Gratitude in the Journey

Cydni and Sher tackle gratitude with plenty of laughs, a few broken-down trucks, and even a mysterious fish balloon that may or may not have been a sign from beyond. Between jokes about cave-dwelling life maps and teenage boys who only listen to their soccer coaches, they find something deeper: God is our rock, our North Star, and our steady guide. Gratitude, glimmers, and human lighthouses remind us that even in the chaos, Christ is constant—and that’s something worth smiling about. This episode is "Gratitude in the Journey" and we are so glad you're here!

This Week's Challenge
Take a moment this week to reflect on your title, compass, and key, and see how God is guiding your journey.

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Show Notes

Drip-Drip Drop, Words and  Music by  Matt Hoiland
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Transcript

Episode 124 - Gratitude in the Journey

Cydni: [00:00:00] from Eminem. You know that one, go round me outside. Round me outside. Oh gosh. Around me outside? No. I guess your high school dances were different than mine. That's what we played at our high school dances. He 

Sher: wasn't a thing when I was in high school. 

Cydni: Wasn't. How was that? How was the world ever? 

Sher: He Happened when I was a teacher, so then Oh my gosh. Did you hate him then? Yeah, because I had to deal with kids because he was reckless talking about him all the time. 

Cydni: Yeah. Parental advisory. That is like my generation. That sticker. Yeah. Wouldn't catch me with that cd, with parental advisory on it. I was not like that. I had Shania Twain, welcome to the Cydni and Sher. 

Sher: This month, Cydni we have been talking about getting back to the basics of happiness. It's back to school. So we thought it would be a good time to get back to just the simplified steps of happiness. we've talked about finding our purpose and meaning. We've talked about building connections and relationships, and today we want to talk about the importance of being grateful in our journey here on [00:01:00] earth.

Cydni: I don't know if we could even move past what our journey has been like for both of us with our vehicles. I said, if we don't get moving, meaning me on Instagram and actually try to advertise a podcast, will your mom come and haunt us? And you said, yes,

Sher: I did. It's all true. 

Cydni: First, what happened are crows were following me everywhere. That's real. They were following me

Sher: my dad always said he was gonna come back as a crow. Mm-hmm.

Cydni: Crow's following crow. So crow's following me and I was like, Nope, that's not a good enough sign. then Sher's truck suddenly out of nowhere, starts to have issues and it's still under warranty. There should be no problem with it. It's true. And it's died on you. It has. I've not had a truck in two weeks, which of course, how is that a sign for me?

Well, guess who else's vehicle died out of nowhere. Mine did. I had to drive my Tahoe into the shop with zero power steering I've never done that before. It was so hard to turn. It was near impossible. I got honked at, people stared at me because I was going so slow and weird because it would start to die and they would pick up [00:02:00] again, and then I had this thought come to me One. Yes. This is her mother and she's serious And the other one was just this impression that I feel like God feels how I feel about the Tahoe right now. About me I'm just like, Tahoe, would you please just work a little bit? Our journey will be so much better, so much smoother, so much more efficient if you just worked with me and I was getting so frustrated and kind of scared and kind of like, I don't know how to control this vehicle. And then I thought, I feel like God's like Would you just work with me a little bit? Would you just trust me enough to steer you just a little bit? The journey will be better. It'll be so much better than you can even imagine. And I'm like, no, absolutely not. But the final, final, final is that a fish balloon, A fish balloon showed up in our front yard and it was kind of creepy.

And then I sent a picture to Sher. I was like, Hey. Would your mom send a balloon as a fish? And we kind of concluded. Your dad [00:03:00] would definitely, he's like, seriously, get moving on this. So there's just a random fish, half my size balloon and our front lawn. To this moment, my children still think I did it. And then. Later that night, another one showed up in our backyard and now they're in our house and they follow us around and they stare at us, and it's kind of creepy. Have I started Instagram yet? No. 

Sher: You're killing me, Cydni. You're just killing me. So Finding gratitude in our journey. Reminded me of an assignment I used to give my students. I'm gonna go full on teacher today, Cydni. Is that okay with you? 

