Lessons for the Weary - Even as Christ Forgives

 

Even as Christ Forgives You, So Also Do Ye

by Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk

 

"Today, I want to focus on forgiveness, an essential and precious gift offered to us from our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

On a December night in 1982, my wife, Terry, and I were awakened by a phone call to our home in Pocatello, Idaho. As I answered the phone, I heard only sobbing. Finally, my sister’s struggling voice said, “Tommy is dead.”

A 20-year-old drunk driver, speeding at more than 85 miles (135 km) per hour, recklessly ran a stoplight in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. He crashed violently into the car driven by my youngest brother, Tommy, instantly killing him and his wife, Joan. They were returning home to a young daughter after a Christmas party.

My wife and I immediately flew to Denver and made our way to the mortuary. We gathered with my parents and siblings and grieved the loss of our beloved Tommy and Joan. We had lost them to a senseless criminal act. Our hearts were broken, and anger toward the young offender began to well up inside me.

Tommy had served as a lawyer in the United States Department of Justice and was on a course to be a strong advocate for protection of Native American lands and natural resources for years to come.

After some time had passed, a court sentencing hearing was held for the young man found responsible for vehicular manslaughter. In their ongoing grief and sorrow, my parents and oldest sister, Katy, attended the hearing. The drunk driver’s parents were also there, and after the hearing concluded, they sat on a bench and wept. My parents and sister were sitting nearby as they sought to gain control of their own emotions. After a moment, my parents and sister stood up and walked to the driver’s parents and offered them words of comfort and forgiveness. The men shook hands; the women held hands; there was deep sorrow and tears for all and a recognition that both families had suffered immensely. Mom, Dad, and Katy led the way with their quiet strength and courage and showed our family what forgiveness looks like.

That outreach of forgiveness in those moments caused my own heart to soften and opened a pathway to healing. Over time I learned how to have a forgiving heart. Only with the help of the Prince of Peace was my painful burden lifted. My heart will always miss Tommy and Joan, but forgiveness now allows me to remember them with unfettered joy. And I know we will be together again as a family.

I am not suggesting that we condone unlawful conduct. We know full well that individuals are to be held accountable for their criminal acts and civil wrongdoings. However, we also know that, as sons and daughters of God, we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are to be forgiving even when it seems others may not warrant our forgiveness."

 

I wanted to quote that story directly from his talk.  I too, have had terrible things happen to me in my life.  Forgiveness can be so hard.  I have been able to forgive most others without a lot of difficulty, even when they might not deserve it, there is a part of me that really feels judgment is not up to me and I can trust Heavenly Father to judge righteously in all things.  I have been given to understand that if they do not truly repent, they will suffer even as I have suffered and that makes me feel so much better than just thinking they will get away with it.  It also allows me to grow in faith and trust and allows me peace.  

Up until the past two years, I would have said that I was good at forgiving others and loving them anyway.  Than something happened which was way more difficult than I ever imagined.  Suddenly I found myself in a place where I did not WANT to forgive.  I could not even begin to understand what happened and why.  I have banged my head against the wall, been severely depressed and anxious and not been able to think with clarity.  My every waking moment was spent in the "what if" phase of life. 

I have prayed and fasted and read scriptures to no avail.  Finally, I have been lead to believe that all will be made right, probably not in this life, but later on.  I know that it doesn't matter what people think, it only matters what God thinks and knows.  

Finally, I am learning to let go.  I wish I could say it was easy, and that it is all behind me, but I can't.  It is a daily struggle.  

I did love this talk.  I pricked at my consciousness and made me want to change.  I hope that you have a chance to learn from this talk as I did.   

 

  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”        

Silence and Smiling

I am working on this.  Silence as an answer.  I get frustrated when people yell at me and behave badly.  I want to lash out with words to wipe the smirk off their face.  I know that I cannot, but I get very tired of two year old temper tantrums in the supposedly adult population of the world I live in.  I am exhausted by the bad behavior of others.  I get equally exhausted by the frustrations of my teens who are getting ready to get out of school.  It is finals, field trips, graduation, senior projects, senior trips, concerts and activity after activity after activity.  Culminating in a wild summer with cousins and the other daughters summer earning money by babysitting. 

