Habits

They say it takes 6 weeks to break a habit.

As a mom, I created many habits. I tried really hard to have Preslee on a consistent schedule. Wake up between 7-8 AM, say hi to Pog, eat breakfast, I would shower while she watched her beloved Sesame Street, and then I would put her in the tub. These became our habits, we did it everyday. We had so many other habits, lunch time, play time, nap and bed time. The list could go on and on.

Now that it's been 12 weeks, I've been able to break a few habits. I no longer walk to the other side of the car to get Preslee out of her car seat. I no longer plan my day around nap time. I no longer sneak into her room at night to make sure she's warm enough and give her a kiss. This doesn't mean all the habits we created together have been broken, but a few have.

As I've thought about habits, it's made me think of what habits am I creating today?

I've thought a lot about why an 18 month old little girl would be called home and a 22 year old [me] is still here. I feel very strongly she had a specific mission in which she completed very quickly. Many people have told me her work here on earth was finished. As I kept hearing this phrase over and over again, I knew there was something I was supposed to learn from it. It took twelve weeks for it to "click" in my head. The key word is work. If Preslee's work was finished, than what's my work? What am I supposed to accomplish while I'm here on earth?

As I climb into bed each night I've started reviewing my actions during the day. What was my work for the day? What was I supposed to accomplish?

All these different ideas have been swimming around in my head for quite some time. Then as I listened to conference last Sunday it seemed that many of the speakers answered my question. They taught how to seek the Holy Ghost.They explained I need to read my scriptures, pray, do the basic things I've been taught from a young age. The things that should already be habits in my life. These simple actions invite the spirit. And once he arrives, I'll be told what my work is for that day. I'll be prompted to do His work, which becomes my work as I become an instrument for Him. Just like many of you have been in our life.

It seems like I keep getting these "Aha" moments. I'm beginning to understand what my role is here on earth. Where I'm supposed to direct my life. Once again it all points to service.

Someone who I've admired my entire life gave me this quote, she told me it hangs on her bathroom mirror.

The Savior said, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:24)

Commenting on this scripture, President Hinckley said, "It seems to me that [the Savior] is saying to each of us that unless we lose ourselves in the service of others our lives are largely lived to no real purpose...He who lives and dies, while he who forgets himself in the service of others grows and blossoms in this life and in eternity" (BYU Speeches of the Year, 1977, p. 43).

So tonight, I hung the same quote up on our mirror. I think if my little girl understood her purpose here, then certainly I can understand mine. I'm striving to make new habits-ones that will lead me in the right direction-ultimately to them.

Drawing by Julie Lochridge