Blessings That Come From Sacrifice

Remember this post about "closing old doors" in my life?

Well, it didn't dawn on me until just this week that when I gave up my video editing (with hopes of being more socially active), I didn't know that the very next Sunday was when my crazy social week started.

Since that epic week, life has slowed down a little, but I'm still enjoying the company of my new friends and acquaintances I've recently made.

For example, switching my Institute class so I could be with friends/people I know, has worked out wonderfully!  After class, they normally go up to the Institute break-room and eat lunch and simply hang-out for a couple hours.  I was able to attend Monday for the first time, and it was highly enjoyable!  I look forward to this activity on Mondays and Wednesdays in the future...

I've also been attending Ward activities lately (all those "Sunday Sweets" or "Dessert and Flirt" after Ward Prayers, not to mention FHE) and I've come to get to know a lot of new people in the Ward!  I also have found it easier to remember faces and names because I've interacted with them outside of Church (and I don't go a full week without seeing them).  This also has been a blessing in my life!

As I ponder upon these things and all the events that have taken place recently, I've grown to realize there are wonderful blessings that can come from sacrifice!  If we are willing and able to work hard, fighting the inner battles in order to overcome, we can be blessed for our efforts.  Giving up video editing has not been easy, and I still have the urge to open iMovie and waste away my afternoon or evening... But I've come to see the blessings I've personally received by not giving in to that temptation.

This not only applies to an innocent hobby, of course.  Whenever we sacrifice our time, energy, or resources for others, we will be blessed.  I have seen this work time and time again in my life (especially when I don't exactly want to do it, but I force myself to).  Granted, the blessings come quicker and are more easily recognized if you're not fighting it.

Also, as I learned in Institute, true strength does not simply come by giving in.  True strength comes from fighting inner battles and conquering them.

I often feel as though I've been fighting an inner war for years, spread into several smaller battles.  With each new victory comes peace.  Sometimes those battles are more difficult to fight than others, but I've seen more changes within myself when I fight those harder battles.  No, war is never easy, especially when it's within yourself.  However, if one can persevere through the battles, using patience when needed, the war will be won.

Your war may last a lifetime.

For others, it may only last years.

Whatever the case may be, might I encourage you to keep fighting those battles, strengthening your inner army, and conquering the enemies of your soul.

I leave you with these few words of encouragement that I came up with a while ago and have given me strength over the past several weeks:

"For the dawn is now breaking, the darkness will soon depart.
And Hope will shine brighter, growing within a grateful heart."