This week, I am working really hard on responding to negativity with silence and a smile.  I just have to make sure that they do not perceive my smile as laughter.  That could get me in a whole different mess.  It could also heighten the misunderstandings that already surround me.

Today, I am smiling more and frowning less.  It does seem to make a difference.  Maybe, not so much in the way others behave, but definitely in my own level of stress, and my own feelings of peace.  It helps me to breath.  I makes those bad moments seem, no so bad after all. 

I am not sure that silence is always the best answer, but I am sure that I should use it more often.  People really want to be listened to.  They want to explain what is wrong.  So, even when I know, I am trying harder to give them the chance to put it into their own words.  The chance to express themselves.  The chance to hear their own voices in all the noise that surrounds us.

Now, if only it worked for getting my teenagers to do the dishes.......

What I learned - My Peace I leave with You

 

The Lord promised peace to His disciples

as He was about to leave them.

He has made the same promise to us.

 

This was an address given by President Henry B. Eyring.  I loved the sweet promise of peace.  "My message tonight is a simple one. We have all felt peace tonight. All of us would like to feel such peace often within ourselves, in our families, and with the people around us. The Lord promised peace to His disciples as He was about to leave them. He has made the same promise to us. But He said that He would give peace in His way, not in the world’s way. He described His way of sending peace:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:26–27)."

 

I loved this entire talk.  He reminded us again and again that the Holy Ghost is a comforter, but often the comfort that he brings is done in the Lord's way and not in the way we might expect or think we need.  Often, we serve to fulfill the needs of others.  We become truly His messengers as we seek to follow Him.  We are guided to those who need the comfort of the atonement and of the Savior in their lives. 

He talked about charity and what it really means.  Basically, it is the pure love of Christ.  I think it means to truly serve others without expecting anything in return.  It is in serving that we learn to love.  It is in nourishing those whose lives are filled with sorrow, that we learn to become more like Him.  I love that he Holy Ghost affects what we see when we look at others and also what we think. 

It is not about judging.  It is about loving each other as our Heavenly Father loves us.  May we each seek to hold that unity and love in our hearts. 

Control Your Tempers

A temper can be a terrible thing to unleash on someone else.  I have learned in my life, that although physical abuse hurts, the words said in anger are the ones you never forget.  Sometimes, working with the public stretches my temper to the limits.  People are not always nice to one another.  I can't change the way anyone feels about the Post Office, but I can change the way my office treats any of the customers who walk through the doors.  I have learned that if you "kill them with kindness", you are really killing enemies and making new friends.  People usually respond better to kind words than to aggressive posturing.  

How beautiful is it to respond with kindness when someone is expecting you to be enraged.  I wish I could say that I never spoke an angry word, but I would certainly be lying through my teeth!  I can say that I am better now than I used to be, but not as good as I would like to be.  

My goal is to get to the point in my life where I never find it necessary to raise my voice in anger.  I am trying to learn to channel it a little bit better.  

Answers at the Beach

I am convinced that we are all looking for answers to something, but often, we just don't know where to look to find those answers.  I am also convinced that sometimes we need to think a little outside our usual box of life.  I love the ocean.  The waves crashing and breaking on the beach.  The sound of the seagulls and the wind that blows off the water.  I love the smells and the tranquility.  I pretty much love everything about the beach (unless it is crowded).  I think the point I am trying to make is that instead of being filled with anxiety and worry, maybe we should look for our answers in a place that provides us with feelings of peace. 

I know that when I am in a quiet place, those answers are more likely to come into my mind than when I am rushing and hurrying through my day without taking the time I need to meditate on my problems.  Although I don't live close to a beach, I do live close to the forest, the creeks and the lakes in the area.  I have quiet places in the beautiful outdoors.  I have a kayak to paddle to see the eagles soar.  My heart can still hear the beach inside myself when I take me out of the hustle and bustle of the world. 

I think that we CAN find answers at the beach.  And if by chance we don't, we can at least calm our minds and bring peace to our spirits by taking the time to rejuvenate our thoughts and hearts.  As I go through counseling this year, one of the many things he is trying to teach me is to do something for myself, even if it is only to go to the local park and eat my lunch. 

I am discovering that, as I do something as simple as that, I find within myself and spot of beach.  A place where I can rest and relax and escape.  A place of ponderings.  A place of peace. 

