Becoming Project 2015: Charity
There are times when we know God is watching over us. We can feel His hand in our lives, in the events around us, and we know-- with absolute certainty-- that something big is happening. The Becoming Project felt like an opportunity from my Heavenly Father to show me something wonderful, something unparalleled, and something I never suspected: inner strength, love, and peace. The assignment was simple: pick an attribute of the Savior that I would like to further develop within me, write down some specific scriptures and goals associated with that attribute, and practice becoming more like that attribute.
In Matthew 12: 28--29 it says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...learn of me..."
Although the assignment appeared simple, to implement it was not. I knew immediately that Heavenly Father wanted me to work on a specific attribute: charity. In answering the question: 'Why did you choose this particular attribute?' my response was, 'This attribute is important... it can be easy to forget to constantly have love in our hearts.' Sometimes we can all too easily let an event, or a person bring us to a point where we allow hate or misery to overshadow everything else. Our Heavenly Father loves us, and he wants us to learn, to grow, to become more like Him. The Becoming Project was an opportunity to do just that.
Whenever change happens, children have a tendency to slip through the cracks-- and I didn't want that to happen to mine. Instead, I made them my focus. In Mosiah 4:15 it states, ...teach children to love and serve one another'. One of my goals was to take each of my children out for some one on one time. Sometimes, with time being short, I combined our outing with an errand, but other times it was just me and them and some of their favorite food. I've also helped them with their chores, sometimes doing it for them. I've noticed that as I have chosen to spend time with them, and specifically spend time for them, they have chosen to open up about their own worries, offer help to one another more willingly, and a charitable love is felt for one another.
In the beginning, my intermediate goal was to, 'integrate the love I feel in my heart [for my children] with the way I express that love...' I loved sarcasm-- I loved the witty, the snarky, and the irony in my day-- but I knew that sometimes it came across as harsh, and unfeeling. Not everyone appreciates it, and for my Becoming Project to be real, to really make a difference for me, I needed to focus on pure charity-- and that meant the sarcasm had to significantly decrease. This, over time, became an indicator of true change for me. My words, my tone of voice became softer, more full of love. At first it felt strange and unfamiliar, but as I focused on feeling the love of Christ in my heart, the words just came out differently-- and I felt differently when I spoke.
Life didn't magically get easy-- although countless times I would kneel in prayer asking for things to become so. Instead, things got more busy, and more hectic than ever. My days included driving my daughter across town as she had started religion courses, helping my sons' with their scouting and school activities as they became more complicated. I had to constantly re-affirm my decision to put my Becoming Project into practice, and work on keeping charity as a living, breathing, entity in my heart.
Sometimes I chose spontaneous service to help me feel the love of Christ in my heart. Other times I felt the love of Christ in my heart so strongly, I couldn't help but do something -- and those became the days when many beautiful things happened. * "I overcame many difficulties, and put aside things that on the surface may have seemed important, but in the eternities, will not have compared to keeping close to my children, and having them know without a doubt of my love for them." These are some of the words I used in reporting my progress. Setting aside the 'busy' things, and focusing on the important things, helped me maintain an inner calm and peace of heart. Although things were not getting easier, I was becoming stronger in my determination. I was seeing change.
Love for those around you-- even in difficult times, is hard. '...be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming patient, full of love.' Alma 13:28 The more I focused on my Becoming Project, the more I found I could more easily discern how my children were doing, and how those around me were doing. I was also noticing opportunities for me to show love for others through service in other ways too.
"Just as faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, love and hate cannot exist in the same heart, at one and the same time. Love can push out the hate and fear, but we must be willing to give it the power to do so by listening and obeying the Holy Ghost. When we do, we become patient, full of love, and we draw closer to our Heavenly Father." I still believe these words that I wrote months ago. I know that as I have focused on becoming more Christ-like, I have felt the love and peace in my heart increase. Charity is the pure love of Christ. 'Charity is everlasting love...' 2 Nephi 26:30 When I read this scripture, I know what it means. It means that focusing on having love-- pure love-- in our hearts means that as it dwells in our hearts, it can remain there despite any obstacles or difficulties we may have.
Becoming more like Christ isn't for the faint of heart. It is not easy. I have had my hard days. I have also had days when my heart sings with pure joy and love. Change-- true, internal change, cannot be contained. It slips through the cracks of the surface, and soon that change is everywhere in our lives. It can permeate the very air around us. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Becoming Project. Through this unusual assignment, I have had my heart lifted and carried.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30
Become someone better.
Become.
*Events soon to be posted in 'A Christmas Surprise'
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
A Living Parable: The Good Samaritan
I've decided to write up a few experiences that I've had over the course of my life that closely resemble various parables, or other experiences in the scriptures. Names will be changed, because these are true.....