Cydni: It's absolutely okay with me. Let's go, let's roll. We'll see what happens. Let's get this journey started. 

Sher: I used to teach geography and US history, and as part of those subjects, I had to teach my students how to use maps. And if you understand how to use maps, it helps you with your science tests because on your science tests you have graphs and charts and all sorts of things like that. So if you understand how to read a map, it helps you with [00:04:00] your state tests in science. So that's one of the reasons why we learned about maps. 

Cydni: I did not know the parts of the map. 

Sher: Well, now you do. 

Cydni: I do now. I've been studying them. I also have been asking my children if they know. And Rock knew four out of five. And Ben also knew four out of five, but I know five out of five, so I'm better than they're so, right. 

Sher: You're smart. Which one did they miss? 

Cydni: It was scale. 

Sher: Oh. Okay. Understandable. I think I knew them all from childhood because we'd drive around, my dad and my mom would give us like a real map on paper and we would follow it and have to tell him where to turn and all those types of things. Not to age yourself or anything. Not to age myself, but I will say that all of my nephews and nieces also know how to use a map because the same thing happened to them and they are your age.

Cydni: That's impressive. I Remember printing off the map. Directions when we went to the big city. . My rich friend, she had a printer. Mm-hmm. Actually not to brag, but colored prints. Oh. So I remember printing it off her computer and that's how we did it. I can't believe what we have now. 

Sher: I know we're so lazy. We just [00:05:00] put it in and it just tells us where to turn. I

Cydni: was thinking I'm so grateful, but I mean, if you wanna say lazy, that's fine. 

Sher: Well, I am grateful to be lazy. 

Cydni: I'm so grateful we could be lazy. It's working out real well for me. 

Sher: Okay. Getting back to the maps, the five parts of a map are a title, a key, or a legend. It's the same thing, a compass, a grid, and a scale. And once my students learned and understood how to use the five parts of a map, then what I'd have them do is I'd have them create their own map of their own life they would draw out their journey that they had gone through so far and on their map, I wanted them to draw or discuss where they've been, where they are now, and where they want to be in the future. 

Cydni: I already did mine and mine. Says I'm looking at my notes here, A map of my life. It says, I've done a lot of caved, dwelling, a lot of do not enters, and a lot of, you've lost your way.

Sher: That's uplifting. 

Cydni: You're welcome. Actually, the real one still just has the word title. That's it. That's it. Just title On this notebook. It says title at the top. And then I've really been [00:06:00] pondering a lot. 

Sher: because it's hard, it's really hard. Yeah. That was probably the hardest part for my students and the reason is the title is what they wanted to be remembered for, or what their theme was in life. And they did struggle with it and then the next part I'd have them do is I'd have them create a key. And the key are the symbols that are used on a map. And so they would draw or create symbols that represented people, values, experiences that shaped them. And then a compass . They had to figure out and tell me who their north is. That's the person who is constantly there for them. And then the next one was a grid. A grid is where you currently are on your journey. A grid tells you a location. 

Cydni: Again, mine was the caved dwelling, the do not enters, and you're lost. 

Sher: that sounds about right for both of us, I think. I think that sums it up. And then a scale is your goals and your growth that you can see or want to accomplish in your journey. So today and next [00:07:00] week, we're going to use this old history assignment. To help us get back to the basics. And so today we're gonna focus on gratitude in that journey as we're doing an old history assignment 

Cydni: to pull ourselves out of that cave dwelling. 'cause people who are grateful don't dwell in caves. That was very deep. I didn't say it. Pocahontas did. It was a Pocahontas quote.

Sher: Oh my gosh. You're killing me. You're bringing up Pocahontas. Don't do that again. 

Cydni: Do you not like Pocahontas? I love Pocahontas. Oh, that's why I don't want you to talk about like that. 'cause then you're going to, that was inspired. Oh, I'm starting to listen to your mother. I was gonna say Britney Spears.

Sher: Oh, That would make more sense that she said it. If a balloon fish shows up in this room though. I'm not gonna be okay. It might. so first, let's start with our title. on our journey, let's really think about what do we want to be remembered for. So right now, what is a word or a couple of words that people would use to describe you 

Cydni: like rich, tall. Unafraid. 