So, my challenge to you today is to find your own spot on the beach, even if you can't get to the real one, find a place of quiet and contentment.  Find a place to think and dream and ponder and pray. 

Find your own small spot of peace. 

Patience to understand

I have a hard time waiting.  I want it all explained.  I want know exactly what I can and cannot do.  I want to understand everything.  I am not very patient.  However, I am learning that I take in things so much better when I wait until the Lord teaches me to understand.  I can accept many things on faith, that is not a problem for me.  But I really like to understand.  To have that witness.  To be able to explain. 

There are so many things that make it hard to understand what is going on.  There are people I love who don't live the way that I would wish them to.  There are children who are not being raised in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are those who are bitter and angry, and blame me for their own sins.  I really don't understand it at all.  So my prayer is for the Lord to give me patience until that time comes.  Honestly, I am not even sure it will come in this life.  I am not sure it will happen in the moment when I think I need it, but I am trying to put my trust in Him that it will all work out in a way that is the best for everyone involved. 

I am starting to figure out that it is not necessary to understand everything.  Sometimes, the Lord is waiting for my perspective to change.  Sometimes, I need to learn something for myself before I can even begin to understand.  Sometimes, my own feelings need to change.  Sometimes, I need to forgive before I can move forward.  All I can say, is that I know the Lord will help me to understand in His own time.  It might not be now, but someday, I will understand. 

I have been doing a lot of reading.  I have a psychologist now who is helping me to work on some things.  It has been a hard road.  But in my reading, one of the things that has happened recently is that I am starting to understand that the Lord does not give us all the answers.  He expects us to question and ask and look for them ourselves.  It makes me wonder if part of the learning is in the seeking. 

Luke 11:9 - 10
9    And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

I believe that we will come to find the answers.  I believe that He wants us to find them.  He wants us to learn and grow and seek and become.  He wants us to have patience to wait until we are ready to understand. 

Becoming Like Him - Day 12 - Rest

For my 31 days of writing, I am linking up over at Heading Home and over at the Nester. There are several of us that are taking the 31 day writing challenge. Kate has suggested that we spend 31 days of Five minute writing. You can use the prompts or write about anything you would like, you just need to write.

I am sharing my journey for 31 days as I strive to become more like Him. My prayer is that you can find hope and peace in my words.

START

The Savior said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
"And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest".  (Exodus 33:14) 

Many of us are carrying burdens that seem too hard to bear.  Many are lost.  Many have stumbled.  Many have fallen away.  There are heartaches and heartbreaks.  There are trials of every kind.  Often, we feel alone and overwhelmed, and just plain tired.  It is times like these when I remember that the Savior did not promise that we would feel like this forever.  He actually promised us rest from our labour.  All we have to do is "Come unto Him".  
The scriptures contain many accounts of how the Savior helped those who were heavy laden.  He caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the lame to walk.  He healed the sick and raised the dead.  He fed the thousands and comforted the weary.  He taught of peace.  He taught of love.  He taught of kindness to both friends and strangers.  
He endured His own trials during His mortal ministry.  He was called names and beaten.  He was spit upon and mocked.  He was hung on a cross while a murderer went free.
Life is not, and never has been fair.  But I believe in Him and in His promise of rest.  The time will come when our burdens will be less sore and our hearts will be healed and our eyes shall see Him.  

STOP

Peace is Better

Be selective in your battles

for sometimes,

Peace is better

than being right. 

Ahh, we have a couple of extra dogs up this weekend.  The biggest one that you see there is Madden.  He is 11 weeks old.  As you can see, he is pretty big already and going to get a lot bigger in a very short period of time.  The little angry dog with teeth is our Yorkie, Yoda.  He is not happy at all with a new bigger dog visiting our house.  He runs around growling and showing his teeth a lot.  Obvioursly, he has not learned when and with whom to pick his battles.  

In his case, it is easy to see how Yoda needs to be a little more selective in his battles.  The rather large puppy might not hurt him now, (although those teeth are sharp as my shoes can now attest!) but Yoda ought to be forming a friendship and not a case of mortal enemies!  Sometimes, peace really is better.

We all have experiences like my little seven pound dog.  We want to be right.  We want to know the answers.  We want to protect our own territories.  We want our kids to not be picked on.  But sometimes, it is better for us to find a way to have peace in our lives rather than always being right.  We learn more by forgiving rather than holding grudges.  Every single one of us make mistakes.  Every single one of us has sinned and every single one of us need the peace of the Saviors love.  

