Recently this scripture in the Book of Mormon caught my attention.
"Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and apersecution and all manner of bafflictions, and would not turn and crevile again, but were humble and penitent before God."(3 Nephi 6:13). My understanding is that these were church members persecuting other church members. People who should have loved each other and been kind to each other.
This interested me so Camille (who likes expressive words) and I found definitions and synonyms for the words reviling and railing. Railing is to utter bitter complaint, it is an intense or emotional accusation, open condemnation, to rant, or to revile. Revile means: ridicule, mock, demean, verbally abuse, vilify, defame, belittle, insult or discredit.
We don't hear the words "revile" or "rail" much today so these synonyms helped me see more clearly how applicable these other words are in our lives. How often we hear put downs, mocking jokes, and complaining! Our natural response when they are directed at us is to get defense, hurt, angry or emotional and lash out at that person. Of course there are times to stand up for ourselves and the truth but the Lord has called peacemakers His children and has said that the meek will inherit the earth.
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." (Matt 5:44)
"Bear (persecution) patiently and revile not against them." (D&C 98:23)
I think that the world would call us weak or spineless not to react and respond to those who would revile against us. It may look from the outside as a passive response but it really is an active one. It takes self-discipline to control our body and our tongue. It takes patience in the situation and forgiveness after. It takes charity to care about their feelings and not to want to hurt them even though they have caused us pain. That can be very difficult to do but the Lord will bless us and help us in our efforts.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Blessings
I heard this song a couple of weeks ago on a radio station that plays "Sunday" music. It really touched me so I googled the lyrics and found it was written by a christian singer named Laura Story. I don't know how to link it but you can hear it on Utube. She wrote this song while her husband was fighting a brain tumor.
Blessings:
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
As I listened to this song I was reminded of this story:
A Privilege to Pay the Price
Because of the unexpected delays and other unfortunate circumstances, over two hundred members of the Willie and Martin handcart companies died before they could reach the Salt Lake Valley. None of the other handcart companies coming to the valley before or after them suffered so many problems.
Some years after the Martin company made their journey to Salt Lake City, a teacher in a Church class commented how foolish it was for the Martin company to come across the plains when it did. The teacher criticized the Church leaders for allowing a company to make such a journey without more supplies and protection.
An old man sitting in the classroom listened for a few moments and then spoke out, asking that the criticism be stopped. He said, “Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it. … We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities [difficulties].
“I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. … I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.
“Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company” (quoted in David O. McKay, “Pioneer Women,” p. 8; emphasis in original).
It seems like when people talk about blessings in their lives and tender mercies from the Lord they are talking about when things went their way and good things happened. I am interested in this idea that through trials we come to really know the Lord, see his hand in our lives, and feel his love in ways that maybe aren't available to us during easier times. Anyone else have any thoughts on the subject?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Journaling Feb 20, 2010
After over a week of "flu"ey, congested, achey, eye infected days, suddenly some energy returned. It felt wonderful. Among the normal stuff I have scrapbooked for the first time in about 10 years and started and completed several sewing projects. I finished the forth Mountain man shirt for the year. I've made maybe 12 so far for some friends of ours in Orem, Scott and Pat Sorensen. His business during the school months is traveling around the region, visiting elementary schools and doing a mountain man presentation. He is a great story-teller he interweaves history, tall tales, and experiences he has had running a Canadian back woods resort in the summer. He dresses for the part complete with buckskin pants and a bearclaw necklace (he shot the bear himself). It was a great surprise to have him drop by several weeks ago in full costume, material in hand, needing sewing help again. It was fun too to reconnect with his wife Pat (my Orem walking buddy).
We are so excited about the big temple news this week: the extreme make-over of the Ogden temple and the surrounding grounds. Our girls will have to think of a new name for it--the "cupcake temple" is not going to suit.
Funny little story about Bruce. The programming project he is doing right now has some security issues associated with it so he is unable to talk about the specifics. I think he usually is so open about what is going on that he is trying to err on the side of saying too little rather than too much. My new visiting teacher started quizzing me about what he did for a living. Apparently there has been speculation among ward members that because he is so close-mouthed about what he does that he is in the secret service. We had a good laugh about it---it must have been the dark glasses he wore to church with his suit that tipped people off and what a relief for him that I now knew because it had been so hard to hide the side-arm hidden from me.
Activity day news. Last year we kept all the girls together and met at the church. It became fun chaos as we grew to 26 girls. There began to be an obviously huge gap between the new 8 year old girls that we couldn't keep away from the nursery toys and the more mature 11 year old girls. We split the groups up this year. Yesterday my cute 10-11 year old group met at our house and learned how to machine sew, making fabric bags to hold their Faith-in-God books. I hope they had as much fun as I did. I loved the smaller sized group and the personal interaction. Next time--hand sewing and sewing on buttons.
