Does it seem like lately it is so easy to get distracted with "things" in life? I think so, especially this time of year. I started thinking of what to buy everyone for Christmas way back, but got serious about it the first of November. I still have yet to buy a single gift and with that comes the fact that I'm stressed about it. Then I listened to a cassette I got from Melaleuca a while back. It is called Frog Kissing, the Art of Prince Making. Mike Zundell talked about an experience of helping a needy family while he was teaching high school English in Idaho. The class wanted to help a needy family whose father had just been laid off. They started collecting presents and filled 2 very large boxes with gifts. Mr. Zundell then went to the furniture store and got a giant side by side fridge box and they filled that. They decided to meet Christmas Eve to deliver the gifts. A kid who had been kicked out of class brought some beef from the family freezer to give the family. They went at midnight in a snow storm and dropped the presents off in the yard. This family of 7 lived in a single wide trailer. He sent the running back from the football team to knock on the door and run as fast as he could.
That story made me remember the reason we celebrate Christmas is the birth of our Savior. We give gifts as a reminder that the wisemen brought Him gifts. So we are a little off if you know what I mean.
Those who know me know I'm not a shopper. Part of it is because I just don't enjoy it much. Don't get me wrong, I love getting new clothes. There is something about the feeling you get from wearing a brand new outfit or pair of shoes. I was a shopping maniac growing up. I think what changed is that now I work hard for my money and I just hate blowing it on stuff. If it were someone else's money I could go back to loving shopping. I do love buying running clothes and shoes, but that's a whole new blog topic. I sit back and watch a lot of people blow a lot of money on clothing. Yes, they look cute, but in my opinion is one more distraction for us.
Now, here is the sensitive subject. I have seen a lot of women who are doing crazy things to their body to try and make themselves feel better or look better. Have we not been taught our whole lives that we are children of God and created in his image? We were taught in Young Women that we had individual worth and are of divine nature. So why do we get distracted thinking we need to be skinnier or have bigger chest or less wrinkles than others? My husband is very against breast augmentation for his own reasons. I have typed many operative notes of women having surgery to have implants removed and who have had all kinds of side effects from a reaction to the implants or having them leak. Due to the fact that I hate medical procedures, needles, etc. this hasn't been a temptation for me. I run and think a big chest would just be annoying. And I can help myself and a lot of other people with the 6,000 to 10,000.00 it costs. I have a couple friends who have jumped on the ship and got implants. Yes, they look great and I think it has improved their self esteem. But is this where we find happiness?
We have TV, internet, radio social networking to distract our every minute from focusing on others who may be in need or improving our spiritual self by studying, praying or listening to the Holy Ghost.
I went for a run this evening and it was lightly snowing. It was so refreshing. It was just what my soul and my legs needed. Time to reflect.
So, take a minute and evaluate where you are in life, what are your priorities and focus. Are they in line with the Savior's or are you a bit distracted? Just something to think about.