I was pregnant with our first child when my husband had this idea to take me to Vegas. I had never been, we were both bored stiff, and there was about $200 sitting in the account begging to be spent. Something was mentioned about swimming with the penguins in Vegas-- and even if I didn't want to do it myself, it did sound interesting. At the time, we lived in Glendale, California, so Vegas wasn't all that far from us-- so we gathered some things and hit the road.
Things were going well all the way up until we got about 40 miles past Barstow-- and that's when the car started acting up. The car was barely chugging along, and we were on a deserted section of the freeway. We could see an exit ahead in the distance, and we slowly made our way to it. We were hopeful when we got off, because we could see a garage just off to the side. We made our way there, knocked on the locked door, and an older gentleman, with a white beard, came out asking us what we wanted. It turns out he owned a tow truck, and would be willing to take us, and the car, back to Barstow-- for $300.
Well, that was out of our price range.
So, driving as fast as we could (a steady 11 miles per hour), back to Barstow, we dodged big semi-trucks, and cars-- oftentimes having to resort to driving on the shoulder of the road to avoid being hit. Forty miles is a long way if you can only go 11 miles per hour. We did the math, and figured we could be home again by the next day in the evening.....if the car was willing. We passed Barstow, and started our way homeward.
And that was the moment we got pulled over by a cop. Apparently it is illegal to drive on the shoulder, and also illegal to drive 11 mph on the freeway. For our safety, we were told to turn around, and head back to Barstow-- via a tiny, little, dark road.
Once we got to Barstow, we had to figure out what to do next. This was before cell phones, so we looked around for a payphone. When in doubt, make a call.
But who?
Here is where my story really begins......
The first phone call went to my husband's best friend Bob. We made the call, and learned that that Bob was actually going to be headed up the 15 freeway, because he was helping a friend (Mike, another high school buddy of my husband), move with his widowed mother up to Utah-- and they would be driving into Barstow in just a few hours. The cavalry was on its way. So we waited.
Unfortunately, when Bob pulled in, we discovered that neither Bob nor Mike were in charge of the expedition-- Mike's uncle was. Mike's uncle had looked over the lease of the moving truck, and despite the truck having chains that could potentially be used to tow our car-- he saw the fine print where it stated no towing. And so they all continued on their way north leaving us behind.
The next call went to a family where the husband was currently serving in a strong position within the church. It was evening at this point, and when we got a hold of him, we were sure we would be rescued. These were great people.
But instead of help, we got a 'well,..... let me think if there is anyone I know out that way....nope, can't think of anyone-- wish I could help'. So no help would be coming from that quarter either.* Sigh.
It was getting late at this point, and we were starting to feel desperate. We just wanted to get home. Our last call went to a man who had once served as a Young Men's leader in Sunnyland, California. We made the call-- it was close to ten o'clock at night at this point-- and Brett picks up the phone.
He listens to our story, and tells us he is on his way. He also mentions that if this is a prank, and we are not in Barstow-- well, I'm going to leave out those details ;)
When he gets to Barstow, he is driving his wife's van. I begin to drift off to sleep in the passenger seat.... but I hear snippets of an incredible story.....
That day, when Brett arrived at his office (he is a doctor), the whole office was flooded in two inches of water. He had cancelled all his appointments, and spent the day getting everything dry. He arrived home extremely late, and extremely tired. His head had literally just hit his pillow when we called him.
And yet he came.
There are all sorts of times when what we hope for doesn't happen. I never did see penguins in Vegas. Instead I spent the day worried, cold, and feeling deserted. The man who was robbed in The Good Samaritan, was robbed, wounded, and left alone to suffer.
How many times have we been-- symbolically even-- in that situation? All too often. Sometimes it is of our own doing, (I might have left out the 5 quarts of oil my husband had put into the car the day before). Sometimes it has nothing to do with what we have done (flooded office, anyone?).
In either case, we are going to have to make the decision: what will we do? Do we pass by? Do we stop? Do we make the call and reach out?
Life is full of surprises-- and our willingness to help after a long day, just may be the most neighborly surprise of all.
*This all happened March 31-- so the phone call could have been seen as a pre-April Fool's joke.
I was pregnant with our first child when my husband had this idea to take me to Vegas. I had never been, we were both bored stiff, and there was about $200 sitting in the account begging to be spent. Something was mentioned about swimming with the penguins in Vegas-- and even if I didn't want to do it myself, it did sound interesting. At the time, we lived in Glendale, California, so Vegas wasn't all that far from us-- so we gathered some things and hit the road.