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Sabbath Day Scribblings - Trust in His Timing

"First, everyone has worth because we are all children of God.  He knows us, love us, and wants us to succeed and return to Him.  We must learn to trust in His love and in His timing rather than in our own sometimes impatient and imperfect desires."  Cecil O. Samuelson Jr.

Finding Peace

“There is no need to go to India 

or anywhere else 

to find peace. 

You will find that deep place of silence

in your room, 

your garden, 

or even your bathtub.”

~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross~

I loved this one.  I am finding it to be so true.  A couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to go with two of my daughters to a Time Out For Women event.  It was amazing, inspiring and most of all, fun.  I found peace in a room with 1500 other women.  I found peace in the learning and in my time with my beautiful girls.  

Spending time with adult children is so amazing.  I have been blessed to watch them grow and have children of their own.  I get to see their joys and their trials and their overcoming of the hard parts of life.  

I love being a grandmother to their children, and I love the relationship I have with them now that they are grown.  I have found friendship and advice and love in this opportunity to get to know the adults they have become.

I spent so many years of my life wishing for things to happen.  Wishing that different things would hurry up and come, and that others would hurry up and be over.  I wanted the infant to be older so that I could, at last, get a full nights sleep.  I wanted my first daughter to go to school.  I wanted my son to play football.  I wanted them to hurry through the terrible two's and the treacherous three's.  I wanted them to grow faster, and than to not grow so fast after all.  

Mostly, I wanted them to need me and love me and understand me.  

Now, many years later, I understand the need to enjoy whatever part of life you are in.  Babies do grow, children do change.  The teen years really don't last forever (even though it feels like it!)  When it is over, you look back and it seems to have taken mere moments to pass.  You can't go back and hold your new baby again.  Now they are grown taller than you.  

For me, finding peace is learning to live, forgive, and love right now.  Peace is in knowing if I died today, I would not regret what I did or what I said.  Peace is relying on my Savior in ever single part of my life.  

I am seeking that peace.  Somedays, I even find it.  

Matthew 11:28-3028.  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Five Minute Friday - Rest

Time for my favorite day of the week.  Oh yeah, it's Friday.  Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back over at Lisa Jo's and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Rest…

START

I look in the mirror and I see bags under my eyes.  Spots of darkness that bear witness to my inability to sleep.  I have tossed and turned through the night unable to turn off my mind.  I worry, I think, I imagine the worst, and I worry some more.  

I know that life can be a hard journey.  I know that it can hurt.  I know that we can each stumble and fall.  But now, right this moment, everything adds to my worry.  So, I don't sleep and I don't rest.  

Until now, I wasn't even aware of how tired I am.  I sat down with a cup of hot herb tea and let the peace of the early morning hours fill me.  I hold on to the promise of rest.  I hold on to the comfort of peace.  My thoughts turn to Him.  

I know that He is in control.  I know that He knows what I need.  I know that He will help me through this moment and into the next.  I know that He is there.   But most of all, I know that He will bear my burdens and help me along the way.  

Matt. 11:28-3028 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

And so I learn, that He is exactly enough.  He is my strength and my peace and my rest.  

STOP

Now it is your turn.  What are you going to write with your own five minutes?  Don't forget to link back up over at Lisa Jo's with the rest of us.  

31 Days of Hope - Day 24

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

This is one of my all time favorite hymns.  I love the second verse where it says, "Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake".  I am learning that hope is really up to me.  Be still my soul.  Be quiet and listen to His voice.  He is there if I will only listen for Him.  He is reaching out to me if I will only reach up and out to Him.  He has never left my side no matter what my sorrow.  And so today, I tell myself, "Be still, be still".  

31 Days of Hope - Day 6

“My message to you today, my brothers and sisters, is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful to not overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations; but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!”

