It Is Not Where You Live That Matters

Recently I read a wonderful book called "The Rent Collector" by Camron Wright.  It is the story of a young mother who lives at the dump near a Cambodian city with her husband and infant son.  They survive from day to day by what they can find at the dump.  This young mother is influenced by an old woman who also lives at the dump.  The old woman helps her learn many great things.  One piece of wisdom that fairly flew off the page at me was this: "It is not where you live, but how you live that matters".  The idea that HOW you choose to live your life regardless of your circumstances puts a whole new spin on what is important.  It does not matter whether you are among the most humble and poor, as was this young mother from the dump, or whether you are wealthy and well-known.  What matters is HOW you live your life.

Anyone can be kind to others, regardless of their circumstances.  Anyone can build up other people, notice and point out the good, and be positive.  Anyone can serve others.  These things are true to all of us, regardless of our circumstances.  We all have the innate ability to treat others well.  We all have the ability to make the world a better place.

Most often making a positive difference in the world happens in the smallest of ways on a daily basis.  These little things add up to make us what we are.  Just as a painting comes together one stroke at a time, or a beautiful quilt is made one stitch at a time, or a lake is filled one drop at a time, living a good and meaningful life comes one moment at a time, and one tiny act at a time.  These small moments  manifest in a million tiny ways that add up over the years. Things like being kind to your family, even when it is hard; giving a soft answer to someone who is less than kind; smiling, giving encouragement to a child or others, letting someone else go first, showing respect, striving to slowly root out character flaws and replace them with positive virtues, being patient and forgiving.  It means correcting children in love.  It means forgiving as fast as possible.  It means being a light to those around us; being a good listener; being caring and non-judgmental.  It means being kind to strangers.  It means giving all those around us the best of ourselves.  It also means being patient and loving with ourselves, which allows us to love others better.

This month the LDS Church has a wonderful campaign of service called "Light the World".  Serve others in 25 ways in 25 days.  The suggestions for each day are small and simple yet meaningful ways to make the world a better place.
https://www.lds.org/blog/25-ways-to-lighttheworld-this-christmas?cid=HP_TH_1-12-2016_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-2_

As my family and I have worked to accomplish some small act of service every day for someone else, we have felt the joy that comes from doing something meaningful to make someone else's day a little brighter.  What I have discovered is that it not only lights someone else's day when I give, but it also lights my own, probably even more than theirs.  That warm and wonderful feeling inside is one of the best feelings there is!

It is not where you live, but how you live that matters.  How will you live your life?  How will you light the world?  How will your being here make the world a better place?