Things were going well all the way up until we got about 40 miles past Barstow-- and that's when the car started acting up. The car was barely chugging along, and we were on a deserted section of the freeway. We could see an exit ahead in the distance, and we slowly made our way to it. We were hopeful when we got off, because we could see a garage just off to the side. We made our way there, knocked on the locked door, and an older gentleman, with a white beard, came out asking us what we wanted. It turns out he owned a tow truck, and would be willing to take us, and the car, back to Barstow-- for $300.
Well, that was out of our price range.
So, driving as fast as we could (a steady 11 miles per hour), back to Barstow, we dodged big semi-trucks, and cars-- oftentimes having to resort to driving on the shoulder of the road to avoid being hit. Forty miles is a long way if you can only go 11 miles per hour. We did the math, and figured we could be home again by the next day in the evening.....if the car was willing. We passed Barstow, and started our way homeward.
And that was the moment we got pulled over by a cop. Apparently it is illegal to drive on the shoulder, and also illegal to drive 11 mph on the freeway. For our safety, we were told to turn around, and head back to Barstow-- via a tiny, little, dark road.
Once we got to Barstow, we had to figure out what to do next. This was before cell phones, so we looked around for a payphone. When in doubt, make a call.
But who?
Here is where my story really begins......
The first phone call went to my husband's best friend Bob. We made the call, and learned that that Bob was actually going to be headed up the 15 freeway, because he was helping a friend (Mike, another high school buddy of my husband), move with his widowed mother up to Utah-- and they would be driving into Barstow in just a few hours. The cavalry was on its way. So we waited.
Unfortunately, when Bob pulled in, we discovered that neither Bob nor Mike were in charge of the expedition-- Mike's uncle was. Mike's uncle had looked over the lease of the moving truck, and despite the truck having chains that could potentially be used to tow our car-- he saw the fine print where it stated no towing. And so they all continued on their way north leaving us behind.
The next call went to a family where the husband was currently serving in a strong position within the church. It was evening at this point, and when we got a hold of him, we were sure we would be rescued. These were great people.
But instead of help, we got a 'well,..... let me think if there is anyone I know out that way....nope, can't think of anyone-- wish I could help'. So no help would be coming from that quarter either.* Sigh.
It was getting late at this point, and we were starting to feel desperate. We just wanted to get home. Our last call went to a man who had once served as a Young Men's leader in Sunnyland, California. We made the call-- it was close to ten o'clock at night at this point-- and Brett picks up the phone.
He listens to our story, and tells us he is on his way. He also mentions that if this is a prank, and we are not in Barstow-- well, I'm going to leave out those details ;)
When he gets to Barstow, he is driving his wife's van. I begin to drift off to sleep in the passenger seat.... but I hear snippets of an incredible story.....
That day, when Brett arrived at his office (he is a doctor), the whole office was flooded in two inches of water. He had cancelled all his appointments, and spent the day getting everything dry. He arrived home extremely late, and extremely tired. His head had literally just hit his pillow when we called him.
And yet he came.
There are all sorts of times when what we hope for doesn't happen. I never did see penguins in Vegas. Instead I spent the day worried, cold, and feeling deserted. The man who was robbed in The Good Samaritan, was robbed, wounded, and left alone to suffer.
How many times have we been-- symbolically even-- in that situation? All too often. Sometimes it is of our own doing, (I might have left out the 5 quarts of oil my husband had put into the car the day before). Sometimes it has nothing to do with what we have done (flooded office, anyone?).
In either case, we are going to have to make the decision: what will we do? Do we pass by? Do we stop? Do we make the call and reach out?
Life is full of surprises-- and our willingness to help after a long day, just may be the most neighborly surprise of all.
*This all happened March 31-- so the phone call could have been seen as a pre-April Fool's joke.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
One Tree, Two Trees, Three Trees
It's December.
It's time for sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, no-bake cookies, wreaths indoors, wreaths outdoors, presents in wrapping paper, presents with string, presents in stockings, and presents of time, and presents of service, making turkey, baking hams, mashed potatoes, and trees.
It's time for a sanity check.
When did Christmas become so.......so BIG?
Does it really need to be?
Today I was the recipient of an act of kindness. Yesterday I had purchased from a store, a small box that contained two small flocked Christmas trees. After opening the box last night, it was discovered that one of the trees had a broken base. When I called this morning, an employee told me to bring back the broken tree, but I could leave the good one here at the house. After arriving at the store, I was asked to wait while someone went and brought forward another box. I used the time to rock in the chair provided (they had it on display, and I was happy to check out its rocking abilities), moving my feet when ever someone would pass by. In just a few minutes, a new box was brought to the front, and I went to the desk. The employee opened the box, lifted one tree out, and then gestured for me to take the box. I told her that the box contained two trees, and I had only returned one. She looked confused-- and then the manager who was standing a few feet away, called to her, and told her to give me the entire contents of the box-- two new trees. My jaw dropped-- kindness in the mad rush of a Saturday in December? Kindness-- more true than he could possibly imagine-- indeed.
