Thanksgiving was instituted as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln—in the midst of the Civil War! Some of the similarities of that occasion to our own today are striking. He noted that outside of the battlefields, life in America was passing in an orderly and peaceful fashion. Also, that in the midst of crises, we are prone to forget our daily bounties, and the source from which they come.
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln said:
"It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.
But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
Happy THANKS-GIVING!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Lessons Learned in the School of Adversity
I am not yet as Job, or Abraham, or my pioneer ancestors, but I have lived long enough to call Trouble my friend. I’d like to share some personal things I’ve learned in the school of adversity, and the bumper stickers that see me through.
• Adversity happens.
Ann Landers, after decades of dishing out daily advice in her newspaper column, said this: “If I were asked to give what I consider to be the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: Expect trouble -- as an inevitable part of life…”
Somewhere we got the idea that the norm, or the ideal life, is one of ease and comfort, and that trials are the aberration that get in our way, but I think we have that backwards. (1 Peter 4:12)
• I’ve learned that lots of things can go wrong at once, and some things can go very wrong, but never does everything go wrong all at the same time. There are always blessings to be counted, things that are right, and evidence of God’s grace in our life.
• It could always be worse. Last week we had a plumbing leak at our house. A few days later I heard of someone whose whole house flooded. Even that can’t compare to having your house washed away in a hurricane -–which is nothing next to the loss of a soul.
• When I feel sorry for myself I think of the pioneers, and so many other times and places where people have suffered so awfully much. It puts my own problems into perspective.
• When you are suffering, you can choose to go around with a long face, or not. You have a choice. Pain is inevitable; misery is optional. Laughing is better than crying; it’s more fun and your makeup doesn’t run.
• Play it as it lays. We can waste a lot of time, energy and happiness by wishing things were different. It’s a lot more productive and peaceful to accept things as they really are, and go from there.
• Good things come out of bad things. For those who have eyes to see, doors will open, good will come, Beauty will rise out of the ashes. (Isaiah 61:3)
• Fear and worry cannot coexist with faith. You must choose one or the other. I like faith; it feels better. And when I cannot find it within myself, I pray for it.
• You can endure a lot more than you think you can, or want to. We’re fond of saying we’re afraid we could never have been a pioneer, but I wonder if we aren’t more afraid that we could!
• Although you may feel alone, you are never ever really alone. We do not suffer out of God’s view. No one else may know of our pain, but He does.
• Adversity strips the fluff down to the real stuff. The vain and trivial melt away, and we are left with the real us, real life, and those things that really matter.
• There is peace in the eye of the storm. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, cast down, but not destroyed. " 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Whatever storms are raging around us, we can find peace. I have been in that place.
• Adversity is not fun! No matter how much we know about it, and understand its purposes and promises, it still is not any fun at all. In fact, the pain is very real, and it can be really hard.
• This too shall pass, though not always in this lifetime. There are things we live through, and things we live with. But for the faithful, nothing bad lasts forever, and nothing can ever go permanently wrong.
• We can trust in the Lord that there is purpose in all things.
The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God. Romans 8:18, 28
• It took me a long time, but I’ve learned that Adversity is a gift.
1. To know ourselves—to know of what stuff we are made and what we can be.
“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of … patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God. “ Orson F. Whitney
2. To know others. It is through our common woes that we find love and compassion and friendship in meaningful ways.
3. To know God. “We know about our Savior, but it is often in our adversities that we truly find Him and know Him and love Him… “ Ardeth Kapp, “Pray Not for Light Burdens but for Strong Backs” BYUWC 2005
And so, Affliction comes to us all—
Not to make us sad, but to make us sober;
Not to make us sorry, but to make us wise;
Not to overcome us, but for us to overcome;
Not to punish, but to bless.
• Adversity happens.
