Cheerfully do

This is one of those weeks. One of those weeks in the middle of the semester when exams, projects, presentations, and quizzes all combine in the perfect storm to make it necessary to burn the midnight oil while still trying to stay sane. Actually, I don't feel like I have any right to complain when I look at the load my sister is carrying. She's working the max number of hours at her job and going to school full-time (including four credits of Mandarin Chinese and four credits of Arabic!), along with other responsibilities. What impresses me most about her, though, is her constant enthusiasm and optimistic outlook. She seems to have an unending supply of these things, and her attitude is contagious.

In trying to think of a passage in the Doctrine & Covenants that fits this theme, this is the first verse that came to mind: D&C 123:17, which reads in part--"let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power." Once we do that, the scripture continues, "then we may stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." This must have been very powerful to those who heard it at the time as they had been suffering intense persecution and hardships, but I believe that, like much of scripture, this verse can be applied to us today. I may not be able to control when my professors schedule assignments, but I can do what lies in my power to prepare for them ahead of time, use my time wisely, pay attention in class, etc. If I do these things I have a much greater assurance that things will work out no matter what stresses I face at the moment. This give me hope!

PS: The plants Andy gave me on Valentine's Day are starting to grow! They might be loving this sunny weather as much as I am. :-)