My first thought was: Are you serious? Really? And then my eyes began to water-- because I've have become accustomed to the brutal, unfeeling, and rather bored people that surround us during this time of year. It's what the days leading up to Christmas have become. Ask any mom to describe in only a few words, this time of year, and 'stressful' is bound to be one of them. But in the blink of an eye, my day changed and became full of gratitude for a man (Thank you Ben!) who took the time to make someone's day a lot brighter.
"For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God..." -- Alma 5:40.
As I sit on my couch, and look around me, I see a small tree, I see my grandmothers rocking chair, and I see my life-- symbolically nestled around me into a small sphere. My children have just left the room after joining me for a short scripture study. We've offered a prayer to our Heavenly Father. The lights of the tree shine down on the little baby wrapped in an old tablecloth symbolizing the swaddling clothes. There are no gaily wrapped presents there-- not yet anyways. For in this quiet, perfect, moment, all is well. For now, all is calm-- and Peace is found in a basket of hope.
When did Christmas become so........ so personal?
Answer: Whenever, wherever, and in whomever the Light of Hope is shining forth.
Pass it on.
It's time for sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, no-bake cookies, wreaths indoors, wreaths outdoors, presents in wrapping paper, presents with string, presents in stockings, and presents of time, and presents of service, making turkey, baking hams, mashed potatoes, and trees.
It's time for a sanity check.
When did Christmas become so.......so BIG?
Does it really need to be?
Today I was the recipient of an act of kindness. Yesterday I had purchased from a store, a small box that contained two small flocked Christmas trees. After opening the box last night, it was discovered that one of the trees had a broken base. When I called this morning, an employee told me to bring back the broken tree, but I could leave the good one here at the house. After arriving at the store, I was asked to wait while someone went and brought forward another box. I used the time to rock in the chair provided (they had it on display, and I was happy to check out its rocking abilities), moving my feet when ever someone would pass by. In just a few minutes, a new box was brought to the front, and I went to the desk. The employee opened the box, lifted one tree out, and then gestured for me to take the box. I told her that the box contained two trees, and I had only returned one. She looked confused-- and then the manager who was standing a few feet away, called to her, and told her to give me the entire contents of the box-- two new trees. My jaw dropped-- kindness in the mad rush of a Saturday in December? Kindness-- more true than he could possibly imagine-- indeed.
My first thought was: Are you serious? Really? And then my eyes began to water-- because I've have become accustomed to the brutal, unfeeling, and rather bored people that surround us during this time of year. It's what the days leading up to Christmas have become. Ask any mom to describe in only a few words, this time of year, and 'stressful' is bound to be one of them. But in the blink of an eye, my day changed and became full of gratitude for a man (Thank you Ben!) who took the time to make someone's day a lot brighter.
"For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God..." -- Alma 5:40.
As I sit on my couch, and look around me, I see a small tree, I see my grandmothers rocking chair, and I see my life-- symbolically nestled around me into a small sphere. My children have just left the room after joining me for a short scripture study. We've offered a prayer to our Heavenly Father. The lights of the tree shine down on the little baby wrapped in an old tablecloth symbolizing the swaddling clothes. There are no gaily wrapped presents there-- not yet anyways. For in this quiet, perfect, moment, all is well. For now, all is calm-- and Peace is found in a basket of hope.
When did Christmas become so........ so personal?
Answer: Whenever, wherever, and in whomever the Light of Hope is shining forth.
Pass it on.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Family Home Evening Plan
Plan for Family Home Evening
"...persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah..." -- Jarom 1:11
Opening Song: Teach Me to Walk in The Light
Opening Prayer: __________________________
Attention activity: What do you see?
Materials: flashlight, dark room, one volunteer, paper, pen.
Begin by having an individual stand facing the opposite wall, in an open area. Turn off lights, and shine a bright flashlight on the individual in the middle of their back. Ask them what they see. Answers may range from, 'my shadow', to 'light and darkness', etc. Record all answers. Ask the individual to turn 90 degrees to the right (in reference to CTR), and ask again: what do you see? This time the individual may see a variety of slanted shadows, different items in the room, other people, etc. Finally, ask the person to CTR one more time, this time, facing the light head on. (If the light was shining on their back, it should now be shining on their stomach, and NOT in their eyes). Ask; what do you see? Bright light, nothing except the light, etc, may be some of the answers.