Ann Landers, after decades of dishing out daily advice in her newspaper column, said this: “If I were asked to give what I consider to be the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: Expect trouble -- as an inevitable part of life…”
Somewhere we got the idea that the norm, or the ideal life, is one of ease and comfort, and that trials are the aberration that get in our way, but I think we have that backwards. (1 Peter 4:12)
• I’ve learned that lots of things can go wrong at once, and some things can go very wrong, but never does everything go wrong all at the same time. There are always blessings to be counted, things that are right, and evidence of God’s grace in our life.
• It could always be worse. Last week we had a plumbing leak at our house. A few days later I heard of someone whose whole house flooded. Even that can’t compare to having your house washed away in a hurricane -–which is nothing next to the loss of a soul.
• When I feel sorry for myself I think of the pioneers, and so many other times and places where people have suffered so awfully much. It puts my own problems into perspective.
• When you are suffering, you can choose to go around with a long face, or not. You have a choice. Pain is inevitable; misery is optional. Laughing is better than crying; it’s more fun and your makeup doesn’t run.
• Play it as it lays. We can waste a lot of time, energy and happiness by wishing things were different. It’s a lot more productive and peaceful to accept things as they really are, and go from there.
• Good things come out of bad things. For those who have eyes to see, doors will open, good will come, Beauty will rise out of the ashes. (Isaiah 61:3)
• Fear and worry cannot coexist with faith. You must choose one or the other. I like faith; it feels better. And when I cannot find it within myself, I pray for it.
• You can endure a lot more than you think you can, or want to. We’re fond of saying we’re afraid we could never have been a pioneer, but I wonder if we aren’t more afraid that we could!
• Although you may feel alone, you are never ever really alone. We do not suffer out of God’s view. No one else may know of our pain, but He does.
• Adversity strips the fluff down to the real stuff. The vain and trivial melt away, and we are left with the real us, real life, and those things that really matter.
• There is peace in the eye of the storm. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, cast down, but not destroyed. " 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Whatever storms are raging around us, we can find peace. I have been in that place.
• Adversity is not fun! No matter how much we know about it, and understand its purposes and promises, it still is not any fun at all. In fact, the pain is very real, and it can be really hard.
• This too shall pass, though not always in this lifetime. There are things we live through, and things we live with. But for the faithful, nothing bad lasts forever, and nothing can ever go permanently wrong.
• We can trust in the Lord that there is purpose in all things.
The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God. Romans 8:18, 28
• It took me a long time, but I’ve learned that Adversity is a gift.
1. To know ourselves—to know of what stuff we are made and what we can be.
“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of … patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God. “ Orson F. Whitney
2. To know others. It is through our common woes that we find love and compassion and friendship in meaningful ways.
3. To know God. “We know about our Savior, but it is often in our adversities that we truly find Him and know Him and love Him… “ Ardeth Kapp, “Pray Not for Light Burdens but for Strong Backs” BYUWC 2005
And so, Affliction comes to us all—
Not to make us sad, but to make us sober;
Not to make us sorry, but to make us wise;
Not to overcome us, but for us to overcome;
Not to punish, but to bless.
One more thing...
I know my daughter said I could never speak again of my eventual passing or funeral, but I have one more thing to say, and it needs to be in a place where you can find it when the time comes.
So forgive me please, as I found a poem, now a song, that I would like printed on the program for my funeral.
Oliver Wendell Holmes so beautifully expresses what would be my prayer:
Thou Gracious God, Whose mercy lends
The light of home, the smile of friends,
Our gathered flock Thine arms enfold,
As in the peaceful days of old.
For all the blessings life has brought,
For all the sorrowing hours have taught,
For all we mourn, for all we keep,
The hands we clasp, the loved that sleep.
We thank Thee Father; let Thy grace
Our loving circle still embrace,
Thy mercies shed its heav’nly store,
Thy peace be with us evermore.
So forgive me please, as I found a poem, now a song, that I would like printed on the program for my funeral.
Oliver Wendell Holmes so beautifully expresses what would be my prayer:
Thou Gracious God, Whose mercy lends
The light of home, the smile of friends,
Our gathered flock Thine arms enfold,
As in the peaceful days of old.