Sher: [00:08:00] definitely. You nailed it.

Cydni: I should probably take this more serious. Actually I am trying to take it serious. That's why I haven't written anything down except for caved dwelling. I noticed a few things with the title. I don't know if you remember this, but once we talked about how to discover how you will be remembered by writing out some of your own obituary. I think that's a great idea. If you didn't do it, write out how you wanna be remembered by thinking about what people would actually say at your funeral, which tall would not be for me. So let's be real. 

Sher: Yeah, let's erase that one. But it's tough to think about, how do I want other people to see me? 

Cydni: Right? And I feel like it's probably tempting to just write down who am I? I'm a good person but we need to allow ourselves to dream bigger. That's where the spiritual gifts come that we've talked about. That's where the purpose and the meaning come. I think it's a little difficult to write down who you actually want to be be a good person, but use your gifts. Don't be afraid. That kind of stuff. Or else Sher's mother will break your car down and then your kneecap.

Sher: It's gonna [00:09:00] happen. I'm living in fear daily. something I thought of though is as God's child think about how would God describe us? How would God describe you as his son or his daughter? I think that's a different way to look at it. And it's something that unfortunately I wasn't able to talk about with my students. But wouldn't that be great if I had the opportunity to tell them how much that they were loved and that God truly did love them? One of the scriptures I thought of , it's one of my very favorite scriptures, is found in Romans chapter eight. 38 through 39 that says, for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. That scripture to me expresses how much we are loved by our Savior and our Heavenly Father. every time I read that scripture, I am so overwhelmed [00:10:00] with gratitude Sums up to me what our Savior was willing to go through the depths he was willing to go to, to save me because He loved me. I can't be more grateful for that. 

Cydni: I also feel lately watching my own children helps me to understand just how God might feel about some of this. For instance my daughter, she's nine, wanted to try voice lessons, but our family does not sing largely due to me. I don't sing at all, I would love for them to know how to sing, but I don't know how to carry a tune, so. We sit pretty quiet at church and it's honestly, it's my fault, but I've always thought maybe one of them could sing if someone could teach them. But that's not my calling. It's not my purpose. And so we tried voice lessons I sat in a trial class on a couch and I could barely not cry watching Iana. She. Just belted it out. She just tried. I honestly thought she would sit there so quietly and nervous because it's not something we do we only rap. So to [00:11:00] actually sing was new for us and I watched her. Try I watched her give it everything and I believe that God feels that way about us. I believe He is so happy to see us test out the waters, to try something, to create, I think as a mother watching my children grow and try things, not being perfect, just watching them try and attempt things. It is such a heavenly feeling to me, and I try to remind myself. God feels that way about me When I'm not fearful and frozen, but I'm active and I try I feel, from my experience as a mother watching them get out there and try something and use their gifts and play with it has been one of the most exciting. Experiences as a parent more than, I want her to be able to be an opera singer. I don't care about that, but I deeply care and it's an emotional experience to watch them try and I just feel like God feels the same way. 

Sher: I believe that also, I'm sure it makes Him so happy when He sees us trying and taking something you said and just kind of [00:12:00] tying it together. This will help us figure out. What our theme is, or our title is for our life, maybe think about first of all how God sees us, then think about that calling that God has put into your heart that passion that he has given you because we all have it. And can you use that calling or that passion that he's put in your heart to help describe you, to come up with your title or your theme?

 For me personally, knowing that I am God's and knowing that I am here for a reason makes my title and the theme for my life. A little bit easier. It kind of gives me some ideas of the direction that I should go so this is our first thing to be grateful for, is that we do have that knowledge and we do understand that we are God's child.

Mark Twain said, the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why having the knowledge that. I am God's. And the reason why I'm here is I'm working to grow and to learn and [00:13:00] to get back home with my Savior and my Heavenly Father.

This knowledge brings me so much peace and comfort on my journey, and that's something I am beyond grateful for because it does bring so much joy and happiness into my life. When everything goes crazy, like we were just saying, is having our vehicles break down stressful. Yes. But does it take away that peace in your life?

