Reflections on the Journey

 Ed Note:  Leslie struggles with brain chemistry issues and is sharing her amazing journey as a wonderful wife, mother, friend and colleague.

By Leslie Scott

"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served." -Gordon B Hinckley

Week 2 of my new medication took me to Richfield, Utah for the state basketball tournament. It was a good little break from the routine of everyday life, but it was also amazingly difficult.

Taking an anxious person and putting them in a highly anxious situation is like giving a child their favorite candy bar and telling them they can never eat it. It is sheer torture! And while NOTHING in this life would ever keep me from watching my son do what he loves most, I wanted to curl up in a ball and hide.

The boys didn't make it as far in the tournament as we would have liked, but our Rich Rebel girls made it all the way to the finals! I dreaded this game! From the moment they started announcing the teams, I knew I wouldn't make it. I was fighting the tears, and we had a full hour left to go.

I happened to be sitting right behind one of the coaches wives. In the moment I thought I would break, her sweet, 4 month old daughter started to scream. I knew exactly how she felt! I was reminded of this quote above, and asked if I could take her out in the hall for a minute. And my beautiful friend kindly said, yes!

The moment we got in the hall, this angelic baby girl fell asleep in my arms. I couldn't take a sleeping baby back into a loud arena, could I? We sat, the entire game, in the lobby of the Sevier Center. It was the best basketball game I've ever been to!

In that hour, my heart melted! The storms that were raging in my head calmed, and I thought about nothing but this sweet baby girl. Did I serve my superhero friend that was struggling at a basketball game with 3 small kids? I hope so! But the blessings were all mine! I benefited far more in that hour than I had hoped were possible.

I will never forget the calming of a storm by a four month old. And I will always try to remember to serve when I can, as I strive to take life ONE DAY AT A TIME.