Making Good Things Happen

A few years ago I learned about creating good.
When I was a child good things just seemed to happen. Christmas was always magical, my birthday was filled with fun and excitement, our family had dinner together every night around our kitchen table, family prayer was a peaceful and touching experience, our home was neat and orderly - even though there were 9 people in the house, my parents always had an answer to my questions, and even the trials and challenges we went through eventually proved to be blessings.

Since having my own home and family, I have realized that Christmas, my birthday, family dinners and prayer, and the consistent feeling of love in my childhood home were the result of the efforts of my parents. I learned - to quote Bishop Larsen- that good things don't just happen. Happy marriages, loving families, peaceful neighborhoods, and successful businesses are the result of someone's thought, patience, sacrifice, selflessness, and hard work.

So it may be fair to say that the amount of good things in my life is a good indicator of my efforts to make them happen. I recently read this quote ~ "Your life is the result of the choices you have made; if you want a better life, start making better choices." I have decided to become more aware of opportunities to create good: to make good things happen ~ my marriage is strengthened when I am more concerned with the happiness and comfort of my husband than my own, I feel closer to my grown up children when I make the effort to stay in touch with them, and I feel happier when I make a point to smile and greet those I come in contact with in my daily activities. Some good things are beyond our control and cannot be forced, but we can set the stage for them to happen. I am more likely to feel the power and witness of the Holy Ghost when I spend time with the scriptures, and I feel the love of my Father in Heaven more when I pray sincerely and thoughtfully.

I am expecting many good things to happen in the future, through my efforts, or those of others -- they will surely be the result of someone's conscious decision to go about doing good.