Wednesday, November 18, 2015
I find it very ironic...
...that the very people who are posting posts about keeping out the refugees that are mostly Christians who have been persecuted because of their religion have also posted pictures of Jesus and ask, "Would you invite me into your home?" They all type, "Yes." and share. But I type, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ".
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Something learned when I taught Laurels...Linda
Occasionally, one of my daughters compared herself to her sister and came out on the negative end in her eyes. (As I say, it was only in her eyes, because having a different voice doesn't mean it isn't as good in its quality for that kind of voice.) Our family tends to have the kind of talents that people can see...or at least they make sure people can see them. Having so many children, so close together, so similarly talented or interested in the same talents, it was hard to make sure everyone had equal opportunities to learn, perform, and feel happy about their talent. Susan, by sheer birth order, was always ahead, and since she loved and was self-motivated to compete and perform it was easy for those coming after her to compare their existing state to hers. Some of you didn't have the same drive, but had the same love for that talent and were similarly talented. There came a time in two of my daughters' lives that they thought of themselves negatively and thought they had no talent. I tried to overcome those times and failed miserably (the secret admirer tapes to Janet--LOL). Linda, had talent, but somehow thought she didn't. There were several times she vocally asked why she didn't have any talent. There were classes in Young Women's when she would come home and say she had no talent. Nothing I would say could deter her from her own lack of self-worth. I remember telling her she had talents that weren't the kind you could display or get awards. (That went over like a lead balloon.) But I had an experience when I taught the Laurel class that gave me the answer I never gave her...and I would like to give it to her now.
Linda, I was teaching the lessons on the divine qualities we inherit from our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. We listed them on the board. We talked about how we could nurture and find those qualities that could be so buried. As we listed qualities found in the scriptures, such as empathy, nurturing, compassion, kindness, tenderness, charity etc. I realized that you did not have to hunt for those qualities, they were your gifts, your talents. You scoffed at my telling you something similar to that when you were a young woman, but when I looked around at all those outwardly talented girls, I realized that you had been given the greater talents. They were the talents that the other girls sought, but you already had them. They are evident in all that you do. I thought how blessed I was to have a daughter already so much like her Heavenly parents. I knew that was your mission, to be a wonderful mother, since you were given those gifts. I watch you use them every day.
Yes, Linda, you can read music and have a beautiful singing voice. Yes, Linda, you can write the most beautiful poetry. Yes, Linda, you have the ability to be a great leader. Yes, Linda, you have a talent for decorating. BUT, most important of all, Linda, you are a daughter of God with all those Divine characteristics evident, nurtured, and entrusted to be a partner with your Heavenly parents to parent your own children. I am so proud to have you as a daughter. I am so happy you are who you are. I know that you have trials of the flesh, but Linda, you have more of the Divine in you than you know and it was given as a gift to you to overcome the flesh, for your mission as a mother, and to be a light and joy to all you come in contact with. We feel that love, Linda. We feel the joy that you give us. I hope you feel it yourself. I love you, Linda.
Linda, I was teaching the lessons on the divine qualities we inherit from our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. We listed them on the board. We talked about how we could nurture and find those qualities that could be so buried. As we listed qualities found in the scriptures, such as empathy, nurturing, compassion, kindness, tenderness, charity etc. I realized that you did not have to hunt for those qualities, they were your gifts, your talents. You scoffed at my telling you something similar to that when you were a young woman, but when I looked around at all those outwardly talented girls, I realized that you had been given the greater talents. They were the talents that the other girls sought, but you already had them. They are evident in all that you do. I thought how blessed I was to have a daughter already so much like her Heavenly parents. I knew that was your mission, to be a wonderful mother, since you were given those gifts. I watch you use them every day.
Yes, Linda, you can read music and have a beautiful singing voice. Yes, Linda, you can write the most beautiful poetry. Yes, Linda, you have the ability to be a great leader. Yes, Linda, you have a talent for decorating. BUT, most important of all, Linda, you are a daughter of God with all those Divine characteristics evident, nurtured, and entrusted to be a partner with your Heavenly parents to parent your own children. I am so proud to have you as a daughter. I am so happy you are who you are. I know that you have trials of the flesh, but Linda, you have more of the Divine in you than you know and it was given as a gift to you to overcome the flesh, for your mission as a mother, and to be a light and joy to all you come in contact with. We feel that love, Linda. We feel the joy that you give us. I hope you feel it yourself. I love you, Linda.
Monday, October 5, 2015
things I want to remember from babysitting this weekend
1. The humor of watching Mike unsuccessfully chase after Gunny (Gunner) several times in the house, when all he needed to do was stop, sit, and the dog would run to him.
2. Wondering why Olivia kept pulling her front hair and twisting it, until Mike told me that is what I do and she was copying me.
3. Watching Lizzy be a mother to Olivia. I saw her be Janet, to Olivia. It let me know how sweet of a mother Janet is.
4. Getting stuck trying to climb under James's bed playing sardines. Finally getting out and then watching the remaining children come to the room and Olivia's smiling eyes popping up between the bed and frame. Yep. She gave it away. And I don't want to remember pulling a muscle when I tried to unsuccessfully hide under a dirty laundry pile.
5. The children all sleeping in the same room so they could go to sleep.
6. Listening to Olivia say, "I hate the night." and, when I came in to comfort her after putting her to bed, she said, "Don't want this Grandpa. You go out. Want other Grandpa." We finally got her to differentiate grandma and grandpa when we left.