M. Russell Ballard, “The Joy of Hope Fulfilled,” Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31

This year, I am learning that Hope is not for the faint of heart!  Sometimes, it is hard to find, and even harder to keep.  But I am also learning that I can find it in the small, familiar blessings of my day to day existence.  I can hold it in the gifts of love from my children and my husband.  I can see it in their kindness and caring.   Hope warms my heart when I am weary and strengthens my knees when they are weak.  Hope helps me to remember that the Lord is the one in control and not me.  I can't fix anything.  I don't have that kind of power.  But I do have the power to trust and find hope in His words and teachings.  I choose to allow that hope to be a comfort and a blessing.  I choose to remember that this too shall pass away.  I choose to believe that the Lord loves me and is mindful of me and that peace is possible after all.   

Learning to Swim

When I was much younger, I did not know how to swim.  Actually, if truth were told, I did not want to try.  I was afraid of the water.  I just knew if I let go of the edge, I would drown.   When I was eleven years old, my mother married again to a rather interesting man who did not know much about raising children.  He came from a rather harsh school of life himself, so I suspect it is not surprising that he treated us the same way he had been treated. 
One afternoon, we were visiting my grandmother in California and swimming in the pool at her apartment.  Mike decided that I needed to learn to swim and promptly picked me up and threw me into the middle of the deep end.  I was terrified!  I was crying!  I was a mess!
He stood at the end of the pool with his arms folded and told me that I had better learn to swim because he was not going to come in a get me.  So, I dog paddled furiously, bearly treading water, and made my way (finally) to the edge of the pool.  I think I swallowed most of the water in there, and I know it made my stomach hurt later on in the day.  But I did swim!  I actually made it to the edge.  Along with lots of tears, there was born in my young mind a great feeling of pride and satisfaction that I could really do it.  I could work around my fear and succeed. 
It was one of the best lessons I have ever learned.

We all have things in life that scare us.  Sometimes, it is something that actually happens to us or those we love.  Sometimes it is our own fears of what might happen.  Being afraid is part of our human nature.  But with this experienced, I also learned that being afraid does not have to keep us from learning and growing.  It does not have to hold us back. 
Anciently, the Lord spoke to Isaiah and said, "Fear not, for I am with thee".  (Gen. 26:24).   The Lord was very clear and direct in His speaking.  Yet, fear still surrounds us today.  It stiffles creativity, saps our strength and weakens our faith.  It causes doubts and mistrust.  It is a completely negative emotion. 

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee. …

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:6–7.)

I don't think that there are any among us that has not felt fear at one time or another in our lives.  There are so many things to be afraid of.  But I think it is important to realize that fear itself can cripple us and keep us for accomplishing those things in our lives that we want and need to do.  I love that the Lord does not give us the spirit of fear.  But He gives us love.  Fear is the opposite of faith, and the opposite of hope.  The power of His love tells us that we are sons and daughters of God.  We have a purpose in our lives here. 
We can overcome fear, doubt, discouragement and worry through the sustaining power of love.  Love of family, love of friends, love of the gospel,  and the greatest love of all, that of our Savior Jesus Christ. 
Let us find strength in the strength that comes from Him.  Let us find peace in the peace that He taught.  And let us find His love in the multitude of blessings that surround us. 

Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them. ~Brendan Francis

There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid. ~Frederick W. Cropp

Calvin and Hobbs

“You know Hobbes,
sometimes even my
lucky rocketship underpants
don’t help.” – Calvin

I read this today and forgive for saying this, but it made so much sense!!  I have had a week that I hope not to repeat very soon.  Suffice it to say that I was needed, although maybe not quite in a way I would have preferred. 

I received a phone call on Sunday morning to go to a friends house, she was having chest pain and did not want to call the Fire Department, so I got out of bed, got dressed, (called the fire department anyway), and met them at her house.  Then I drove 45 minutes away to the hospital on snowy, icy roads.  I brought a book, stayed all day, and visited as well as helped where I could.  I came back for several hours each day for the next few days. 

My sweet friend had to have stints put into her heart, so it was quite the interesting event.  Her family lives far away and I am the close one that they trusted to make the calls, check with the doctors, and make sure that she has the home care that she needs.  Her daughter and son were very worried, and it was a relief to them to know that I was staying with her as much as possible.

She hates it when other people worry about her.  She thought she was fine by herself, and she thought that I needed to be home with my family.  She truly loves me, I know that!  But, I see in her a vision of myself.  I think that we all want and desire to be independant.  We want to do it "alone".  We want to succeed because we were strong and determined, (or at least, I know that I do).  But as I have struggled with this week, I have also learned that Heavenly Father sends others where and when they are needed. 

