Finging Joy in the Journey

Last week my husband planned a hike for our whole family to go on including our three small dogs.  The hike had high reviews and said it was great for dogs.

 My husband told us that we would be hiking next to a small river, doing some boulder hoping and seeing a beautiful water fall. We were all excited for this hike.  

 So we loaded up the kids and the dogs and water and a snack for the trail and drove the 45 minutes to our destination.   When we got to our destination we loaded up the back pack with our gear, which I wore, not that my husband didn’t offer to carry the back pack a dozen times, but I wanted to carry the back pack and so I did. We headed off onto our great adventure with enthusiasm and a vision of a great hike. 

We hiked along this dirt road for about a ½ mile, with my kids and me questioning my husband judgment of a great hike.  “Are you sure we are going in the right direction?”  And “are you sure this is going to be a great hike.”, “I don’t see any water”; we teased our dad.  Finally after a ½ mile we came to a small stream, was this river that was supposed to be so great?  Patience was my husband replied   

So we kept on hiking.  During the hike we came to different obstacles along the trail like over a thin pipe near and edge of the river, over logs, and many stepping stones back and forth through the river, climbing steep in embankments, climbing over and through narly tree root.   To maneuver through these obstacles one of use would find the best path and help the others to cross, or we would discuss as a family which was the best path to take.  And at times one would want to take a different path than all of us, sometimes it was better and sometimes it was worse.   As I was hiking with my family and enjoying the banter that goes on in our family it got me thinking about our life’s journey here on earth.  

We are placed into families to help each other through hard things in life.  Sometimes we need to let other lead out and guide us through difficult times.  Even as parents, sometimes we need to let our children lead and rely upon their wisdom. Sometimes we are too close to the problem that we can’t see the best path to take. But if we seek council from our family members and if we can be patient with each other and work as a team our families can do hard things. 

As I mentioned earlier, I chose to carry the back pack, at times it was awkward or even difficult to maneuver through these difficult obstacles that nature placed in our way.  My husband and children offered to carry the back pack for a bit, and they were even willing to just to hold it while I was in the midst of an obstacle, but I was stubborn and wouldn’t let them help.  Like the back pack, sometimes we carry heavy burdens, for example:  poor choices we made, guilt, illnesses, pressures of life and sometimes it’s just life experiences that way us down.   When we are carrying heavy burdens we need to allow others to serve us and help us out, we don’t need to carry burdens alone. The most important thing that we can do is place our burden at our Saviors feet and trust in the atonement.  For our Savior taught: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light, (New Testament Mathew 11: 28-30)

This hike was not what I had envisioned and at times it was difficult and hard to maneuver, but I had fun.  I found joy just being there with my family and enjoying the beauty around me. Just like in life

Sometimes in life we can get caught up with the woe is me … I can’t wait until…., or when…,

President Monson gave a talk in October 2008 General Conference that changed my life, entitled "Finding Joy in the Journey"

I still had young kids at home and was not content with home life as it was then I heard this talk and realized I had to change.

I would like to share a few quotes from his Talk.

“This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of we hat is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”  We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.

Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings.

Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed."

I hope that you will take the chance to Find Joy in your Journey Today.