No. 

Cydni: And speaking of parenting, one more time, Can I just tell you Sher, that for the last year I've tried to get Titus to read Man's Search for Meaning and he won't. then his soccer coach handed him that book to read as a team, and Titus has been reading and he is like, this book is so good and it is. Killing me a little bit, but worse is not that long ago when you and I were preparing and we used some of Victor Frankl's work. I sent a text to Titus and he highlighted that text in the book and read it to me as if I've never heard it and I have sent it to him in the last month.

That's all. That's hilarious. So sometimes you gotta be [00:14:00] grateful when how do I tie this in? Oh, I can't. It was venting. Heck man. 

Sher: That's all. You just need to be grateful when they listen to somebody else. 'cause he's at that age where he is not gonna listen to his parents. Okay. That was really good. And 

Cydni: I was also thinking, oh Compass, I'm gonna take a soft track. So you have to bring Compass into this. 

Sher: Okay. So then. Our next part of our journey or our map that we're creating is our compass. Yep. See how I tied that in? Perfect. Okay. You did a fantastic job for my students.

It was who or what points you to true north? So who always has your back? Who celebrates your victories? Who picks you up off the ground when life kicks you? Right, in the face. Oftentimes they would put their parents, grandparents, a friend 

Cydni: or maybe a coach that said exactly the same thing that your parents said, but you weren't listening to them. So coaches. Not that you're upset or anything, there's no personal feelings. I'm just grateful that he's that kind of man that would suggest such a great suggestion that has never been mentioned before. 

Sher: Again, he's a teenage boy. He's not gonna listen to his parents right now. Pre-teen. [00:15:00] give him 20 years, he'll come back around. Alright, so as a Christians. I'm so grateful that my true north is Christ. President Hinkley said, we know not what lies ahead of us. We know not what the coming days will bring. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment for others, disappointment for some much of rejoicing and gladness. Good health and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow we do not know. But one thing we do know, like the polar star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain, and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives, He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith in sunshine and in shadow. We look to him and He is there. To assure and smile upon us. Christ is not moving. He is our north. He is our compass. [00:16:00] He is always gonna be there. Because He loves us, and I am so grateful for that knowledge that He is our polar star, our anchor, and He's not going anywhere.

President Uchtdorf said, suppose Jesus came to your home today. What would that be like? He would see right into your heart outward appearances would lose their importance. He would know. He would know you as you are. He would know your heart's desires. The meek and the humble. He would lift the sick, He would heal the doubting. He would infuse with faith and courage to believe. He would teach us to open our hearts to God and reach out to others. He would recognize and honor, honesty, humility, integrity, faithfulness, compassion, and charity. One, look into his eyes, and we would never be the same. we would be forever changed, transformed by the profound realization that indeed, God is among us. God is here. He is not passive. He's involved with [00:17:00] each one of our lives. That is something to be sincerely grateful for. 

Cydni: . I had so many thoughts that came to my mind with President Hinkley's. I was thinking that for some of us there will be great accomplishments and for some disappointments, I was like, I think I picked the wrong number. as I came down to earth, I really wanted the one where it was like, some of us will be so rich and famous and spectacular and beautiful and tall and tan. And then some of you'll be short and pale and disappointed and like, I think my number's wrong, I think at the wrong window.

Can I go grab another one? Oh, just kidding. I'm so grateful for everything I have gone through. so that was one thought. You're welcome for that. But here's something else. I love the idea that Christ is our rock, but also the idea that he's our north star.

So here we have the skies covered, but we also have the earth covered. And it made me think of these lyrics from Christian hip hop, which is my favorite. That's a good one. You could really get your squats going if you put on some [00:18:00] hip hop about Jesus, and then I go home and eat ice cream. But I found out today someone else in her neighborhood does the same thing after the workout, and I know she listens, and I just wanted you to know I was listening to that, Kiara. 

