.499.1767. we'll going over next friday and probably stay until sunday night. :)

5 girls and a guy said...

Hey Bennett Family!

I am such a dork when it comes to this blogging thing, I feel terrible that I didn't get your info earlier!
Your Family is absolutely welcome at Makaela's Baptism. You don't ever have to ask me Casa su Casa.
my cell# 206-713-1576 call anytime.
Again sorry,
cousin Brian

Megan Erickson said...

i am reading your comments between you and julie... my older brother lives in Duvall, WA too.. small world.

J9 said...

Just think, one day you will look back on all this and say "it was but a small moment"! Life will get better, I promise, and you will be better for the person you are becoming through your trials. I love you!