Explain that if we choose to do things that are contrary to what we have learned to be right, we are turning our spirits away from the light-- which means they are filling up with darkness/ dark matter. 'Nature abhors a vacuum', and our spirits are also subject to those foundational laws of matter. We cannot exist in a vacuum. Everything we do will make a difference. Our spirits cannot survive on Dark Light-- they will rebel, and the Holy Ghost will give us warnings to turn back to the light.
Ask for some examples of things that are 'contrary to what we have been taught'. Answers might include: drugs, porn, watching bad T.V. shows, using bad language, etc.
Read Jarom 1:5 "...and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme..."
When the people of Nephi choose to do these things-- and to do their best with all they had been commanded by the Lord-- they were facing their spirits to the light. When we face the light, our bodies and souls are able to bask in the light. To bask means to be exposed to warmth and light. To bask in the love of our Savior means that as we look to Him, and as we follow in His Footsteps, we allow the Atonement to work within us, and we become filled with his love, which is charity-- the pure love of Christ.
Our bodies and our spirits can be filled with light, no matter our circumstances, if we choose to Look to the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength. The important thing is to look towards the Savior in everything. When we do that, our spirits fill up with light, which increases our joy, our peace, and even our perspectives of our trials can change as well.
How can we 'Look towards the Savior'?
Closing Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus
Closing Prayer: ____________________________
"...persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah..." -- Jarom 1:11
Opening Song: Teach Me to Walk in The Light
Opening Prayer: __________________________
Attention activity: What do you see?
Materials: flashlight, dark room, one volunteer, paper, pen.
Begin by having an individual stand facing the opposite wall, in an open area. Turn off lights, and shine a bright flashlight on the individual in the middle of their back. Ask them what they see. Answers may range from, 'my shadow', to 'light and darkness', etc. Record all answers. Ask the individual to turn 90 degrees to the right (in reference to CTR), and ask again: what do you see? This time the individual may see a variety of slanted shadows, different items in the room, other people, etc. Finally, ask the person to CTR one more time, this time, facing the light head on. (If the light was shining on their back, it should now be shining on their stomach, and NOT in their eyes). Ask; what do you see? Bright light, nothing except the light, etc, may be some of the answers.
Explain that if we choose to do things that are contrary to what we have learned to be right, we are turning our spirits away from the light-- which means they are filling up with darkness/ dark matter. 'Nature abhors a vacuum', and our spirits are also subject to those foundational laws of matter. We cannot exist in a vacuum. Everything we do will make a difference. Our spirits cannot survive on Dark Light-- they will rebel, and the Holy Ghost will give us warnings to turn back to the light.
Ask for some examples of things that are 'contrary to what we have been taught'. Answers might include: drugs, porn, watching bad T.V. shows, using bad language, etc.
Read Jarom 1:5 "...and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme..."
When the people of Nephi choose to do these things-- and to do their best with all they had been commanded by the Lord-- they were facing their spirits to the light. When we face the light, our bodies and souls are able to bask in the light. To bask means to be exposed to warmth and light. To bask in the love of our Savior means that as we look to Him, and as we follow in His Footsteps, we allow the Atonement to work within us, and we become filled with his love, which is charity-- the pure love of Christ.
Our bodies and our spirits can be filled with light, no matter our circumstances, if we choose to Look to the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength. The important thing is to look towards the Savior in everything. When we do that, our spirits fill up with light, which increases our joy, our peace, and even our perspectives of our trials can change as well.
How can we 'Look towards the Savior'?
Closing Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus
Closing Prayer: ____________________________
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Post Halloween Contemplation
Recently I had a discussion with my youngest child about how much candy is an acceptable amount to eat. I am sure many parents out there have had a similar one some time this week with their children. Post Halloween can be a sugar madhouse with its sugar rushes, and downward emotional spirals. If I went with my child's opinion, every meal would consist of candy, some raspberries, and some more candy. Not the healthiest choice. If only he was asking for something healthy, then I would be happy with his 'I want more' attitude.
So far, the best way to teach my children about healthy vs unhealthy, is to let them eat as much junk as they want in a short amount of time....... because, for some reason, they don't believe me when I tell them how awful they will feel if they eat too much junk food. Somewhere-- TV, movies, those evil conniving commercials, they got the message that candy and junk food is fun. But I know it isn't. It isn't enough that I know, they need to know, too. So I let them have their firsthand experience, and after a day-- sometimes two-- they come to me asking for some 'real food'. Lost of it, too.
Mission accomplished.
There is another kind of health food that we ingest: spiritual food. We have to nourish our spirits and souls just as much as we do our physical bodies. Do we start our day with a candy bar? (Hopefully not, but all bets are off the week after Halloween). How can we progress in our life and with our goals, if we fill our day with 'spiritual junk'? We can't.
