I had to check my thinking at that very moment.
Was I wishing them the best or was there some amount of envy or resentment?
Was I hoping that another not succeed or flourish,
in my desire to feel better about myself and my ego nourish?
When we are thinking small we may feel threatened by the accomplishments of others -
we may feel our talents diminished by the success of friends or strangers.
None of us desires to feel left out or trailing in the back.
It’s common to want to keep up with the rest of the pack.
Can we rejoice at the achievements of another,
without wishing we had what they have acquired?
Part of our nature is to want to be better or have more than someone else -
a higher law instructs us simply to strive to constantly improve ourselves.
Those who think big and then really grand
are those who really want the best for others and to offer a helping hand.
We have all been endowed with different gifts from a loving heavenly parent.
We can discover and develop these talents through our persistent efforts.
A parable of Jesus illustrates this message clearly:
that we should seek to improve all we have been given so dearly.
When we think of progressing from grace to grace,
we may think of Christ and how he desires to lift the entire human race.
There is no room for envy, jealously, selfishness or greed in the great eternal plan –
only love for friends and enemies alike - for all the sons of men.
To truly love others is to hope they prosper in all they attempt -
eager to cheer them on without hesitation or restraint.
If we follow the teachings and example of the Savior we will get it right.
Our thinking will change from small to big to great if we try with all of our might.
September 2021
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