Tuesdays with Naqvi--Herceptin #37, 38

I had the chance to teach a lesson to the Young Women of our congregation on the topic of Personal Progress.  There is a specific program in our church called Personal Progress in which the girls make goals, pass off experiences, and complete projects in the areas of 8 specific values, but progress is a topic for everyone.  I LOVE the motto "Never Stop Improving," because it's a great mission statement for life.  None of us is perfect.  Each of us has areas to improve.  We are here to learn, grow, change, experience, serve, adapt, prepare, perfect, and progress.  January is a perfect time to evaluate and set goals on areas of progression for the year, so it was perfect timing for this topic.  I'm not going to share my whole lesson, but I think a discussion on personal growth is valuable and relates to the journey through trials.

The Parable of The Pebbles:  {Shayne M. Bowen}

One night in ancient times, three horsemen were riding across a desert. As they crossed the dry bed of a river, out of the darkness a voice called, “Halt!” They obeyed. The voice then told them to dismount, to pick up handfuls of pebbles, put the pebbles in their pockets, and remount. The horsemen followed the instruction.

The voice then said, “If you have done as I commanded, tomorrow at sunup you will be both glad and sorry.” The horsemen rode on. When the sun rose, they reached into their pockets and found that a miracle had happened. The pebbles had been transformed into diamonds and other precious stones.

The horsemen remembered the warning that they would be both glad and sorry. They were glad they had taken some pebbles, sorry they had not taken more.

I LOVE parables!  The stories are short and sweet.  The messages are deep and lasting.  In this parable of pebbles, we compare the small stones to the small, everyday acts we do that help us slowly improve and progress.  Personal progress becomes precious possessions, one pebble at a time.  Bowen says, "The world would have you believe that the values of faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity, and virtue are insignificant pebbles in a modern world. That is not true. “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."  When we do small and simple things, making these positive changes in life, great things can come about.  

Sometimes we underestimate the value of the precious pebbles that God places in our paths.   Sometimes we curse the stumbling blocks that are there to test our strength.  However, each time we add to our pockets, we collect more material to be transformed.  These pebbles may seem small and insignificant, but in reality they are treasures of eternal worth.

It's important to not be discouraged, overwhelmed, or to compare our experiences and our progress with others.  Progress is a personal thing.  Each of us has individual and natural strengths and weaknesses.  We are all on different points in the path.  We won't all collect the same pebbles, the same amount of pebbles, or pebbles at the same time.  However, making goals and reaching them--collecting the pebbles of self improvement--will pay off for each of us when they are combined to make our personal treasures.  Real progress is made by following the pattern of small, consistent, positive actions.  We become great not all at once, but by discovering areas in which we should progress, making goals in those areas, and continuing to accomplish those great things consistently.  I love how Thomas S. Monson puts it:  "learn what we should learn, do what we should do, and be what we should be."

As I think about my own personal progress, the goals I am working on, and those I want to achieve, I realize more and more that the small steps added together can take us on great journeys.  I chip away at chemo.  I work on small goals everyday to keep my house clean and organized.  I start with small projects that can be easily completed.  I try to do a little bit each day to improve myself or strengthen a talent or help someone else.  After a bit of time has passed, I'll be able to look back and see the priceless treasures I've accumulated, one pebble at a time.