You see, when the phone rang, I answered it out of a sound sleep and came instantly allert. I talked with her, made my decision and acted on it all without even getting out of bed.  I was dressed in less than a minute and running out the door.  I KNEW it was serious, and I knew that she needed to go to the hospital immediately.  I can't explain that feeling, but I was absolutely sure of it.  Everything I have done this week was done out of love, compassion and with a deep sense of knowledge that it was exactly what I needed to be doing. 

This week, I have learned that, if we truly listen, He will use us to help others and to bring them peace.  I have learned how important it is to trust those feelings and perceptions.  My heart is full of gratitude that I was able listen to that still small voice, to believe and trust in the feelings that came, and that everything contrived to provide a way for me to do what needed to be done.  Life is full of miracles.  Sometimes, we just have to look around us to find them.  We recognize them as miracles when we acknowledge the hand of God in our lives. 

"Love works in miracles every day:  such as weakening the strong, and strengthening the weak; making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools; favouring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-truvy."  Marguerite De Valois

May you be filled with His peace

Take My Life and Let It Be

words by Francis R. Havergal

music by Louis J Harold

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Mary Ellen Edmunds recited this short poem in her talk about Peace Amidst the Suffering.  I love that talk. 
This week, I have been thinking a lot about peace.  I have been thinking of all that my Heavenly Father has given me.  Sometimes, I think that we expect to have peace all the time.  We expect to never suffer, to never feel pain, to always have joy.  We forget that the prophets have told us that there must be opposition in all things.  That includes life. 
How would we every recognize real joy if we have never felt real sorrow?  I have come to believe that whenever we are permitted to go through trials, the Lord immediately blesses us for our success and endurence.  Sometimes, it takes only a moment to see the blessing, and sometimes it takes months or even years.  I know, in spite of all that I have gone through, I am richly blessed. 
I know what His spirit feels like in my life, and I know that He cares for me.  I am the person that I am, largely because, of the pain that I have known.  The peace is in the acceptance and the willingness to say, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt".  Perhaps we should work at saying "Nevertheless" a little more often and "It is not my fault" a little less. 

One of my new favorite stories that I have recently heard is the story of an Indian King who lived a long time ago.  He was a very rich man, but also one who was interested in learning.

The King became obsessed with finding the meaning of peace. He wondered what peace could be and how he could receive it. The greatest learned men in his kingdom were invited to answer the questions on peace. If they were successful, they would receive a valuable reward. Many tried but not one of them could explain how to find peace. At last, someone told the King that he should consult a wise man who lived just outside the Kingdom.  The King was told that the wise man was old and very wise.  He would be the only one that might be able to answer the question of peace. 
The King went to the Wise Man and asked his questions. Without a word, the old man went into the kitchen and brought out a grain of wheat for the King.
"In this you will find the answer to your question," the Wise Man said, as he humbly placed the grain of wheat in the palm of the King's hand.
Puzzled by the wheat, but unwilling to admit his ignorance, the King took the grain of wheat and returned to his palace. He locked the wheat in a tiny gold box and placed the box in his safe. Each morning after he woke from his rest, he would open the box and look at the grain of wheat to seek his answer, but could find nothing.
Several weeks later another Wise Man, passing through, stopped to meet the King.  The King invited him to solve the delimma of the grain of wheat that was so carefully hidden away.  The King explained how he had asked the his question of peace and other Wise Man gave him a grain of wheat instead.  The King than stated that, "I have been looking for an answer every morning but I have found nothing."
The Wise Man said: "Just as this grain represents nourishment for the body, peace represents nourishment for the soul. If you keep this grain locked up in a gold box it will eventually perish without multiplying or providing nourishment.  But, if it is brought out of the box and put into the elements - light, water, air, soil - it will flourish and multiply.  Soon you will have a whole field of wheat which will nourish not only you but also  many others.
This is the meaning of peace. It must nourish your soul and the souls of others.  Peace impacts not only yourself, but all those around you."

May your day be filled with His peace. 

The Rock

Today, you can find me posting over at Mormon Mommy Blogs
I hope that you enjoy my post.  It is a new one and I have not put it on my blog.
Since I already posted once, I thought that I would keep things simple.  This is my all time favorite song.  I especially love this arrangement.   May your day today, be filled with peace.