We need to start with the healthy spiritual elements, and continue to incorporate them into our day.
How do we start up our spiritual energy? Do we pray? Do we 'take in' nourishing spiritual food like scriptures? What do you consider holy? I know I try to 'take in' all that I find good and uplifting. I have a Bible, but I also have a Book of Mormon. I read them both daily.
In 2 Nephi 29: 13 it says, 'And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.'
I love this scripture because it reminds me that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us, no matter our heritage, no matter our location, and no matter where we stand in this world. He wants all of us to find joy. He wants all of us to return to Him. He loves us all.
He wants to communicate that message to all of us. Around the world, and through all time, He works to spread His message of love and redemption and peace. We may find God's love shining on us in the smile or the kind words of a friend. We may find words of encouragement from God in the words of a people long since past. We will have to be on the lookout-- because God's ways are not our ways. We have a lot to learn, but as we pull together as people of faith-- faith in Heavenly Father and His ways, we are blessed. We can reach out to one another and strengthen each other, and spread the message of hope and peace.
There is a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual junk food. There is also a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual health food. It is important to know the difference, and to take in the good.
So far, the best way to teach my children about healthy vs unhealthy, is to let them eat as much junk as they want in a short amount of time....... because, for some reason, they don't believe me when I tell them how awful they will feel if they eat too much junk food. Somewhere-- TV, movies, those evil conniving commercials, they got the message that candy and junk food is fun. But I know it isn't. It isn't enough that I know, they need to know, too. So I let them have their firsthand experience, and after a day-- sometimes two-- they come to me asking for some 'real food'. Lost of it, too.
Mission accomplished.
There is another kind of health food that we ingest: spiritual food. We have to nourish our spirits and souls just as much as we do our physical bodies. Do we start our day with a candy bar? (Hopefully not, but all bets are off the week after Halloween). How can we progress in our life and with our goals, if we fill our day with 'spiritual junk'? We can't.
We need to start with the healthy spiritual elements, and continue to incorporate them into our day.
How do we start up our spiritual energy? Do we pray? Do we 'take in' nourishing spiritual food like scriptures? What do you consider holy? I know I try to 'take in' all that I find good and uplifting. I have a Bible, but I also have a Book of Mormon. I read them both daily.
In 2 Nephi 29: 13 it says, 'And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.'
I love this scripture because it reminds me that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us, no matter our heritage, no matter our location, and no matter where we stand in this world. He wants all of us to find joy. He wants all of us to return to Him. He loves us all.
He wants to communicate that message to all of us. Around the world, and through all time, He works to spread His message of love and redemption and peace. We may find God's love shining on us in the smile or the kind words of a friend. We may find words of encouragement from God in the words of a people long since past. We will have to be on the lookout-- because God's ways are not our ways. We have a lot to learn, but as we pull together as people of faith-- faith in Heavenly Father and His ways, we are blessed. We can reach out to one another and strengthen each other, and spread the message of hope and peace.
There is a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual junk food. There is also a lot in the world that can be considered spiritual health food. It is important to know the difference, and to take in the good.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Ancestors in Russia
So, on a whim, I checked the traffic of my blog. Someone, or several someones, in Russia have visited my blog. This is exciting to me, as my paternal grandfather was born in Russia, and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's. I'd like to find out more about my ancestors, but all the records I've seen are in Russian, and I don't know how to read them. So if you're Russian....... or know how to speak Russian, please let me know.
Thank you :)
Thank you :)
Saturday, October 24, 2015
You Wild Child!
Have you ever danced on the wild side? Was it thrilling? Scary? Did you feel daring and dangerous? Did you feel brave or feel like a trailblazer?
Or did you feel something different? Did you feel alone? Scared? Without hope? Did you feel isolated from the people around you?
Me too.
At first it was freeing-- less rules, or at least fewer that I was obeying or paying attention to. I felt very grown up and mature about making 'my own life' and it was, for a time, very thrilling.....until I realized all I was giving up to be 'free'.
Sometimes, if we grow up in a place and time that we don't understand, we try out new things, new paths, and new vistas. But if they don't work out, we usually just move on, hoping that the next 'new thing' will offer what the last 'new thing' lacked. We eventually realize that what is lacking in our lives isn't what is, or is not, on the outside-- it is what isn't in us anymore on the inside, and that lack, is what can be the difference between a meaningful life, and an empty one.
Knowing who we are-- having an absolute, supreme understanding of that, will change us forever. If we are a musician, we will play until our fingers are numb-- and it will bring us joy to keep on playing. If we are an artist, to create will be our driving force-- it will define our environment, and if they let us-- everyone else's environment too.