For all the blessings life has brought,
For all the sorrowing hours have taught,
For all we mourn, for all we keep,
The hands we clasp, the loved that sleep.
We thank Thee Father; let Thy grace
Our loving circle still embrace,
Thy mercies shed its heav’nly store,
Thy peace be with us evermore.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Landscapes
Whenever we drive to the doctors, or the medical center, or the hospital, we drive through major construction. It is fun to see the changes and the progress being made. I think it’s interesting.
But what I feel is something quite different: it feels like a metaphor of my life. Life right now feels all torn up, with detours along the way, it’s tricky to negotiate, and it changes every day.
We look forward to the time when the road work is all finished, functional and beautiful, even though the familiar landscape will be very different.
We can’t see the progress inside R’s body; we hope it’s improving and getting better. The part where it’s finished, functional and beautiful will probably come much later.
What we do know is, the landscape of our mortal life is forever changed.
But what I feel is something quite different: it feels like a metaphor of my life. Life right now feels all torn up, with detours along the way, it’s tricky to negotiate, and it changes every day.
We look forward to the time when the road work is all finished, functional and beautiful, even though the familiar landscape will be very different.
We can’t see the progress inside R’s body; we hope it’s improving and getting better. The part where it’s finished, functional and beautiful will probably come much later.
What we do know is, the landscape of our mortal life is forever changed.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Draw from The Well
The Sea of Galilee is not very large, but it must have seemed so to the disciples tossing in its tempest. In the midst of the storm, Jesus said to them: Be of good cheer.
To Paul who was in prison, knowing his life was in danger, Jesus said, Be of good cheer.
To a paralyzed man who could not walk or work or move, Jesus said, Be of good cheer.
To pioneers trekking west at great sacrifice, the Lord revealed, But with JOY, wend your way.
God meant it when he said, Men are that they might have joy.
We understand the joy we’ll have at the end of our journey, when we move on to a better world, but God meant for us to have joy in this life, even in the midst of storms, struggles, and sorrow.
It’s easy to be happy when things are going well, but how can we can have joy when they’re not?
The answer may be found in the story of the woman at the well.
She is a Samaritan, and comes to the well seeking water.
There she finds a Stranger, who asks her for a drink.
The stranger, the Savior, said, "If only thou knewest the gifts that God has for thee, thou wouldst ask water of me.”
What gifts did the Lord have to offer her?
What water did He have that one would never thirst again?
What can we draw from Heaven’s well of Living Water?
I can tell you some of the gifts that I have drawn from wells of salvation:
I have drawn Knowledge: that God lives, and not just that He exists, but that he lives nearer to us than we know. He hears our prayers, even the very thoughts of our mind and desires of our hearts, and He cares, and He answers!
I have drawn Hope –the sure assurance that there is meaning and purpose to all things, that our lives matter, that there will be a better time and place, and it will be worth it.
I have drawn Peace – the peace which passeth all understanding, not as the world giveth, but as the Lord giveth. I have stood in the eye of the storm, and felt the calm that comes from Him.
I have drawn Faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by whom all things are made possible, by whom all things can be made right, by whose Living Water I have felt cleansed, healed, and been given new life.
We can live happily, even with joy, even side by side with sorrow, as we draw out of the well of salvation the gifts that God has for his children.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water
“Whatever hour God has blessed you with,
To Paul who was in prison, knowing his life was in danger, Jesus said, Be of good cheer.
To a paralyzed man who could not walk or work or move, Jesus said, Be of good cheer.
To pioneers trekking west at great sacrifice, the Lord revealed, But with JOY, wend your way.
God meant it when he said, Men are that they might have joy.
We understand the joy we’ll have at the end of our journey, when we move on to a better world, but God meant for us to have joy in this life, even in the midst of storms, struggles, and sorrow.
It’s easy to be happy when things are going well, but how can we can have joy when they’re not?
The answer may be found in the story of the woman at the well.
She is a Samaritan, and comes to the well seeking water.
