Since going through the life changing experience of cancer and all that comes with that, I feel like I learned much about life, the value of life, and some secrets that have made my life so much more than I ever knew was possible.
This week, I have found myself thinking back through the years.....busy years, comfortable years, and yes, hard years. Raising our family and working hard to create the life we wanted.....but, seemingly we never got ahead. I loved being a wife and mother, and Jim always had a job that he enjoyed, but we have always struggled. Finances were always minimum. We needed more for the Christmas that was coming up, school clothes, fees and lunches, then college tuition and weddings. The house always beckoned to be finished, we were living on cement floors and the walls were still at the sheet rock stage. Vacations happened rarely, because we lacked the finances or felt like we couldn’t take the time. Challenges and trials came and went and we endured while trying to stay afloat. Happiness came when the circumstances changed and the challenge could be put behind us....but nothing changed! Now, I see that we endured and endured and endured. We never learned how to use or apply gospel principles, truths or processes that could put us in a better place ...a place of true happiness and joy. “Men are that they might have joy”. (2 Nephi 2:25) Now, years later we have finally discovered many truths and principles that bring the joy we were searching for. Finally we have found a better way. We have found that not all storms come to disrupt your life.......interestingly some come to clear your path! Who knew that experiencing months of chemo therapy would bring me to a place of learning....a place of joy? A place of miracles and hope? A new perspective....a new direction, a change! Life’s challenges are part of our purpose here on this earth. Life isn’t meant to be easy all the time. When we are in the throws of a bad storm, it is hard to see that a clearing will come. Our storms could get very uncomfortable, even dangerous. But a new perspective can show us that it may also be the one thing necessary to create a new, enriched journey, for us..... and even our family. You don’t need a new day or a new year to embrace a challenge, you only need a new perspective. It is when we master a new way to think that we can master a new way to be. Maybe it won’t work out, but maybe seeing if it does will be the best adventure ever! I entered my challenge concerned with what I was going to have to give up. Now I know that a better focus, or perspective, is to look for what I was about to gain instead of what I might be giving up. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Our lives are always going to change. Might as well make it amazing! Five months ago I began this blog with the purpose of journaling my journey to health and wholeness. It has been a hard but amazing journey and I find a lot of joy in the fact that I have reached my destination....I am healed and I have discovered a wholeness that I never expected! Each step of this journey has brought me closer to my Savior. I have learned and I have grown. But, as always, when one journey comes to an end, a new journey begins. We are about to embark into a change in focus, with new experiences and new levels of understanding. So get ready, a new adventure awaits! My intent for this new journey is to help anyone that is struggling in this life, as I have been, to learn the ‘divine truths’ that help us create our own joy. My prayer is that we can rise above our challenges and find more joy as we master a new way to think, see new perspectives and create amazing adventures in our new way to live.....a whole new world! Love to all, Jeannie ARTWORK: Titled - A New Perspective I love this painting! Children are the best examples of looking at the world from a different angle.....a new perspective. If only we could be more like them. I entered my challenge concerned with what I was going to have to give up. Now I know that a better focus, or perspective, is to look for what I was about to gain instead of what I might be giving up. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Our lives are always going to change. Might as well make it amazing!
1 Comment
Micala
5/16/2018 04:17:04 pm
Where do I begin? To make a long story short your beautifully inspired words today brought profound solace to my own struggling soul. Somewhere along the way I allowed self pity to put me in a struggle to just barely keep my head above water. Life is a blessing, why do I feel so low and hopeless? I’ve prayed and prayed for spiritual strength without even realizing I was already receiving it! Perspective! It’s magic! I already feel like a cloud has been lifted from my soul! You were that person God sent to me to help me feel his love! I can do this because of him and because of you! Thank you! I hope your new journey continues to bless the life’s of others as you have blessed mine!
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AuthorHi I'm Jeannie Puzey, Archives
October 2018
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