My husband and I were in the car running multiple errands today (exciting I know). We sat quietly in the car, just listening to the radio when I asked him "What are you thinking about?" I don't know what I expected, maybe something about sports, traffic, etc., but instead he said something like, "About how we say things will be better when..." I stopped and thought about it. We do say that sometimes...sometimes a lot of times. I tried to think of all the times we've said that "Things will be better when..." in reference to wanting more time together, in reference to our jobs, in reference to wanting a house, etc.

I realized how much pressure he feels like he's under. I think he feels an overwhelming responsiblity to make all the things we've dreamed about happen. I put on my wife hat and truthfully told him, "I'm happy now. I know we say that a lot, but I'm happy now and where we are in our lives now. We just have to keep on working hard and being faithful." I don't know if that was the right thing to say, but it's truly how I feel. Sure, we live in a small basement apartment, but it's home. Sometimes we have to strategically mail in our bills so we don't overdraft our account, but it works out. We don't see each other nearly enough because of our work schedules and my poor hubby sometimes works 60+ hours in about a 4 day period so we can have money to put away for taxes, savings, and trips we want to take. But I feel blessed.

I love my life. I love my husband, my home, and our involvement in the gospel. I love feeling the spirit in my life and having a spiritual giant for a husband (although he doesn't realize it and always denies it). Our lives our humble, but I think in a way our lives are very great. For the most part, we recognize what is important because of experiences we have had that have forced us to cherish them. Things like our health, safety, faith, being together, our jobs, our home, and our family. It's wonderful to know how important these things are and how simple life seems when we realize what our priorities should be. I feel blessed to recognize and cherish these things at this point in my life. It makes me rejoice in what many take for granted. Again, I'm not a 'sunshin and rainbow' type of person, but I have realized that I am happier now than ever before and I think other people at my work, in my family, and other acquaintances have recognized it.

So, yes, sometimes we may dream that our lives will be better when we have our 2.5 children, our house on the lake, a boat, a dog, and a cat. But I honestly don't think that the spirit we will have then will be any greater than the spirit we have now and it's the spirit, love, and faith that makes us happy! We could have all the goodies life has to offer, but if we don't have the love, faith, desire to progress, integrity, and humility that we have now...our lives just won't be as great as the humble lives that we have now. I hope that we have the strength to increase in all those areas and not get distracted by the world's goodies. I love the Lord, I love being a member of the church, I love the blessings and mercies he grants me, and I love my husband and the inspired man that he is (even if he doesn't believe it).

Things should not be better when...We need to be grateful for what we have and recognize the greatness of it. Whatever struggles I/we may have, I am comforted and even made happy about them when I realize that I am going through them with Lord and my husband by my side.

Tags: Happiness Trust Faith Gratitude

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