There she finds a Stranger, who asks her for a drink.
The stranger, the Savior, said, "If only thou knewest the gifts that God has for thee, thou wouldst ask water of me.”
What gifts did the Lord have to offer her?
What water did He have that one would never thirst again?
What can we draw from Heaven’s well of Living Water?
I can tell you some of the gifts that I have drawn from wells of salvation:
I have drawn Knowledge: that God lives, and not just that He exists, but that he lives nearer to us than we know. He hears our prayers, even the very thoughts of our mind and desires of our hearts, and He cares, and He answers!
I have drawn Hope –the sure assurance that there is meaning and purpose to all things, that our lives matter, that there will be a better time and place, and it will be worth it.
I have drawn Peace – the peace which passeth all understanding, not as the world giveth, but as the Lord giveth. I have stood in the eye of the storm, and felt the calm that comes from Him.
I have drawn Faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by whom all things are made possible, by whom all things can be made right, by whose Living Water I have felt cleansed, healed, and been given new life.
We can live happily, even with joy, even side by side with sorrow, as we draw out of the well of salvation the gifts that God has for his children.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water
out of the wells of salvation.
Is 12:2-3
“Whatever hour God has blessed you with,
take it with grateful hand,
nor postpone your joys from year to year,
so that in whatever place you have been,
you may say that you have lived happily.”
Horace, ancient Roman philosopher
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Half a Year
Today is the first day of July. That means half of the year has officially come and gone.
We will always think of this as the year R got sick, or more correctly, that we found out he was sick. Hard to believe it has been six months, half a year, of sickness.
It doesn’t seem that long. Everything was normal until Christmas. Then in January we started medications, and a very big change in our lives. The past six months have been a series of hospital stays, doctors’ appointments, poking, prodding, testing and waiting. We’ve had good days, bad days, scary days, dull days, things unknown and things to be decided. Each day a measure of pills, of body, of soul. Every day different from our life before.
Instead of being gone day and night, R now seldom leaves the house. Our children have come to visit, each a help and a joy to us. One of them has stayed on with her family, another change in our life, and a great help and joy to us. Friends come to lift our load and our hearts.
Time lays heavier, hearts are tenderer, daily routines changed. There are things we no longer do, places we no longer go. We find ourselves questioning life, past, present and future. We find more meaning in our past, comfort in our present, and an absolutely unknown future.
I don’t know what the next six months will be like.
But Que Sara, Sara, --what will be, will be.
Meanwhile we take each day as it comes, count our blessings, of which there are many, and find joy in the here and now, and hope in the times to come.
We will always think of this as the year R got sick, or more correctly, that we found out he was sick. Hard to believe it has been six months, half a year, of sickness.
It doesn’t seem that long. Everything was normal until Christmas. Then in January we started medications, and a very big change in our lives. The past six months have been a series of hospital stays, doctors’ appointments, poking, prodding, testing and waiting. We’ve had good days, bad days, scary days, dull days, things unknown and things to be decided. Each day a measure of pills, of body, of soul. Every day different from our life before.
Instead of being gone day and night, R now seldom leaves the house. Our children have come to visit, each a help and a joy to us. One of them has stayed on with her family, another change in our life, and a great help and joy to us. Friends come to lift our load and our hearts.
Time lays heavier, hearts are tenderer, daily routines changed. There are things we no longer do, places we no longer go. We find ourselves questioning life, past, present and future. We find more meaning in our past, comfort in our present, and an absolutely unknown future.
I don’t know what the next six months will be like.
But Que Sara, Sara, --what will be, will be.
Meanwhile we take each day as it comes, count our blessings, of which there are many, and find joy in the here and now, and hope in the times to come.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Happy Unbirthday to Me!
Some things are just worth blogging about. This is one of those things.
Today I got a birthday present. No, it’s not my birthday, but it is my husband’s.
Together we received a most amazing present from our eight children.
We’re going on a cruise!!!!
(Jump! Shout! Knock yourself out!)
