Greatness

I believe that within every person is the potential for greatness. Greatness is the ability to make lasting improvements in another person’s life. It happens when you leave someone forever changed because of your influence and ability to see them with an eternal perspective.

 There is one experience that helped me to see the greatness in both my older sister, Rachel, and her friend, Jill. It was during my sixth grade year at a very small rural elementary school that was Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Each grade level had one class, one teacher, and less than thirty kids.  Most of the kids had been there since Pre-Kindergarten.

Rachel had been bullied, picked on, and named the “weird kid” in her class. Recess was spent reading comics and trying to escape the taunts and teases of her classmates. She struggled with her self-esteem, and eventually was so depressed that she couldn’t think of a single good thing about herself.

During those years, Rachel would pray every day for a friend. When Jill arrived at school Rachel knew she was the answer to her prayer. Jill was warned about this weird girl, Rachel, and told to stay away. Lucky for us, we lived next door to a cute boy. Jill began coming over to visit. Jill was amazing, sweet and extremely interested in learning more about our church. Her father had passed away a few years earlier and she wanted to know what happens after we die. The three of us had long discussions about our Heavenly Father and His eternal plan for all of us.

Talking with Jill about how much God loves all of us was an important life changing experience. As we spoke there was a feeling that I can only describe as spiritual fire. It sunk deeply into my heart that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and He wants us to return to him someday. Seeing life with an eternal perspective and knowing that Jill would someday be reunited with her father gave me so much peace and joy.

It was an experience that changed all of our lives. Jill became interested in the church and was baptized. She continued to be Rachel’s friend, even though she could have been a part of the popular crowd. Rachel knew that she was important enough to Heavenly Father to receive an answer to her prayer.  She got the friend she deserved all her life and was able to see her own value through Jill’s love and friendship. Their “best friends” necklace is still one of Rachel’s prized possessions.

When we improve someone’s life and help them see that they are a child of God we achieve greatness. God does not want us to fail in life. We are meant to grow and improve. Sometimes that improvement and growth happens after the struggles of life drag us down until we are on bended knee pleading with God. Rachel’s struggles led to a change in my life and Jill’s. Jill’s struggles led her to change my life and Rachel’s. There is so much more than this moment or experience, there is eternity.  We were blessed after the struggle.

I am forever changed because I was able to witness Rachel and Jill’s greatness. I know that I cannot achieve greatness as a singer, musician, actress, YouTube star, or scientist and that is ok. I don’t want to be any of those things. That is not what excites me and fills my heart, body, and soul with passion. I want to achieve greatness by helping people know their eternal potential and filling them with the desire to strive for it. I want to be able to lift people out of their depression and see the value of their life just like Jill did for Rachel.

(This was an assignment in my English class for my LDS Pathways courses. There is a book and a website that has a bunch of "This I believe" essays that are fascinating. If you were given the assignment to write about something you believe, what would you write about?)  https://thisibelieve.org/

A Love Letter To Exercise

 Dear Exercise,

Thank you for saving my sanity. When my daughters were younger and I watched other young kids in my home I struggled to stay sane. My days were endlessly filled with the same tasks over and over again. The repeat of diapers, crying kids, and constant battles of what to stay away from never ended. It was all bearable when my feet started to pound the pavement, though. Even as I urged the stroller forward with the wind attempting to stop my progress, you motivated me to continue on. You gave me some happy endorphins. I wanted to run away, but instead running half marathons gave me a goal that kept me home and happy.

 Now that my daughters are older and the house is way too quiet during the day, you still save me. When I go to the gym and strap my shoes into the spin bike pedals and feel the energy of those around me I am home again. Once again I know you are going to challenge me and that you will give me those happy endorphins. The loneliness and doubts of my worth that creep into my mind during those quiet moments melt away as the sweat pours down my face. You remind me that I can do hard things.

Exercise, you have come in many forms over the years. Each one has blessed me during different times in different ways. As a youth, you helped me connect to my family and friends while I swam, rode bikes, and ran with my siblings and our dogs. I still smile at the thought of splashing through puddles on my bike or our basset hounds little legs struggling to keep up while I ran. As a young wife, you helped me to lose weight and feel better about myself. You were there for me after I struggled to deal with my daughter’s birth, with the continued fertility problems, and with a husband joining the military.

You helped me connect with so many ladies at Fort Knox and provided me with friends that will last a lifetime. Their efforts to push their bodies to the limit as our children played on the playground around us inspired me. In Pennsylvania you gave me Tera; our runs together struggling to conquer the hills are treasured memories. In Georgia, LaFae and I ran through the trees around the lake sharing a common goal. The goal of completing a marathon got us both through the difficulties of that year, and helped us grow closer together. Even though neither one of us was able to complete that marathon.

Everywhere I move you have been there for me. At times you may leave me tired and sore, but that reminds me of the blessing of my body. Each muscle and bone is connected and serves a purpose. Those tired muscles you produce teach me to try new things like Yoga and water aerobics.  These things help to decrease the soreness in my body and improve my thought processes.

Sometimes I forget how much you mean to me and I don’t exercise for a day or two. I feel tired, lethargic, and sad without you. My mind wonders what is different and then I remember you. I always end up missing you and find my way back. I know I am happier when I am with you, and you are always there for me.

Thank you for saving me from the depression that is always bubbling under the surface. I am eternally grateful and I love you.

Yours forever,

Jennifer Autry 

(This was an assignment from my English Pathways class. It was a fun writing experience.)

I am curious; if you wrote a love letter to something, what would you write to?