Loving Your New Normal

We had a fabulous lesson in Relief Society yesterday by Sister Theriot.

She started by sharing how there was a cultural revolution in China in the 1960s - after some of my own research I learned the revolution was to purge their nation of the "Four Olds": old customs, old culture, old habits and old ideas. As part of this revolution many beautiful vases made in the past dynasties were destroyed -


"During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, (1966-1976), keeping the antique porcelain at home was regarded as illegal. So many collectors broke their porcelain and threw them away. Just after the revolution, we began to collect the broken pieces of antique porcelain and tried to bring them back to life again. Around 1983-1985, the Shard Box was created. The Shard Box is not only a collection of antique porcelain, but also a collection of Chinese history." (source)
Vases that survived are very valuable now. For those that were broken and shattered, their lovely shattered remnants have been created into beautiful little shard boxes.

Aren't these just pretty?

She showed us a shard box that she had and said how she just loves it. Are we able to accept it when the ideals we have for our life are shattered after all our hard work? Are we able to pick up the pieces and turn them into something lovely again? Can we love our new normal? It reminded me of Elder Wirthin's talk from the October 2008 Conference ~ "Come What May and Love It"



Someone also commented how President Boyd K. Packer learned this while in the military - the constant movement that military life brings uncertainty about how long will I be here, when are we moving again, etc. He learned that there are blessings found in 
unpacking your bags and settling down—whether for days, months, or years. For him, it made the difference between misery and 
happiness. (referenced in this speech at BYU by Stanley G. Ellis under the heading "Unpack Your Bag")

She also shared a message from the Music and the Spoken Word on July 15, 2012 - here's a recap:

Have you ever noticed how a car GPS can be compared to our lives and the way we live them? When we are driving somewhere and we take a wrong turn, does the GPS shout, “YOU IDIOT!! What were you THINKING!! Now you’ll NEVER get there!” No. The GPS simply says in a matter-of-fact voice, “RE-CALCULATING…” and proceeds to find you an alternate route to get to your destination. It might take you longer to go the “detour” sort of way. However, if you don’t stop driving and follow the directions, you WILL eventually get there. Stay calm, come what may and love it, learn to love your new normal and make the best of it, God's in control of your life and is helping you become what He wants you to become.

:) Thanks for the great lesson Kay!