They all put in together to give us a BIG chunk of money to make it possible. Wow.
I knew they were up to something, but I had no idea what.
The FedEx package arrived yesterday.
I had a feeling we shouldn’t open it right away.
My son-in-law Scott has been working very late every night. When he said he would be home in time for the party, and wanted to be here when it was opened, I figured it was something special.
I knew just enough to be more excited than my husband.
FINALLY the moment came to open it. We saved the best for last.
And that’s saying something since I had just given him a stationery bike for his birthday.
He opened the first envelope.
The second envelope said, Do Not Open unless properly supervised (by Mom). If hanging over him counts, check.
He opened the second envelope.
There was a small, hand-made folding card wrapped in ribbon. Aha. Jennifer had worked her magic.
He opened it and started to read. The look on his face changed. I got the Kleenex.
After silently reading two pages, I couldn’t stand it, and asked if I could read with him over his shoulder. Back to page one, then two. I reached for my own Kleenex.
Cute, clever poetry was slowly revealing what the gift was. Notes from each child to their Dad on every other page. He’s now officially a basket case.
While he slowly read each word, I am jumping out of my skin, reading quickly and wanting to get to the end. Finally there it is. The gift of money to take a much-deserved and much needed trip. Wow.
I’ve wanted to take a cruise for a while. Valerie thought I must know what the gift was because I mentioned it so often. But I didn’t.
Because of recent health issues, my husband didn’t feel we could do it financially, and wasn’t up to even talking about it. He’s up to it now.
And we’re stoked!!!!!!!!
There is nothing like looking forward to something to perk a person up.
Wow. I am still jumping out of my skin. I am on Cloud 9. I could just pop a button!
Unbelievable that our children would do this for us. But then, they are unbelievable. Unbelievably wonderful.
So we are going on a cruise.
And it will be even sweeter because our children made it possible.
It will be sweet from this moment until we go.
It will be sweet the whole time we’re on it.
It will be sweet the remainder of our lives that they did that for us, especially in these unstable times.
We don’t know how to thank them, except to invite them to go with us. That would be total, absolute, complete sweetness.
Probably they can't all come. We wish we could do that for them.
But they'll be there, in our minds and in our grateful hearts.
To our children and their families who made this possible, thanks, and thanks, and more thanks!!
We love you too.
Today I got a birthday present. No, it’s not my birthday, but it is my husband’s.
Together we received a most amazing present from our eight children.
We’re going on a cruise!!!!
(Jump! Shout! Knock yourself out!)
They all put in together to give us a BIG chunk of money to make it possible. Wow.
I knew they were up to something, but I had no idea what.
The FedEx package arrived yesterday.
I had a feeling we shouldn’t open it right away.
My son-in-law Scott has been working very late every night. When he said he would be home in time for the party, and wanted to be here when it was opened, I figured it was something special.
I knew just enough to be more excited than my husband.
FINALLY the moment came to open it. We saved the best for last.
And that’s saying something since I had just given him a stationery bike for his birthday.
He opened the first envelope.
The second envelope said, Do Not Open unless properly supervised (by Mom). If hanging over him counts, check.
He opened the second envelope.
There was a small, hand-made folding card wrapped in ribbon. Aha. Jennifer had worked her magic.
He opened it and started to read. The look on his face changed. I got the Kleenex.
After silently reading two pages, I couldn’t stand it, and asked if I could read with him over his shoulder. Back to page one, then two. I reached for my own Kleenex.
Cute, clever poetry was slowly revealing what the gift was. Notes from each child to their Dad on every other page. He’s now officially a basket case.
While he slowly read each word, I am jumping out of my skin, reading quickly and wanting to get to the end. Finally there it is. The gift of money to take a much-deserved and much needed trip. Wow.
I’ve wanted to take a cruise for a while. Valerie thought I must know what the gift was because I mentioned it so often. But I didn’t.
Because of recent health issues, my husband didn’t feel we could do it financially, and wasn’t up to even talking about it. He’s up to it now.