We are so excited about the big temple news this week: the extreme make-over of the Ogden temple and the surrounding grounds. Our girls will have to think of a new name for it--the "cupcake temple" is not going to suit.
Funny little story about Bruce. The programming project he is doing right now has some security issues associated with it so he is unable to talk about the specifics. I think he usually is so open about what is going on that he is trying to err on the side of saying too little rather than too much. My new visiting teacher started quizzing me about what he did for a living. Apparently there has been speculation among ward members that because he is so close-mouthed about what he does that he is in the secret service. We had a good laugh about it---it must have been the dark glasses he wore to church with his suit that tipped people off and what a relief for him that I now knew because it had been so hard to hide the side-arm hidden from me.
Activity day news. Last year we kept all the girls together and met at the church. It became fun chaos as we grew to 26 girls. There began to be an obviously huge gap between the new 8 year old girls that we couldn't keep away from the nursery toys and the more mature 11 year old girls. We split the groups up this year. Yesterday my cute 10-11 year old group met at our house and learned how to machine sew, making fabric bags to hold their Faith-in-God books. I hope they had as much fun as I did. I loved the smaller sized group and the personal interaction. Next time--hand sewing and sewing on buttons.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Journaling Jan 25
Here I am again. Christmas and studying for my final took up my mental energy until mid-January and then our computer was hit by a virus. Bruce has a few kinks to work out still but it was functioning well enough today to quickly check e-mail and write here. The up side to having the computer sick has been that we have had a lot more interaction with Camille, and it has been fun to have her about the house and wanting to converse.
A few weeks ago we had our now yearly visits with Tricia's orthopedic surgeon. Her weight is up to 40 pounds now. Dr D'astous says her cheeks are full and she is healthy and her small size is actually good because being lightweight has kept her mobile. She has developed a squishy bump on her back that concerned me. He examined it and determined that it was a "pillow" that her body had made around one of the metal connectors (like the 3 that were removed a year and a half ago) that was too close to the surface. As long as it stays that way and doesn't rupture all is well. The people at Shriner's are so good at making Tricia feel cute and smart and normal. They are so kind to us that it about ruins us for everyday life.
I have been worrying about what is to come for Tricia--Jr High, Young Women's, etc. You can never worry too early or too much is my motto. After talking about it to several people I decided that I would start to research options for Jr High. Among other issues, Sunset Jr is a two floor building, has inaccessible portable classrooms and the special needs bus arrives in South Weber at 6:50 am and returns at 4 pm--making it an hour and 15 minute longer day than the normal buses. I have driven her to school until now but the jr high is a 20 minute drive one way. I found the counselor at the school that was over this and made an appointment. Last week we met and I explained Tricia's needs and abilities. He was so warm and helpful. I had come to the right place, he told me. The school had to comply to her needs--ramps could be built, classrooms reassigned, an elevator key given, a suitable aide hired, the day shortened, a small bus with a wheelchair ramp sent to pick her up and take her home according to her schedule-- whatever she needed. His sister is the district nurse over the 504 program (the gov't funding program for children with special needs outside the regular parameters of special education). He had connections and he would get right on it so all would be in place in August. I can't begin to explain the huge weight that I felt lift from me. In fact I didn't even make it to the car before I was sobbing. I often feel so alone caring for her. I'm not really complaining but my life focuses so much on her--even in the best of times like now I am still dressing her, helping her bathe and go to the bathroom, making sure she has eaten, making sure there is food in the house that she will eat, taking her to school, assembling the scooter, opening doors, picking her up, carrying her around, being her booster chair at restaurants and at church, plugging her ears when there are too many babies screaming, helping with homework, trying to pre-think situations and adapt them for her, etc. I leave my cell phone in my pocket in case she needs me and I keep my life flexible so when she is sick I will be available. To meet someone with resources and a willingness (even if it was his job) to help me touched me deeply. It reminded me of the conference story about the man who daily carried several loads of firewood on his back (Bro Whitney Clayton Oct '09). Someone that day eased my burden and hauled a huge load of wood to market for me.
A few weeks ago we had our now yearly visits with Tricia's orthopedic surgeon. Her weight is up to 40 pounds now. Dr D'astous says her cheeks are full and she is healthy and her small size is actually good because being lightweight has kept her mobile. She has developed a squishy bump on her back that concerned me. He examined it and determined that it was a "pillow" that her body had made around one of the metal connectors (like the 3 that were removed a year and a half ago) that was too close to the surface. As long as it stays that way and doesn't rupture all is well. The people at Shriner's are so good at making Tricia feel cute and smart and normal. They are so kind to us that it about ruins us for everyday life.
