A few weeks ago when I was picking my youngest girls up from school, my six-year-old jumped in the car full of enthusiasm. With the biggest smile on her face, Kate joyfully exclaimed, "Mom, I just feel so happy for Kambrie." Curious and surprised, I asked Kate why she was so happy for her friend. She went on to explain that the next day was Kambrie's birthday. The following day would be their class's hard-earned "stuffed animal" party. Then finally, it would be Halloween when they'd get to have their Costume Parade! Kate told me, "She will have three good days in a row--the rest of the week--and I just feel so happy for her!"
My heart was touched by her genuine happiness for her friend. It wasn't Kate's birthday or about the fun she would have that caused her excitement. It was purely for another person's happiness. Hiding the tears that welled up in my eyes, I pulled on the the street toward home with a heart full of love and gratitude for the big lesson my little girl taught me about selflessly caring for others.
A few days later, as I was--you guessed it!---in the car, driving my kids to all the places they needed to be, that sweet experience came to mind quickly followed by the words "mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort." At first, I wasn't sure why that scripture came to mind in conjunction with my thoughts about my experience with Kate, but almost instantly, I recognized the message.
Through the ups and downs of life, I think we generally are able to mourn with those that mourn. Naturally, I think most of us seek to comfort, lift, and help those who are facing difficult situations. Then it hit me! It isn't always as easy to be happy for those who are happy. For the spouse whose marriage is falling apart, it can be painful noticing someone else enjoy the loving marriage they would do anything to have. For the couple who longs to start their family, but deals with infertility, it can be heartbreaking when their friends keep growing their families sometimes even without trying. To someone who sits in a wheelchair or suffers with health issues, it can be incredibly difficult to watch others take for granted the abilities that allow them to live their lives so freely. During different trials, some blessings that we so desire for ourselves can be painful to see another enjoy. Being happy for others especially when they receive the blessings we righteously and patiently seek, is a great indicator of, not only where we are emotionally, but spiritually as well.
Being happy for those who enjoy the blessings you have lived worthy of, but have not been blessed with, shows incredible faith in knowing that those blessings will one day be yours even if it means waiting until the next life. Being happy for those who are happy, shows significant humility in recognizing that although you have not been blessed in the ways that someone else has, you have a different calling and have been blessed in your own personal, sacred ways. Being happy for those who are happy, requires charity and love at its highest degree. Reaching past the pain of your own broken heart to feel happiness for someone else's joy is a love that cannot be matched.
May we seek to mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, but may we also strive to to be the kind of person who can be happy for those that are happy despite where we are along our own journey. I'm grateful that the Atonement provides healing for the injustices of life which can allow each of us to be happy and content for the life that we individually have been given as well as being truly happy for the different blessings we see other's enjoy.
