Simplicity

 The other day I was working on cutting out an item I was using as a teaching aid for a home bound student I needed to teach.

She is academically behind and needs some simple and yet powerful lessons to help close those gaps.

But as I was cutting I was getting frustrated.  My swollen and painful knuckles were making it difficult to adeptly maneuver the scissors around the scalloped design.  

My tremors were also requiring many stops and starts and deep breaths and steadies.  

I found myself slamming the scissors down in frustration and saying “I can’t do this!”

But then I looked again at the project and this time I saw the bold lines around the heart.  

Were the scallops even necessary? No!

Now, was there anything wrong with the “extra”? Not as long as it didn’t get in the way of the true focus on simplicity! 

But if it meant I wasn’t actually getting to the core then it needed to go! 

So I picked up my scissors and soon had all 20 hearts cut out and ready to go.

I’ve thought of that every day this week.

Where in my life is my “extra” actually adding to and amplifying Jesus Christ and his teachings in my life?

And where is my “extra” getting in the way of me getting to the basics of my testimony and my spiritual foundations for my family?

In General Conference Elder Michael Cziesla declared, “Applying the simplicity that is in Christ makes us prioritize people over processes and eternal relationships over short-term behaviors. We focus on “the things that matter most” in God’s work of salvation and exaltation instead of getting caught up in managing our ministering. We make ourselves free to prioritize the things we can do rather than being weighed down by the things we cannot do. The Lord reminded us: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” What powerful encouragement to act in simplicity and humility, whatever our circumstances are.”

Look at the extras with the guidance of the Spirit.  Are they adding to Christ or are they truly just extra,  distracting us from what matters most?