Sher: Cydni's always listening 

Cydni: and it benefits me, but really, so the idea that, we have our North Star being our Savior, but also here the rock of our redeemer. I thought of these words. Shadow of the Almighty before me and behind me. I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind. the one who reigns forever. He is a friend of mine,

and he's Talking about Moses and the children of Israel that by day they had a cloud covering them. And by night there was the fire to light the camp. I just love this idea. It just brings it together full circle for me, that we are not alone, that we are being watched over by day and by night. That there's someone before us and behind us and beside us, and. I was learning about how people made maps [00:19:00] before satellites.

I'll be honest, I'm not quite sure I understand still. There was a lot of talking, but I did like a few things. I loved that they used stars and. I just love the idea that to find their way they looked up. I think that's so beautiful. And another thought I had when I was learning about this is how grateful I am for those who have gone before us to figure out paths. To figure out journeys. Because that caused a lot of death. Their trial and error there was very deadly. And because of the journeys people took before us, they found out. Which way not to go, usually the hard way. So I just felt so overwhelmed with gratitude for people who have gone before us. 

Sher: I've always loved the symbolism of looking up into the heavens and the North Star and how it's constant and how it's led. People for centuries, I got to go camping last weekend and just looking up into the sky and being able to see the heavens. I love it. And one of the reasons I love it so much is because of the symbolism of Christ being the North Star.

Okay, so [00:20:00] now we have a title and a compass, And the next part of our map for our journey is our key or our legend. This is who or what has made you who you are. I would have my students create symbols of the people, the values, experiences that shape them.

And sometimes along our journey it gets a little wonky and sometimes it gets dark and it gets scary and way up ahead. We know that Christ is there. He is our north, he is our compass. He is our light that is always shining we know He is there. But sometimes we might take a wrong turn and sometimes we might get a little lost.

Or honestly, life just sucks and we can't see our Savior's light as well because of our own choices, decisions, or just life happening in general. And this is when our loving Father in Heaven sends other people to help us and to light the way on which direction that we should go. 

Cydni: I learned a new word I wasn't planning on sharing, but it just, this is perfect. I never planned on sharing it. Just let happens what happens and just [00:21:00] let 

Sher: it flow. 

Cydni: I didn't know if you knew that about me, but that is what's going on and I loved this. It feels perfect it's called a glimmer. It's the opposite of a trigger. You know how triggers kind of mess you up a little bit or a lot, a bit. But a glimmer is the opposite, that it's things that trigger. Happiness and gratitude and joy in your life. And I loved the idea because I think most people know what their triggers are.

Like if that happens or someone says this, it's gonna kind of make me feel a bit angry. But how often do we focus on our glimmer? So I loved that idea. Me too. That is focus on the glimmers. 

Sher: That is fantastic. I 

Cydni: know like a good song. A car that doesn't break down a fish balloon. That's a lot of glimmers. So many glimmers this week I was listening to a speech, a TED Talk, and there was a man named Steve Pemberton and he talked about human lighthouses. I loved his whole speech. He just talked so simply about what a human lighthouse is, [00:22:00] and he said it's someone who has touched and impacted your life. Someone who has fought for you and saw a new beginning for you. he not only encouraged people to recognize who their own lighthouses have been, but to have a determination in your heart to be a human lighthouse for somebody else because you will be, or you'll be the opposite. You could really ruin people's life unless you choose to be a human lighthouse. Right now, in this moment, Sher

Sher: Are you telling me I need to change a few things? Cydni? That's what it felt like. No, no, no. 

Cydni: You for sure are a human lighthouse. As she's glaring at me. No, I've been around. When your students come just to say hi that were like, Hey. Remember when I was in your class in 1962? Oh gosh. They're like, you're Hey, hey, teacher. I'd like you to meet my great granddaughter. You're such a butt. 

Sher: She's not a glimmer, she is a trigger, 

Cydni: but a funny little trigger. I am. One thing that stood out the most when Steve was [00:23:00] talking about human lighthouses, he had three very specific human lighthouses he talked about, and they were just like the most simple moments in his life. And this is why our character and determination of how we live daily matters because someone might catch something. You're doing, that changes the way they feel about themself or how they feel about the kind of life they want to have. For instance, he was doing a spelling bee and he noticed a teacher sitting in the auditorium who every time he got it right, she lit up. She was so happy for him and he said he started watching her and he saw when he succeeded, she just was so proud of him.