And we’re stoked!!!!!!!!
There is nothing like looking forward to something to perk a person up.
The third envelope fueled our excitement even more with information on several different cruises we might be interested in. Oh, we're interested. We want to do them all!
Wow. I am still jumping out of my skin. I am on Cloud 9. I could just pop a button!
Unbelievable that our children would do this for us. But then, they are unbelievable. Unbelievably wonderful.
So we are going on a cruise.
And it will be even sweeter because our children made it possible.
It will be sweet from this moment until we go.
It will be sweet the whole time we’re on it.
It will be sweet the remainder of our lives that they did that for us, especially in these unstable times.
We don’t know how to thank them, except to invite them to go with us. That would be total, absolute, complete sweetness.
Probably they can't all come. We wish we could do that for them.
But they'll be there, in our minds and in our grateful hearts.
To our children and their families who made this possible, thanks, and thanks, and more thanks!!
We love you too.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Resolutions
You may or may not be one who makes New Year’s resolutions, who sets goals and checks them off, but every follower of Christ should be striving to improve, striving even for perfection.
I heard recently this definition of a goal: to think about an ideal, about life as you want it to be.
What would your ideal life be? What would it look like? What kind of person would you be in that life?
When we have a vision of what we would like to happen, of what we would like it to look like, then we can better plan the steps that will bring us closer to that ideal.
Ideals are stars to steer by, not sticks to beat ourselves with.
Often the gap between the ideal and where we are is filled with discouragement, guilt, hopelessness, unhappiness. But a proper attitude towards the ideal should motivate us, and help us to see our way more clearly.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for? (Robert Browning)
Without vision, we may find ourselves jumping, but only in one place.
We may not reach a goal we make, but the very setting of it improves our focus and efforts to try.
We aim above the mark to hit the mark.
Improving ourselves is really not an optional choice; if we are not improving we are probably, like water, taking the path of least resistance, the path of the natural man.
You are what you do--not what you want to do, or intend to do, or wish you could do, but you actually do do." (Paul Dunn)
If I remember the story right, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat for directions. When he asks her where she wants to go, she doesn't know. "Then," he said, "it doesn't much matter which road you take."
We know which road we want to take. It is the road to Happiness.
It may be steep and long, but it is worth it.
It would be well with us if we planned our journey.
May we, by the grace of God, have success.
I heard recently this definition of a goal: to think about an ideal, about life as you want it to be.
What would your ideal life be? What would it look like? What kind of person would you be in that life?
When we have a vision of what we would like to happen, of what we would like it to look like, then we can better plan the steps that will bring us closer to that ideal.
Ideals are stars to steer by, not sticks to beat ourselves with.
Often the gap between the ideal and where we are is filled with discouragement, guilt, hopelessness, unhappiness. But a proper attitude towards the ideal should motivate us, and help us to see our way more clearly.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for? (Robert Browning)
Without vision, we may find ourselves jumping, but only in one place.
We may not reach a goal we make, but the very setting of it improves our focus and efforts to try.
We aim above the mark to hit the mark.
Improving ourselves is really not an optional choice; if we are not improving we are probably, like water, taking the path of least resistance, the path of the natural man.
You are what you do--not what you want to do, or intend to do, or wish you could do, but you actually do do." (Paul Dunn)
If I remember the story right, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat for directions. When he asks her where she wants to go, she doesn't know. "Then," he said, "it doesn't much matter which road you take."
We know which road we want to take. It is the road to Happiness.
It may be steep and long, but it is worth it.
It would be well with us if we planned our journey.
May we, by the grace of God, have success.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Testimony of a Friend
As I’ve thought about this past year, my heart is full of gratitude for the times and the ways I have felt the Spirit of the Lord in my life.
I remember a time some years ago that I consider to be the lowest point in my life. It was a time I felt very alone, like I had no where to turn, when there was no arm of flesh upon which I could rely. In the depths of that experience I learned that I did have a true friend, and it was the Savior. I knew that He truly knew me, that He understood, and that He would succor me. And I knew from that day on that no matter what happened to me in life, I would always have a friend in Jesus.
