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Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

This past weekend I attended a women’s conference for my church that centered around finding joy in life.

It could be finding joy through things like music, art or dance, or finding joy in the ordinary, in relationships or even in afflictions.

I was asked to teach the class on finding joy in afflictions, which took me back to what has probably been my greatest affliction in life — when my daughter, Sophie, died in 2016.

I shared with the women in the class about the love our family felt from many in the community in the days, weeks and months after Sophie died and how we can often be an answer to someone else’s prayers during times of trial.

I shared about the rainbow that we saw over the funeral home the night of the visitation, the balloons that lined the funeral procession, the meals and cards we received, the garden that was planted at her school and a mural that was painted in her honor — and the list goes on and on.

It was truly a remarkable time in my life to see firsthand our prayers be answered by many of you and to see our burdens be lifted.

Another one of the classes at the conference talked about how to create a mindset of joy.

While I was not able to attend that class because I was teaching, I have pondered what they might have discussed in there.

Some of the most joyful people I know serve those around them regularly, they have an attitude of gratitude and they have a perspective beyond the now. Many also pay attention to the positive in life while limiting the negative.

Want to increase the joy in your life? I think the greatest way that I have found to do that is by forgetting yourself and going to service for another.

Give it a try. You might be surprised what you find out.

“God does notice us and watches over us, but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.” —Spencer W. Kimball

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Wednesday.