I have been worrying about what is to come for Tricia--Jr High, Young Women's, etc. You can never worry too early or too much is my motto. After talking about it to several people I decided that I would start to research options for Jr High. Among other issues, Sunset Jr is a two floor building, has inaccessible portable classrooms and the special needs bus arrives in South Weber at 6:50 am and returns at 4 pm--making it an hour and 15 minute longer day than the normal buses. I have driven her to school until now but the jr high is a 20 minute drive one way. I found the counselor at the school that was over this and made an appointment. Last week we met and I explained Tricia's needs and abilities. He was so warm and helpful. I had come to the right place, he told me. The school had to comply to her needs--ramps could be built, classrooms reassigned, an elevator key given, a suitable aide hired, the day shortened, a small bus with a wheelchair ramp sent to pick her up and take her home according to her schedule-- whatever she needed. His sister is the district nurse over the 504 program (the gov't funding program for children with special needs outside the regular parameters of special education). He had connections and he would get right on it so all would be in place in August. I can't begin to explain the huge weight that I felt lift from me. In fact I didn't even make it to the car before I was sobbing. I often feel so alone caring for her. I'm not really complaining but my life focuses so much on her--even in the best of times like now I am still dressing her, helping her bathe and go to the bathroom, making sure she has eaten, making sure there is food in the house that she will eat, taking her to school, assembling the scooter, opening doors, picking her up, carrying her around, being her booster chair at restaurants and at church, plugging her ears when there are too many babies screaming, helping with homework, trying to pre-think situations and adapt them for her, etc. I leave my cell phone in my pocket in case she needs me and I keep my life flexible so when she is sick I will be available. To meet someone with resources and a willingness (even if it was his job) to help me touched me deeply. It reminded me of the conference story about the man who daily carried several loads of firewood on his back (Bro Whitney Clayton Oct '09). Someone that day eased my burden and hauled a huge load of wood to market for me.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Joan of Arc
Tricia's class held a wax museum. Each student researched a person from history and wrote a paper about them. They also dressed up like the person and wrote a speech. The museum patrons walked among the statues and at certain intervals could push a button in front of the statue and it would give its speech.
Tricia picked Joan of Arc. (Thanks to Uncle Scott and All a dollar for costume help). Tricia put alot of time and thought into her presentation. She painted a brick castle wall as a backdrop and decorated her desk with a tablecloth and props. Her teacher commented to me that she had allowed the children to pretty much pick anyone. What had surprised her was the similarities she could see in her students and the person they chose. She felt like Tricia had some of the same characteristics as Joan--strength and courage.
It wouldn't have been in Joan's character to smile though. (For the record, I did try). War with France was serious business and people in the olden days didn't smile in pictures. Besides how expressive can wax be?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Journaling
It has been a fun and busy few weeks. Staci was able to come home on Halloween weekend. I was sick, sick. (Hopefully it was the swine flu so I have it over with.) Staci jumped in and cooked as per usual and made us yummy food like eggrolls. Another nice thing she did was she took Tricia and Krysta to a trunk-or-treat. I'm not sure her motives were completely altruistic though because she came home with a nice stash of candy for herself.
At the Jr high, Krysta and some of her friends have gotten involved in the Jr Honor Society. Somehow Krysta got roped into singing at the induction ceremony. She has really liked her choir class this year but it wasn't until recently we realized that she likes to sing. Apparently, according to her, some of the rest of us Broadway belters in the family are just so loud that we have just never heard her. So...for a month she has been deciding with her friend Joelyn (a pianist) what to sing and practicing the song. The big night rolled around and she walked up to the stage and sang a duet (with a boy!) just like it was something she did all the time. She sounded so good and she and the boy (a boy) blended so nicely.
Camille has been anticipating her Birthday for months and reminding us often of the day count. She wanted it to be a big deal going out to dinner and having a party for her friends. Several weeks before her birthday her good friend Renae asked me at church if she could have a surprise party for Camille. Camille's birthday was on a Thursday and the party would be on Saturday night. I felt like such a shmuck(is that a word?, is it a bad word?) explaining to Camille that with Krysta's big mystery party (the week before) and helping put together a Daddy/Daughter Activity Days Italian Dinner that weekend I just wasn't able to even think about a friend party until the next week--wasn't that sneaky. On her birthday the family went to a sushi restaurant. She enjoyed that and then on Saturday I dropped her off at Renae's to "watch a movie or something". She was completely surprised when she got there and her other friends were there too.
I am now 3/4th done with my humanities class. With a Jan12th deadline looming I can't putter like I have been. I'm currently reading Dante's Divine Comedy and then writing a paper comparing it to the philosophy of Aristole. A daunting task. Daunting Dante. Hah!
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