Well, things have happened in my life, and I’ve reflected on the times and ways that I have felt His friendship.
It is a wondrous thing to have a God who can read our very thoughts, who can discern the desires of our hearts, and who responds to them in particular and tender ways.
I am grateful for the times in my life that I have felt His arms around me, for the times that I have wept at His feet, for the times that He has come to my rescue and saved me, and for the times that I have opened the door to find Him just right there. I have learned that He is always just right there, though most of the time we don’t know it. But we can know it.
From the beginning of time, when He stood up for us in the Grand Council in Heaven, and for ever after He is our Advocate at the Judgment Bar, He has always been and will always be our very best Friend.
It is good to remember that we can be His friend too, as we seek fellowship with Him, as we value all he does for us, as we follow in His footsteps, as we help Him in His great work of salvation.
I have no words to thank Him for His tender mercies, only to testify of Him, of a true and living God who is nearer than we know and always our truest friend, for I have heard His voice, I have felt His touch, I have experienced the power of His love in my life.
Of this I testify. Of this I know.
I remember a time some years ago that I consider to be the lowest point in my life. It was a time I felt very alone, like I had no where to turn, when there was no arm of flesh upon which I could rely. In the depths of that experience I learned that I did have a true friend, and it was the Savior. I knew that He truly knew me, that He understood, and that He would succor me. And I knew from that day on that no matter what happened to me in life, I would always have a friend in Jesus.
Well, things have happened in my life, and I’ve reflected on the times and ways that I have felt His friendship.
It is a wondrous thing to have a God who can read our very thoughts, who can discern the desires of our hearts, and who responds to them in particular and tender ways.
I am grateful for the times in my life that I have felt His arms around me, for the times that I have wept at His feet, for the times that He has come to my rescue and saved me, and for the times that I have opened the door to find Him just right there. I have learned that He is always just right there, though most of the time we don’t know it. But we can know it.
From the beginning of time, when He stood up for us in the Grand Council in Heaven, and for ever after He is our Advocate at the Judgment Bar, He has always been and will always be our very best Friend.
It is good to remember that we can be His friend too, as we seek fellowship with Him, as we value all he does for us, as we follow in His footsteps, as we help Him in His great work of salvation.
I have no words to thank Him for His tender mercies, only to testify of Him, of a true and living God who is nearer than we know and always our truest friend, for I have heard His voice, I have felt His touch, I have experienced the power of His love in my life.
Of this I testify. Of this I know.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
New Beginnings
Life is full of new beginnings.
The start of a new year is one of the most marked.
Not one for setting goals, yet I feel a sense of wanting to get back on track, of renewing old commitments, of trying to do better.
Every season can be a new beginning, every turning of a calendar page, every start of a school year. We begin anew when we move to a new house, have a new baby, start a new job, make a new friend.
But the one that matters most happens with the rising of the sun each morning. Maybe we can’t sustain a goal for a year, but we can try again each day.
After the dark of night dawns a bright new day, full of new starts and new beginnings. Whatever we do wrong or fail to do today does not need to wake with us on the morrow.
Every day –
A chance to repent,
A chance to try again,
A chance to renew ourselves.
Praise be to God for the dawn!
The start of a new year is one of the most marked.
Not one for setting goals, yet I feel a sense of wanting to get back on track, of renewing old commitments, of trying to do better.
Every season can be a new beginning, every turning of a calendar page, every start of a school year. We begin anew when we move to a new house, have a new baby, start a new job, make a new friend.
But the one that matters most happens with the rising of the sun each morning. Maybe we can’t sustain a goal for a year, but we can try again each day.
After the dark of night dawns a bright new day, full of new starts and new beginnings. Whatever we do wrong or fail to do today does not need to wake with us on the morrow.
Every day –
A chance to repent,
A chance to try again,
A chance to renew ourselves.
Praise be to God for the dawn!
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