Between the rigors of being a mom and the winter weather, my exercise habits have fallen into a little bit of a slump over the last few months. I have been trying, however, to get back into a good routine of exercise and overall activity. As I have been getting back into this habit, I've been struck by an interesting principle that can be applied to our lives.

Whenever you are performing any kind of exercise that requires balance, one of the best ways to stabilize yourself is to focus your eyes on one spot in front of you. I have tested it multiple times, and it really does work. If you are trying to balance but you are not focused on one particular spot, it is a lot more difficult to balance than it would be with that focus. And so it is in each of our lives.

Heavenly Father has given us a specific focus: our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we focus on Jesus Christ - what He has done for us, how to become like Him, and returning to Him again - we find that our lives feel a lot more balanced than if we try to divide our attention. Obviously, we are human and have many different things that demand our attention and our focus. We, however, are capable of making something our main focus and allowing other things to follow after that. As we do this, that main focus infiltrates every other area of attention and is able to influence that as well.

I see miracles in my own life as I set my sights on the Savior and make my relationship with Him and Heavenly Father my first priority. As I do this, I find that I become better in the other areas that require my attention. I am a more patient and gentle wife and mother. I fulfill my callings with more willingness and happiness. My friendship is more genuine and full of love. As I focus on my Savior, I see myself being blessed with the ability to be more like Him. Because I am a normal human being, sometimes I falter and get off balance. Sometimes I look up and realize that my priorities have shifted and that is why I am feeling off-balance, so to speak. Luckily, my Heavenly Father loves me and He is always there to remind me where my priorities should lie, and then rescue me and bring me back to where I need to be.

Just as a sailor out at sea searches for and focuses on the light that shines forth from the lighthouse on the shore, we must focus on the light that shines forth from our Savior. If we will do this, we will be able to remain balanced and safe amidst the storm that rages around us. This doesn't mean that hard and heavy waves won't be sent our way, but it does mean that we will be able to make it back in spite of the storm. I know that as we focus on Jesus Christ, we will see miracles in many areas of our lives.

I love what the Bible Dictionary says about miracles:

"Miracles should not be regarded as deviations from the ordinary course of nature so much as manifestations of divine or spiritual power ... they are simply works, or the natural results of the Messiah’s presence among men ..."

As we focus on Jesus Christ, we let Him into our lives. Those miracles that we see in ourselves are evidences of His presence among us. I look forward to seeing many more miracles in myself over the course of my life as I continually learn how to focus on Him, and in effect, balance my life.

This video is an entire talk by Howard W. Hunter called "The Beacon in the Harbor of Peace". If you just want to watch a short clip from it, go to http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-10-1100-peter-walking-on-water?lang=eng