A Good Box Breaking

In Italy they have a saying, "Rompere le scatole" - break the boxes. The closest thing I can think of in English is "humble pie". But the Italian version is much more aggressive. Let me explain.

Imagine yourself standing on a soap box, spouting off your opinions. First of all, to be up on a soap box, you must be expressing something of which you are completely convinced. Second of all, it is a public setting. You want people to know what you think!

Now imagine someone comes along and smashes your soap box, causing you to topple over . Your assailant approaches you with some irrefutable fact and you are forced to realize that whatever you were saying is totally false. That, my friends, is to have your box broken.

One of the greatest box-breaker of my life is dear, sweet, wonderful Elder Neal A. Maxwell. (How I miss him every conference!) He is phenomenal at giving tough love and encouragement all wrapped into one. Not only will he blatantly break your box, he will help you to your feet and lovingly teach you the truth.

Considering my latest mini-crisis of figuring out motherhood, Elder Maxwell pulls through for me again. First the box breaking:

"So many things have combined to underwrite a surging selfishness that presents us with a sobering scene. Many people assert their needs, but where have we lodged the corresponding obligations? Many have become demanders, but where are the providers and the deliverers? The drives for self-fulfillment and self-awareness and self-assertion have been heightened... Selfish people are forever taking their own temperature, asking themselves, "Am I happy?"

Ouch. That actually stung a bit. I had found the reason I was struggling being truly happy and at peace with my crazy life. I was being selfish. Not to worry, he immediately follows his rebuke with a warm cup of hope.

"The finding of oneself is a process that is both gradual and constant; it is an accumulative accomplishment; it is a patient process. We lose ourselves in righteous service and in wise and good causes through a thousand deeds. By obeying and serving, we are growing, to be sure, but there is little room (and almost no time) in which to notice our growth. We are in a sense, being fulfilled because we are being emptied."

And there it is. Just because we don't notice our growth doesn't mean it's not happening. We are being molded and shaped every day through a thousand small deeds. (Wait... even laundry? Yes... even laundry :) So the next time I feel emptied, I'm going to try and say to myself, "My, what a marvelous day of personal growth!"

Thank you for doing this blog with me ladies. Things make so much more sense when you have to organize your thoughts and share them with others.