7. Watching the children come down to hug their parents when they returned.
8. Not being fast enough to get to Olivia before the Legos were dumped, the plants were dumped, the potato sticks were dumped, the picture frame stripped of it's picture, climb to the handrail of a slide to do the splits on top with outstretched hands posing, knocking over a block building, raiding Clara's jewelry box, etc. Faster than a speeding bullet, this whirlwind of destruction can charm your heart.
9. Listening to Olivia sing in her crib.
2. Wondering why Olivia kept pulling her front hair and twisting it, until Mike told me that is what I do and she was copying me.
3. Watching Lizzy be a mother to Olivia. I saw her be Janet, to Olivia. It let me know how sweet of a mother Janet is.
4. Getting stuck trying to climb under James's bed playing sardines. Finally getting out and then watching the remaining children come to the room and Olivia's smiling eyes popping up between the bed and frame. Yep. She gave it away. And I don't want to remember pulling a muscle when I tried to unsuccessfully hide under a dirty laundry pile.
5. The children all sleeping in the same room so they could go to sleep.
6. Listening to Olivia say, "I hate the night." and, when I came in to comfort her after putting her to bed, she said, "Don't want this Grandpa. You go out. Want other Grandpa." We finally got her to differentiate grandma and grandpa when we left.
7. Watching the children come down to hug their parents when they returned.
8. Not being fast enough to get to Olivia before the Legos were dumped, the plants were dumped, the potato sticks were dumped, the picture frame stripped of it's picture, climb to the handrail of a slide to do the splits on top with outstretched hands posing, knocking over a block building, raiding Clara's jewelry box, etc. Faster than a speeding bullet, this whirlwind of destruction can charm your heart.
9. Listening to Olivia sing in her crib.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Sharpness
New incite today. Remember the scripture that mentions correcting ...i.e. 'reproving betimes with sharpness.' Well, our high councilor's wife (AKA former presidents of the SA temple...Ginger Beckstead) was talking about patience in disciplining children. She said patience is not ignoring what they do wrong, it is disciplining (teaching, correcting, reproving with sharpness and kindness) and having the 'patience' to discipline again and again until they get it right. She also compared it to our patience in suffering or waiting for blessings because we wait for the timing to be right. Anyway, when she was talking about reproving with sharpness, she said that sharpness does not refer to loudness of voice or shrill tones. She said sharp is focus. She did a cutting motion with her hand and then took both hands to bring them to a point to show how a sharp blade is focused on a narrow point. When we reprove with sharpness, we are very specific, concise, focused, and to the point. It makes all the sense in the world to me.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
You asked for it...
91% Marco Rubio
78% Rick Santorum
then it goes down every Republican candidate (I think that Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are next)...until the lowest person on my list (37% Hillary Clinton).
78% Rick Santorum
then it goes down every Republican candidate (I think that Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are next)...until the lowest person on my list (37% Hillary Clinton).
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Pictures of Pride
Today, the Relief Society president came up and thanked me for my 'ever-inspiring' comments. She heaped quite a bit of praise on me, so I uncomfortably joked about it.
Then she started to cry. Well, this sister turned to me in tears and said, "This week we took family pictures with me in them...for the first time. I did it because of your comments."
One of my earlier comments had been about how I was so embarrassed about my weight that I never, well rarely, would be in pictures with my children, hoping that I would lose weight and look better in a future picture. Time would pass and I'd look back and think, "Man I was so better-looking then, why didn't I let anyone take my picture with them?"
As I look back over photos of my children, I see all the relatives with my children, but the pictures are pretty much void of me. I regret that my pride has effected the historical memories my children and grandchildren might have of me.
Then she started to cry. Well, this sister turned to me in tears and said, "This week we took family pictures with me in them...for the first time. I did it because of your comments."
One of my earlier comments had been about how I was so embarrassed about my weight that I never, well rarely, would be in pictures with my children, hoping that I would lose weight and look better in a future picture. Time would pass and I'd look back and think, "Man I was so better-looking then, why didn't I let anyone take my picture with them?"
As I look back over photos of my children, I see all the relatives with my children, but the pictures are pretty much void of me. I regret that my pride has effected the historical memories my children and grandchildren might have of me.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
The doTERRA Effect
One of our speakers in church has a mother that sells doTERRA oils. He jokingly calls her the doTERRorist on a jihad to convert the world to doTERRA. He said that whatever ails anyone, she says, "I have an oil for that."
Even as he and his brother were teasing her, he realized it wasn't so much for money that she does what she does, it is because she really is converted to doTERRA. She really wants to help people and she knows a way to do it. That is why she does what she does with such an obsession.
It hit him that if we were as converted to the gospel as his mother is to doTERRA and we wanted to help out people the way his mother does, that when people were having problems in their life, we would say, "I have a cure for that." "I have the cure of the atonement." "I have the cure of obedience to the commandments." " I have a cure of reading the scriptures." "I have a cure of praying to a living, spiritual Father, who can communicate and listen to you." "I have the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ....Would you like to hear more?"
When I think of it in that same light, I see how easy it is to spread the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it really is the cure for all that spiritually ail.
Even as he and his brother were teasing her, he realized it wasn't so much for money that she does what she does, it is because she really is converted to doTERRA. She really wants to help people and she knows a way to do it. That is why she does what she does with such an obsession.
It hit him that if we were as converted to the gospel as his mother is to doTERRA and we wanted to help out people the way his mother does, that when people were having problems in their life, we would say, "I have a cure for that." "I have the cure of the atonement." "I have the cure of obedience to the commandments." " I have a cure of reading the scriptures." "I have a cure of praying to a living, spiritual Father, who can communicate and listen to you." "I have the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ....Would you like to hear more?"
When I think of it in that same light, I see how easy it is to spread the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it really is the cure for all that spiritually ail.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)