A Choice

All of conference was amazing, as it always is.  But perhaps my favorite line was this, "God will not act to make us something we do not choose by our actions to become." -Elder Todd D. Christofferson

We were in the car driving home from picking apples at the orchard we had conference playing on my phone through the car speakers (hashtag: so thankful for technology) and this simple line was spoken. It wasn't a a specific point that was being made, it wasn't emphasized or repeated but it burned itself onto my heart.

I have thought on this line many times since conference. I feel like many times in my life I have asked Heavenly Father to act to make me into something but have taken no action myself. Example, each morning I fervently pray to be the kind of mom my kids need me to be, more patient, intuitive, empathetic. But then as I go throughout my day I do not choose to do things any differently than I did the day prior. It is not that I don't want the things I prayed for. I do, oh how I do. It is just I do not choose to take the actions that will help me become that way. I think the same goes for any prayer uttered with pleas of help. We must choose by our own actions to accomplish whatever it is we want so desperately. We can not become more selfless if we do not choose selfless acts. We can not be better missionaries if we do not seek out missionary opportunities. Heavenly father will help us, I have no doubt. He will open the doors and soften hearts but we must first take action.

It isn't a novel concept to me, but one that I needed to be reminded of.

So today and hopefully every day I will choose by my actions to become what I wish God to help me become.

You should too.

xoxo- me