Life is Good.

Life is good. There have been some days lately that I did not feel like I could honestly say that. But my heart has been opened to see my blessings again and to love life and the challenge it is. I write a few thoughts tonight that have lifted me in recent days and weeks. I also list a few other random thoughts and some of the things that have made life feel good this week.

-I felt overwhelmed one day by how hard life was. I wondered if my whole life will be as difficult as these past few years have been or more difficult. The thought made me shake in my shoes. Then the Spirit reminded me that God wants us to be celestial people and that is why this life gets to be so hard. The higher the heat, the more refined we can become. The Spirit helped me remember that I want to be Celestial material, and thus, why would I desire that life be easier? If I want it easier, then my reward will be less. This reminder made me less worried about having life be hard and instead made me rejoice in the difficulty, because for just a moment, I understood the purpose of it.

-Jesus Christ always has enough. He always has enough time, energy, love, peace, hope, mercy, compassion, etc. He has enough to give to me. He has enough to fill me up and make me enough. When I feel like I am not enough or don't have enough within me to bear the burdens of this life, He lifts me up with His great power, goodness, light, hope, and love.

-Goodness is attractive. I have always known this, but today it hit me in a deeper way. As I get to know different young men, and spend time around them, there is one thing that makes me love them or not love them more than anything else. It is their goodness (or lack thereof). Sometimes I get caught up in hoping that the person I marry or date looks a certain way or dresses a certain way or likes certain things etc. I worry about how we will get along and what he will be like and if my family will like him. Today it hit me that ultimately, there is only one thing that really matters to me. Goodness. I decided that if he is good to the standard I have, and I have the go-ahead from the Spirit, nothing else matters. Good looks might be a little plus, but I realized with gratitude how what I look for has changed over the years. Looks don't mean what they did when I was 14. Haha. Goodness, optimism, virtue and the light of the Spirit are what matter beyond all else. I pray that I can find someone who so enraptures me with their goodness that I feel no need to be concerned about anyone else.

-I have the cutest family ever. The little people who we have been blessed to have in our family are so delightful. I am blessed to be an aunt of some of the sweetest, cutest, funniest, smartest, kindest children. I love my family.

-The Atonement covers all things. As I focus on my relationship with Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father, other relationships don't seem as difficult. When my eye is single to Them, nothing makes me afraid. I know all is well. ALL IS WELL.