The 12 Letter Word that Changed the World

I have been thinking up this post for forever, and I finally buckled down to write it. Today I want to talk about a word that changed my life and the course of all human history.

12 letters that seem so simple but that in reality blessed all of our lives for all of time.

The word?

Okay, now I know that none of you use this word in everyday conversation.

"Hey Tyler! I'm not available next week; nevertheless, I'd love to catch a date with you when I'm free!"

Yeah, no. Don't even pretend.

But let's look into the power of this word.
Take a turn to Luke in the New Testament. In chapter 22, verse 42, we read the following:

I have no way to completely understand the feelings of the Savior at this time, but think about this. Christ was about to take upon himself the pains, sicknesses, infirmities, sins, worries, and fears of every person that would ever live upon the earth.

He never doubted his Father's plan, but I believe the Savior took a moment, as often each of us do, to ponder the significance of what He was about to do. There in that sacred garden of Gethsemane, He would suffer in a way that transcends any other mortal experience. Even He, perhaps, felt inadequate or unprepared to endure such an all-encompassing trial.

Christ prayed, asking the Father if maybe there were another way. Then, he followed his plea with this beautiful line: "nevertheless not my will, but thine be done."

Nevertheless.

He could have quit. He could have faltered, but Christ in his love and humility knew something we sometimes forget. He knew that Heavenly Father had prepared a perfect plan for his children and that He had an important role to fill in that plan.

Because He acknowledged this and chose to fulfill his vital role, we have endless peace and joy and love awaiting us. We are rescued by His outstretched hand as we choose to grasp it.

In spite of anything that may have tried to hold him back, Christ followed his Father.

We can do the same!

Often we are held back by insecurities, doubts, peer pressure, and a desire to stay in our comfort zones, but knowing our place in His plan helps us to overcome these obstacles and continue on in faith. Remembering the infallibility of the Father's will helps us to keep trusting and keep trying. Nothing in our idea of perfect could be better than that which Heavenly Father has prepared for us.

In spite of each hindrance in our lives, we too can respond to each of our Father's commands with a humble "nevertheless."

That is how we will live happily.

xoxo
Natalie

Why "She Lived Happily Today"?

I have been in love with fairy tales since I was a little girl.

Typical, I know, but I mean SERIOUSLY in love.

I soaked in every Disney princess movie like it was the last one on earth, my tiara was my favorite accessory, and my dying wish would have been to live in a castle.

In fact, here's a little throwback for you ;)

Now, I continue to adore Disney princess movies (and proposal stories and romantic comedies and absolutely anything to do with dreams come true), I love dressing up for fancy events and feeling like a princess, and living in a castle would still be the greatest thing in the world.

Okay, to be honest, nothing has changed! I am still a four year old at heart, but I have realized more as I have grown up that life isn't exactly a picture perfect fairy tale (well, most of the time anyway.) I don't always have a prince to rescue me when I am in distress, and some days, life is stinking hard!!

But just because life is hard, doesn't mean it isn't wonderful! Sure, some moments make me want to curl into a ball and cry, but other moments make me want to shout with joy and dance to Footloose around my kitchen in my pjs!

I've learned that happily ever after isn't just for the "ever after." It isn't merely some distant event that comes after we graduate and get a job and fall in love and have a family and get a house and everything we ever wanted.

It is available right now!

It is available today!

It is available to me and to you and to each and every beautiful soul on this earth. All we need to do is follow the Savior, seek for the good, and spread that goodness wherever we go. I love living happily now! (Although I have to admit that I am still super excited for the fairy tale "ever after" ;)

xoxo
Natalie