It changed how he felt about himself. And this man had been through foster care most of his life and didn't have a lot of lighthouses. And so he was, without realizing it, he was seeking for human lighthouses and people showed up for him. In simple ways, I found it to be such a beautiful idea to be a human lighthouse. 

Sher: Cydni. I really love [00:24:00] that. I love the idea of a human lighthouse or glimmers. I think that is just beautiful. I found a quote that said, lighthouses don't go running all over an island looking for boats to save. They just stand there shining. And that is something that each one of us can do. We can be that lighthouse for somebody else. But just think back through your life. When I look back and I think about how many people were there shining the way and helping me, pointing me which way to go. It truly is a miracle. people were there or events were there, or even trials were there at just the right time. At the perfect moment when I needed to know the right direction to go in my life, it's overwhelming to think about how God has all of this.

In Romans chapter eight, verse 28, it says, and we know that all things work together for good to them, that love God to them. Who are the called according to his purpose? It is just a miracle to me that God [00:25:00] can figure all of this out so the right event or person is there at the right time, shining the light, creating these little glimmers to help us on our journey.

Cydni: We challenge you this week to take a minute to reflect on, what your title, your compass, and your key are. And next week we'll jump back in with the grid and the scale. Perfect. 

Sher: And as you're writing out your title Compass and Key, think about just how. Blessed that all of us are to have the knowledge of who we are and what we are doing here , and you know, and if you don't have it yet, it's not too late because all of us are still working on trusting the Lord and growing our faith. And so you're not alone in that. It kind of ebbs and flows. Sometimes my faith is stronger and sometimes it's a lot weaker, but when we are ready, Christ will always be there because He is the ultimate lighthouse. He's not moving. He's always shining his light waiting for each one of us to turn to Him.

This brings us to our final thoughts. As we reflect on the map of our own life, [00:26:00] we begin to see that this journey is not random. We were placed here with purpose. We were given people, experiences, and even trials to help shape us, guide us, and remind us of who we are, beloved children of God this month as we focus on the basics of happiness. By studying purpose, connection, and gratitude, it all begins with remembering who our mapmaker of our journey is. Christ is our compass, our lighthouse, and our steady north. And when we pause to recognize the people and moments he's placed along our path, we can be filled with the deeper sense of peace, perspective, and gratitude. Wherever you are on your journey today. Know that you're not lost. The map is still being written and the light of Christ is still shining. This is our prayer 

Cydni: from Cydni and Sher 

 [00:27:00] He's back. You're back. Guess who's back, back again? Sha. He's back. Tell a friend 

Sher: We know what lies ahead of us. No, we don't. So I'm gonna say it again. What would that be like? He would see right into your heart outward. 

Cydni: Sorry. That was scary. I suddenly was like, are we a horror podcast? I got the chills, like in a scary basement. 

Sher: She really did. That. Scared her. I'm gonna start all over though, but don't be scared. 

Cydni: I had 7,000 thoughts at once, which is not uncommon, but spit out two or three. Okay. Thanks. Not all of them, Cydni. I just did a really weird thing on my screen. We're gonna talk about Elvis now because my notes went to Elvis's. This, this has changed. Look at the raccoon on the toilet. That's just what popped up.

Sher: How many people. Were just miraculous. Mira [00:28:00] miraculous. I don't know even know how to say that. 

Cydni: I just want you to keep trying. Me Melo, please. Just run with it. Get it run. 

Sher: It truly is a miracle. Wait, did 

Cydni: you just skip over miraculously then?

Sher: Yes. 'cause I couldn't say it. 

Cydni: It's so funny okay. Sorry. Sorry. I'm sorry. I apologize.

Sher: That all things work together for,

Cydni: Is Is? It? Is. R. R. It's a miracle. It's a Mira's. It miraculous. It's a MiraLax.

Sher: Miraculously. 

Cydni: And your key. R It doesn't feel right. I grew up in a small town and we have pigs everywhere. I can't say it, I'll say it. Just that one part. Okay. Okay. 

Sher: Have a good week. Bye.