Today, I want to challenge you to turn always to your Heavenly Father for peace.  He is the only one who can really comfort your heart.  He is the one who can help you to be strong.  He is the one who will lead us home.

The Rock

by Patricia A Pitterle

I stood upon the rock

looking out to sea. 

The waves swirled

and tossed around my feet

pounding mercilessly against

the worn smoothness.

And though, at times,

the water completely covered

the surface of the stone,

when it receded

the rock remained 

firmly embedded in the earth. 

Lord,

Let me be like this rock

worn smooth through the wind 

and waters of time.

that even when

trials and tribulations pound against me

I will be able to stand firm

in my testimony.

And though, oft times

the afflictions of the world

seem to cover me

yet

will I be firmly embedded

in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And I will gain strength

from Thy spirit.

Finish the Race

One of the most memorable Olympic Athletes of all time came to the 1968 Mexico City Games.  He was a marathon runner from Tanzania. His name was John Stephen Akhwari.  He did not win any medals, he did not place, he doesn't get a mention in the record books. But that's not the point. In fact, I think that it is just possible that more people remember John Akhwari than the person who actually won the gold medal.

Half way through the race John Akhwari fell, badly cutting his knee and dislocating the joint. Most runners at that point would give up. As a matter of fact, only 57 runners out of 74 actually finished the race.  But after a few minutes John Akhwari picked himself up, strapped up his leg and kept running.

A little more than an hour after the winner's ceremony had finished, and more than five hours after the start of the race, with just a few thousand spectators left in the stands, you can hear the sound of the police sirens and whistles as well as the motorcycle brigade echoing thought the night.  Flashing red and green lights broke through the cold, dark Mexico City evening. The word was passed to the press box and filtered to the few thousand faithful spectators who had remained in the stadium.  The last runner was coming in.

Into the stadium came John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania. His leg was bloody and bandaged. Wincing with pain at every step, he pressed on and the thousands, who just a few minutes before had sat in silence, began a slow, steady clapping.  John Akhwari made his way around the track in pain filled steps.  The cheering grew louder the closer he came to the finish.  Finally, he shuffled his last few steps across the finish line and the crowd roared as if he had been the winner. 
He finished last among the 74 competitors.




"My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race, they sent me to finish the race".
He knew who he was.  He was an athlete representing his country, Tanzinia.  He knew that his purpose was to finish the race.  He knew that he had to endure the trials and endure to the finish so that he could honorably return to his country.
Who are you?  What is your purpose here?  Even when you feel the truth of the kindness and love of our Heavenly Father to deliver you in your trials, it may still test your courage and strength to endure.  Remember the Prophet, Joseph Smith, cried our in agony in the liberty jail:
"Oh God, where art thou?  And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?  How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?"
The Lord's reply is there to comfort us in our own times of adversity.  He said,
"My son, (or my daughter), peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.  and then, if thou endure it well, god shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."  Our mission here is much the same as John Stephen Akhwari's.  We were sent here to this race by our loving Heavenly Father.  We were not sent just to be born, but to return back home to him in honor.  We will all face great trials and difficulties.  We will all stumble and fall.  But I know that our Heavenly Father is there waiting for us to return home.  We were sent here, not just to start this race, but to endure our trials with faith and finish it well.

A Safe Harbor

There is a true story of a battleship cruising the Atlantic off the northern coast of Maine one stormy evening. The commander of the battleship was notified. "Sir, there's a light ahead. Oncoming vessel."
"Signal oncoming vessel, 'Change your course ten degrees to the west.'" The message was sent, but a light flashed back, "Change your course ten degrees to the east." The commander barked, "Signal again, 'Change your course ten degrees to the west. I am an admiral.'" The light flashed back. "Change your course ten degrees to the east. I'm a seaman third class."

By this time the admiral was incensed as he thundered, "Signal again. 'Change your course ten degrees to the west. I am a battleship.'" And the message came back, "Change your course ten degrees to the east. I am a lighthouse!" Needless to say, the admiral changed his course!
Sometimes we act like we think we are admirals. We're the boss. We're the one in charge. We are going to do it our way!  But if we listen, our "lighthouse" is saying, "Change your course." When that happens, we need to change our course.

Jeffrey R. Holland has said, "Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in him' (Moroni 10:32)."

