A Time to Reflect (April 25, 2023)

 A couple days ago I sat in the dentist chair for my 6-month cleaning. Here we go again! There’s nothing quite like opening up your mouth & letting someone dig around in there! What does she see that I don’t? Have I brushed enough? Flossed enough? 😬 How am I doing?! Coulda done better… but I’d like to think I try my best!

Weirdly enough, as I sat there I thought- this feels kinda good! All the scraping & digging & spraying & sucking & brushing & flossing… I mean, some of it was uncomfortable… some of it downright hurt… but knowing she was deep cleaning & reaching parts I couldn’t felt oddly satisfying. I knew the pain was productive.

I left feeling clean, bright, shiny, new, & resolved to floss more & get in those hard-to-reach spots she warned me about.👍

***

A couple days ago I sat on the couch for my 6-month spiritual high- general conference! ❤️ Here we go again! There’s nothing quite like opening up your soul & letting the Spirit dig around in there! A spiritual x-ray… What does God see that I don’t? What does my testimony look like compared to 6 months ago? Have I grown at all? Am I doing enough? Coulda done better… but I’d like to think I try my best!

As I listened to the leaders of the church, I felt inspired, motivated, comfort, confirmation… but also some discomfort thinking of areas in which I feel called to do better. The scraping, poking, digging, flushing out, brushing, flossing of the soul!!

Yeah it can be rough… but in the pain comes deep cleaning & growth & “divine discontent” & soul-searching…

And I have a choice: discouragement & inadequacy, or

determination & inspiration,

turning to He who knows me best,

drawing upon the enabling power of my Savior,

working on those hard-to-reach spots,

letting Him fill any cavities,

resolving to act on impressions felt & become a better mother, wife, friend, & follower of Christ than I was 6 months ago,

leaving brighter, cleaner, & more polished than I was-

Knowing if I fall short again, there’s grace… & another checkup.

In 6 months.

“General conference is a time to understand what the Lord would have us do & become. It is also a time to reflect on our progress.” -D Todd Christofferson