Daily habits

The Things That Prick Our Journey

/ Christine Maynor / 3 Comments

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My Daily Musings-May 27th, 2026

Yesterday morning on my walk with my dog Coco, everything felt peaceful. The weather was beautiful, and we were almost home when suddenly I felt something sharp and prickly inside my sock. Because I was holding Coco’s leash, I couldn’t stop and take off my shoe right then, so I had to limp the rest of the way home until I could finally remove it.

It made me think about life. Sometimes we are walking along and everything feels good. Then suddenly something painful finds its way into our lives — a trial, heartbreak, illness, fear, or disappointment — and it changes the way we walk for a while. We limp through days that used to feel easy.

Some trials are temporary, but others last much longer than we expected. Some of mine have lasted for years and are still things I carry today. But even while limping home yesterday, I knew there was hope because relief was waiting for me when I got there.

I think that is what hope in Jesus Christ is like. Sometimes He removes our trials, and sometimes He strengthens us while we continue walking with them. Either way, because of Him, we are never walking without hope.

What are the things that have “pricked” your journey lately? And even while limping, can you see ways the Savior is still helping you keep moving forward?

Prayer: The Most Powerful Tool

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My Daily Musings-May 24th, 2026

Prayer is such a simple thing, yet it is one of the greatest gifts our Heavenly Father has given us. I love the quote, “Always pray. It’s the most powerful tool against worry, doubt and fear.” Thinking of prayer as a tool changes the way I see it. Tools are meant to help repair things that are broken, strengthen things that are weak, and make difficult tasks easier. Prayer can do the same thing in our lives.

How often do we try to carry our worries alone before turning to prayer? What if prayer became the first tool we reached for instead of the last?

Over the last few years, prayer has become one of the most important tools in my life. In moments of fear, hurt, discouragement, and uncertainty, prayer has helped calm my heart and remind me that I am never alone. It may not always remove every trial immediately, but it helps heal the broken places inside of us. Every time I pray, I can feel my Father’s love and presence a little more deeply, and I leave feeling more whole than before.

Strength Found on My Knees

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My Daily Musings-May 3rd, 2026

Life is hard for everyone. We all face trials that can feel like they might break us apart or press hard upon our hearts. Some burdens are visible, and some are carried quietly where no one else can see.

I relate deeply to this quote by Gordon B. Hinckley: “When life gets too hard to stand, kneel.” With chronic illness, there are days I literally cannot stand for very long. But I also understand these words emotionally. When life feels too heavy in my heart, I choose to kneel.

There have been days when discouragement brought me to my knees in tears, pouring out my heart to Heavenly Father. I don’t know where I would be without prayer. On the hardest days, it becomes my lifeline. On the easier days, it remains my anchor.

Where do you turn when life feels too heavy? Have you ever found that strength comes not by standing taller, but by kneeling lower?

Sometimes the greatest strength is found on our knees.

Built to Withstand the Storm

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My Daily Musings-April 25th, 2026

Sometimes life doesn’t give much warning before the winds start to blow. Storms come—some small, some that shake everything we thought felt steady.

In Matthew 7, Jesus talks about two men. Both built houses. Both faced storms. But only one stood.

The difference wasn’t the storm—it was the foundation.

If we want to be like the wise man, we have to build on the rock of Jesus Christ. Not just visit Him when life feels hard, but truly center our lives on Him—our thoughts, our choices, our trust.

Because when the winds come—and they will—what we’re built on is what will hold us.

So maybe the question isn’t if storms will come, but:
What am I building my life on right now?
And when the winds blow, where do I instinctively turn?

The more we center our lives on Jesus, the steadier we become. Not because life is easier—but because our foundation is stronger.

When You Smile, You See More

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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My Daily Musings-April 22nd, 2026

Sometimes the simplest invitations can stay with us.

On our family call this week, my dad asked us to finish the phrase, “When you smile…”
I found myself thinking—when you smile, you become more aware of your blessings. You begin to notice the quiet beauties all around you.

I try to live with gratitude in my heart. But if I’m honest, some days are harder than others. When my health isn’t good, it’s easy to feel weighed down. And yet, even on those days, I still pray and thank my Heavenly Father for what I do have.

Because maybe gratitude matters most on the days it feels hardest to find.

Even on something as simple as a walk with my dog, Coco—I’m reminded of this. She stops constantly to sniff, to look, to explore. Sometimes I get frustrated because I just want to keep moving. But maybe she’s seeing something I’m missing.

Maybe I need to slow down too.

What if the beauty we’re searching for is already right in front of us?
What if gratitude isn’t found in having more, but in noticing more?

Even on the hard days… especially on the hard days… there is still something to be thankful for.