Ingrained memory of Susan

A Dibble relative was going on a mission so the whole clan came to our sacrament meeting to hear her going away talk. When I went over to talk to Jan Dibble and Allison Dibble, they asked about the family. Since Susan and Allison were the same age, Jan asked about Susan. Then she said, "I will never forget your daughter. I will never forget her comment in a parents meeting we were having." I asked what it was. Jan replied, "I don't recall the type of meeting, but there were parents there and for some reason they were raising their hands to tell of the commandments their child had broken and how their child was lost, wayward, and the parents were lamenting the 'cause' of their children. There had been several parents tell their stories, then Susan, a teenager girl raised her hand and said, 'I think you are forgetting that there is repentance. Christ suffered and atoned for our sins so we could repent." Sister Dibble said, there was silence and that there were no more negative comments after that.  She will never forget what Susan said and the courage it took to raise her hand in the middle of all the parents who were older than her.

Nothing Wavering

Today in Sunday School, the lesson was on James...and of course, the James 1:5-6 scripture came up. I have quoted it at least a hundred times. As I rattled off "nothing wavering", I guess I have thought of it as meaning something akin to being strong in our faith. Well, today the teacher described incidents where people have prayed a prayer, received an answer, followed the answer, and when things go wrong, they question their answer. How many of us do that? It was surprising how many raised their hands in class. We all do it at some time. That is when our faith is wavering.

I recall a time when my faith was wavering about a previous decision I had acted on. I questioned my previous answer so much, I asked for the answer again. When I received it again, it was strong. "How could it be so strong, when the action I took seemed so wrong?" I thought. Rather than go against this doubly confirmed action, I went to the Lord and wrestled for a blessing. I said, "I know Thou dost not lie. Thou hast told me to do this action, so I know that good will come of it and it is not happening. I am casting my burden on Thee and pleading for Thee to make up the difference. Give me the success I need in this venture."

And He did. And He has done this over and over again.

Life is hard, but when we act in faith, nothing wavering, the Lord is bound to bless us. It may not be exactly the way we thought or in the time frame we thought, but He will not let us fail if we follow what He has told us.

The Sunday School teacher also showed this video clip. If anyone thought they were failing but persevered and did not give up it was this person.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/daily-bread-experience-2

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. ".

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.

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.

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.

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).