This week I wanted to dwell my thoughts on one of the members here
in Cairo and an experience I had with her. Her name is Sister Bouton.
She is an 70 year old lady who literally just keeps going and doesn't
stop! Though something about her has just caught my attention since I
first saw her. And that is just how good of an attitude she has. This
week someone told me, "happiness is a choice" And I had a lot of time to
think about that throughout the week and when I thought of Sister
Bouton It just clicked. Happiness really is a choice. And for all of you
out there who think otherwise, maybe Sister Bouton's story will be able
to help you out :)
Like I said, Sister Bouton is a 70 year old lady who is married to a
man who has back problems and is totally dependent on her. They live
really far from the main town and they live all alone. Sister Bouton
also has heart problems. She has had five heart attacks since 2011, all
of which, the doctors informed her, should have killed her. As she told
the story of each of the heart attacks I sat there in amazement. I have
seen many people like her in both the Nursing homes and Rehab that I
have worked at, and she, like many in my places of employment just keeps
going. On a couple of her heart attacks, she called the doctor, though
the one she was going to see was booked for a couple days. So not
thinking much of it and thinking her husband needed more attention than
herself, she patiently waited for the day she could go. When she went
into the doctors office, the doctors, upon finding the cause of the
heart attack, were stunned to know what had kept her alive. They
informed her that one of her Main Arteries was 100 % blocked. (this was
the same thing for 3 of the 5 heart attacks.) Her doctor, was known for
chewing people out for not taking care of their bodies and also their
lives, so all of the nurses warned sister Bouton that she better prepare
herself. So when the doctor came in, Sister Bouton was prepared. She
asked the doctor," ok, what do i need to change?" The doctor, in reply,
turned to her and said, "I don't know what you are doing or how you are
living, but whatever you are doing, keep doing it. Because you should be
dead right now." This happened on two occasions.
Now I don't think that she has come to the conclusion that I have
or if the conclusion I have is the right one. Though I feel as if Sister
Bouton is receiving the blessings from the hand of the lord for her
strong testimony in the Gospel and for her continual desire to become
like the savior. One big part of it is her choice to be happy. I have
never met someone who has the burdens and loads of this dedicated wife,
mother, grandmother and supporter of a falling branch than the Sister
Bouton here. I asked her this week, "How do you always have a positive
attitude?" she gave me her humble reply, "I didn't know i had one :)"
And we both giggled over it.
My dear friends and families, if choosing to be happy is a lesson
you haven't learned yet, I would think about it. Because I have already
begun to see miracles and blessings poring into my daily life from
trying my hardest to be happy through all that goes on. Yes, life is
tough and sometimes unfair, but you choose whether or not what you have
is gonna make you sad, or happy :) I constantly ask myself, "is there
sunshine in my soul?"
I love you all so much and am so grateful for the lovely support
that us as missionaries have. I am tremendously grateful for loving
parents and friends who encourage me to push through every day. And I am
also grateful for the savior, who is the support system for anyone and
everyone. May you all receive blessings this week!
Much Love,
Elder Stonely
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| Oh, yeah...I'm hip! |
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| Homemade shake! Yum! |
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| Another shake. |
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| More weird selfies! |