When we find our identity, we are in a perfect spot to make something of ourselves...... and no matter what anyone else says or thinks, we will continue with our passion-- because it is our passion in life.
Which brings me to the 'wild child'. In 2 Nephi 15:4, it says, "....Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes." Sometimes we walk on the 'wild side' because we don't know yet who we are. We may have been told we are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, but being told isn't the same as knowing it. When we lack the pure knowledge of our divine heritage, we are not going to behave in the same manner as we would otherwise. We are going to make more mistakes and make decisions that in retrospect bring tears of sadness when we look back at them.
But when that moment of understanding comes....our hearts will leap with joy. "...yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death." 2 Nehpi 11: 5
Walk in joy. Be your best self.
Eat the good grapes.
Heavenly Father loves you.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Are your windows clean?
I was washing dishes one morning, when the doorbell rang. When I answered it, a young man stood at the door, asking if I would like my windows cleaned. I looked over at the glass in the living room, and thought to myself, 'They look clean.'-- so I told the nice young man, 'No thank you', and he left.
Six months later, the same nice young man came again. 'Would you like your windows cleaned?' Again, I looked, and knowing I had just used Windex less than five days ago, I said, 'No thank you'.
This time, after he left, I stood inside my living room, and looked out. I examined my windows around the house, I walked slowly past each one, and really looked. You know what? My living room window was sparkling clean. My kitchen windows were pretty clean, but in the rest of the house.....those windows weren't so clean and sparkly. They had smears, cobwebs and dust in the corners, and there was a dead fly in more than one window in the back of the house.
Maybe I should have said, "Yes."
How often do we take the time and energy to clean what can be seen by others on our public image, but leave our private, and personal areas less than clean and tidy? Do we allow the dust and dirt to build up over time, or even worse: do we purposefully add to the grime? I am speaking of living our lives in such a way as to have our public and personal identity be equally full of integrity-- of honestly living what we claim to hold dear.
What does it mean to 'clean up'? It means saying 'No,' a lot. It means saying, 'No,' to such public poisons like porn. It means saying, 'No,' to big and little lies. It means saying, 'No,' to acting in anyway contrary to what you know to be right. It means keeping your private life just as clean and tidy as your public one.
Wouldn't that change so many dynamics in our society if everyone did this?
Cleaning our 'windows', also means saying, 'Yes' a lot. Yes to all the good things around us. It is choosing people over things. It is choosing to allow the Atonement of Christ to actively work in our lives. It means us personally taking responsibility for keeping our eyes on the things that bring peace, hope, and faith.
We are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as such, we have the divine right to inspiration and guidance from a loving Heavenly Father. However, we must not forget what Peter Parker learned, "With great power, comes great responsibility." We need to speak up, and speak out about what we are choosing for ourselves. We don't get to sit down on the couch and expect everything on the T.V. to be a perfect fit for us-- and we certainly don't have to applaud those shows or movies that have so many people enthralled, if we know that there are going to be parts in them that we know will add grime to our souls. Instead, we take responsibility for what our eyes will see, and what our ears will hear.
Here is a line I came across this week: The real life we are preparing for, is eternal life.-- President Henry B. Eyring.
I want to see life-- and I want to see it clearly.
Pass the Windex.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Faith Vs. Doubt : the winner is.....?
Most of us at some time or another have doubted. Whether it be doubting ourselves, our abilities, others, or any one of a million things-- we have had moments of doubt. But what good did that ever do us? Honestly, did doubt ever help us win a race? Ace a test? Get a job? In all the self-help books out there, is doubt listed as a great asset to building character, developing skills, or appreciating self-worth? No, no it's not.
And there is a reason why.
Doubt is the oppressor of all our good intentions. It sticks to our mind like mud, and is just as helpful.
Then why would anyone ever doubt? That is the ultimate question. I can tell you why I doubt-- sometimes I think that I'm too small in the big scheme of things for me to really matter-- or even that what I do is going to really matter. Sometimes I honestly forget that God knows a plan for me to do it-- and so I forget to try to figure out what that plan or way is. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by what lies before me, that I take it more seriously than I should. Sometimes, I let the seeds of doubt take strong root over my mind...... but that is just the 'mud' talking.
But I'm not alone. There were (a long time ago-- but not in the next galaxy), four brothers who were in a tough situation. And their prospects of coming out of it-- alive-- were not so good. In fact, in the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi chapter 3, verse 31 it says: "...Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?" These brothers were men-- not young children, and yet they were overcome by doubt. They had allowed the 'mud' to cloud their thinking.
We need to take the 'mud' seriously if we are going to overcome it.
