30 Days of Happy: Day 2

I tagged my girl friends on Facebook to join me in my 30 Days of Happy and I already read some of them post the reasons they are grateful today. I am excited to see more!

Day 2 was a Sunday. I was assigned to teach the Young Women of the church (ages 12-17) about How can I become more Christlike? This topic is very close to my heart. I love my Savior deeply. I am forever indebted to Him and will always be grateful for His love. The night before, I was feeling so lazy and thinking of all the excuses I can give so I wont teach. Sunday morning came and I still wasn't preparing my lesson. How ironic! Here I am professing my love for my Savior but not wanting to teach/talk about Him.

We arrived almost an hour before church because E had a meeting with the missionaries so I just stayed in the car going through the motions of somewhat preparing for my lesson but my mind just meandered on the great Christlike examples people have shown me throughout the years. This is a simple lesson; but it doesn't mean it's an easy one. I guess the simplicity of it is actually what makes it hard. I am reminded of the primary song I Am Trying To Be Like Jesus. All the simple instructions are listed there: 1. Love as He does 2. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought 3. Serve my neighbors... But as we grow older, why does it seem to be harder? No wonder we are commanded to be like a child - meek, submissive, easily entreated, madaling makipagbati (add whatever child-like characteristic you can think of to this list.) :)

On another note, I previously asked one of the members to draw a portrait of the Savior for us after seeing his drawings during a Sunday School lesson. He happily obliged and was so grateful to even be asked! Before sacrament started, he handed me the package, got so excited so I didn't wait for E and just opened it myself. I already know how it will look like because I chose the picture. I already know what mode he used (ball point pen) so there were really no surprises here. But when I opened it, I just lost it. haha (as always) and then teared up. It was so beautiful! It's the first time we're officially going to have a portrait of the Savior at home so I got excited, grateful as I remember His love and sacrifice for us, thankful to Bro. O. (artist) and perhaps the not-wanting-to-teach-about-Him part I also remembered and felt guilty for; these feelings came to me at all the same time! When Bro. O saw me, he cried too! haha It was a moment of joy and laughter at the same time since sacrament was going to start and here we were tearing up. I immediately wiped my tears, composed myself and took a picture of this astonishing work of art. I now understand why leaders suggest for us to always have a picture of the Savior and the temple so we can be reminded how we should act in His presence. It is a simple yet very effective way of keeping ourselves in check. (I was then able to use this portrait in my lesson.)

Day 2: So today, I am EXTRA grateful for our Savior's love

If you want to order an artwork, contact me for Bro. O's details.