Storms fascinate me. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Arizona desert where rain, or even a cloud, is not something that you see every day.  I grew up east of the city, in an area where the washes ran into the roads and a storm would seem to completely cut you off from civilization.  Since each storm in the desert is an Event, I have learned to anticipate and enjoy the few I have encountered.

One of the most amazing storms in the desert is a "common" dust storm.  These storms are not little like you might see in other areas of the country.  On a hot summer day, in the late afternoon, a dust storm rolls into the Valley of the Sun. You might notice a brown blur off in the distance. It looks a little like brown smoke.  As it blows nearer, it takes form as an immense wall of dust.
This storm comes at you literally like a wall.  You can see the edge and gauge the distance.  If you are smart, you bring in the outside laundry, put away all the toys that are loose in the yard and bring the kids into the house.  You also close all the windows, no matter how hot it is!  (And believe me, in the summertime it is HOT!)  I have found from sad experience that it is easier to bear with a little heat in the house instead of spending hours and days cleaning up the sand and dust! 

But once we are all safe inside the house, we enjoy the wind. We watch the storm blow in.  First, you can see the trees in the park across the road start to flutter and blow.  Dancing a slow dance.  Soon, they are moving faster and faster, like they are listening to their own dance music.  Then the wall of the storm hits!  All you can see is brown bits blowing through the air outside the window.  You can't even see the neighbor's house.  You feel like you are all alone in a strange, brown, whirling world.
A brief rainstorm usually follows with big splashes of water, dampening the desert, bringing out the smell of the mesquite trees and the orange blossoms.  Seeing the difficulties coming and preparing for them can help us to find our own safe harbor.  We feel safe together inside the shelter of our home. 

But dust-storms fade next to the amazing treat of a real rain storm on the Arizona desert.  I have not always enjoyed storms. In fact, I remember being afraid of thunder and lightning when I was younger. In the desert, the lightening dances around the sky in a big blaze of white light.  It is a spectacular show, even more brilliant than the fourth of July fireworks. When the thunder rumbles throughout the desert, it drowns out all other sound, and the rain falls in sheets of water, drenching everything in it's path. 

My three little girls have always been afraid of storms.  They don't like the loud noise of the thunder or the bright flash of the lightening.  When we moved up into the mountains of northern Arizona, we realized that the lightening storms are even more spectacular and often bring with them the added scare of starting a nearby tree on fire.  (Never a pleasant experience when your house is right next door!)
Every year, in the months of July and August, the storm builds up and breaks loose on our little town.
One year, the lightning was so fierce that the girls were terrified. They called me when I was at work, crying and sobbing, hysterically, on the phone and than held hands and huddled under the dining room table until I could get home to them.
That was the first year that we lived on the mountain.  I did not know how to calm them, except to be home with them when they were so afraid.  Every time the thunder rumbled or the lightening flashed, they would cower in terror.  Their dad was living and working in the valley at the time and selling the old house before he moved up with the rest of us at the end of the summer season. It was a long summer for us.  I did not know what to say to help the girls through their fear. 
The next year, he wasn't working and was home with the girls during the monsoon.  He would go out the door when the wind picked up and stand in the driveway or on the dirt street, shielding his eyes from the blowing dirt, and teach the girls about storms. He talked about the movement of the clouds and how to tell if a storm was coming.  He talked about the different types of clouds and what caused the storms. He talked of larger weather patterns and how to calculate the distance from you to the lightning.

But more than teaching them the scientific facts about the weather, their daddy quietly taught them, through his example, not to be afraid. He taught them that storms are to be appreciated and admired, watched and studied, but not feared.  Knowledge and love help to counter our troubles and bring us to our own safe harbors were we can be less afraid.
As we plan and prepare and are anchored by the love of our families and the gospel of  Jesus Christ, we find the safe harbor that Helaman spoke of: “Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, … when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power to drag you down … , because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation” (Hel. 5:12).

Yes, I have seen the storm.  I have experienced it's power.  I have been amazed at it's magnitude.  I have even felt it's fear.  But I have also learned that the "lighthouse" of our Savior stands ready to help guide us in our journey and lead us home.  He is the rock.  Only He can calm the winds and the waves of trial and adversity in our lives.
He alone has the power to say, “Peace, be still”.