Faith, on the other hand, works miracles. It channels the Power of God into our mortal selves, and brings us to a higher playing field. When we allow faith to work within our hearts, we are also forming a partnership with God-- and that is when the miracles start to happen.
In the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3:7 it says: "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." *
If God gives a commandment, God is going to make a way for it to be possible. Our part is to have faith that this is so. God loves us, He wants us to succeed, but we must have faith in this-- because when we have faith, He can channel His grace, His glory, into our hearts. When we are working to do our best to have faith-- and not give power to the muddy doubts-- we are able to think more clearly, take stock of our possibilities, and move forward with our lives to make the most of them.
*If you have a Book of Mormon handy, check out the location of these two scriptures-- you will find they are on page 6 and 7..... facing each other, eternally as polar opposites.
And there is a reason why.
Doubt is the oppressor of all our good intentions. It sticks to our mind like mud, and is just as helpful.
Then why would anyone ever doubt? That is the ultimate question. I can tell you why I doubt-- sometimes I think that I'm too small in the big scheme of things for me to really matter-- or even that what I do is going to really matter. Sometimes I honestly forget that God knows a plan for me to do it-- and so I forget to try to figure out what that plan or way is. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by what lies before me, that I take it more seriously than I should. Sometimes, I let the seeds of doubt take strong root over my mind...... but that is just the 'mud' talking.
But I'm not alone. There were (a long time ago-- but not in the next galaxy), four brothers who were in a tough situation. And their prospects of coming out of it-- alive-- were not so good. In fact, in the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi chapter 3, verse 31 it says: "...Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?" These brothers were men-- not young children, and yet they were overcome by doubt. They had allowed the 'mud' to cloud their thinking.
We need to take the 'mud' seriously if we are going to overcome it.
Faith, on the other hand, works miracles. It channels the Power of God into our mortal selves, and brings us to a higher playing field. When we allow faith to work within our hearts, we are also forming a partnership with God-- and that is when the miracles start to happen.
In the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3:7 it says: "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." *
If God gives a commandment, God is going to make a way for it to be possible. Our part is to have faith that this is so. God loves us, He wants us to succeed, but we must have faith in this-- because when we have faith, He can channel His grace, His glory, into our hearts. When we are working to do our best to have faith-- and not give power to the muddy doubts-- we are able to think more clearly, take stock of our possibilities, and move forward with our lives to make the most of them.
*If you have a Book of Mormon handy, check out the location of these two scriptures-- you will find they are on page 6 and 7..... facing each other, eternally as polar opposites.
Honesty
Honesty is being true, speaking truth, and acting true. It doesn't actually cover all of that in the BYU-I Honor Code-- it mostly is about not cheating, not making up references, and giving credit where credit is due.
But here's the thing: honesty is so much more. It is about having what is in your heart and mind match with what is coming *from* you-- written word, spoken word, or actions-- and having all of that match what you know to be right and true. There are times when I've been immensely overwhelmed with things in life, and I have thought: does it *really* matter if I just _______? So, depending on how in tune with the Spirit I am, will determine who I am listening to-- Satan or the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit does not lie. It can't. But if we choose to listen to the other guy, well...... he lies all the time. But he is tricky about it-- because he knows we are smart, so he doesn't always outright lie, he weaves truth and lies together; he mixes it up. And if we are leaning into his temptations, we are giving him control-- over many parts of our lives, including our own honesty-- remember even Adam and Eve went and hid in fear-- so they were trying to conceal things too. The Holy Spirit, by contrast, likes us to share -- that we may share one another's joys, but also that we may share one another's burdens, too.
I think real honesty comes in those moments when we are living what we know to be good and true, and when those moments come, they come with joy-- joy of not only knowing that we are acting with true and honorable integrity, but also I think we feel the joy that comes from our Savior who is thrilled when we are following Him. He knows what we need, and when we are acting in accordance to that truth, we feel the joy that He has for us. The more we act honestly with what we know to be right and true, the greater our opportunity for joy.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Between You and God
Between You and God
by J. Wester
A new twist on my favorite quote by Mother Theresa
There may be a day when all the seeds you plant will either rot, wither, or get eaten;
Plant anyway.
There may be a day when you are asked to do something above and beyond your skills;
Try anyway.
There may be a day when a friend needs more than you think you can give;
Give anyway.
There may be a day when no one smiles back at you;
Smile anyway.
There may be a day when you fear the coming day;
Greet it anyway.
There may be a day when you give your heart away and it may be broken;
Love anyway.
There may be a day when your faith in humanity is shaken to the core.
Hope anyway.
There may be a day when you wonder if prayers are answered;
Pray anyway.
There may be a day when you are struggling to know if God knows you;
Believe anyway.
"You see, in the final analysis, it's between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."
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