That which fosters confidence in God’s will for us, love for us, and plans for us. Those things that inspire a trust that God really does know best, and will be an active part in helping us to achieve the best if we will allow Him into our lives.
And so I sit before this screen. I feel so dumb, I want to scream! There is a note to update now, But I seriously do not know how.
I log onto the site to chat In hopes of learning this or that, But when all is said and done, I only feel supremely dumb.
I really do like to share our poetry, but the technical side of our blog site is mind boggling to me. I did not grow up in the computer age. I remember when I started to work at LDS Hospital in 1970, everyone was awed at the modern computer system just installed. It took up a whole floor of the hospital.
Anyway, just venting my frustration. Another frustrating thing is that Bob says we are missing valuable comments. He believes the spam programs are eliminating them. So, if you are reading this, please send a comment, and if sending comments is cumbersome, do it anyway and tell me about it..please!
The link above has nothing really to do with the poem or picture, except that we should always be open to learning new things from the challenges we face.
I remember a Christmas season..1977. My newborn son was about 4 months old, and as I rocked him one still evening and basked in the light of our small Christmas tree in that old rock house in Farmington, Utah….I reflected upon my feelings of joy and wonder, and thought of Mary and the baby Jesus, and her story became personal to me, and I penned a poem/song that has been posted here before…just a few lines for now:
I know of a baby just as small as you, Born in a country that the shepherds knew. A host of angels sang a song to him. Birds chirped praises and ox kept time. Stars shone brightly on that night divine, For the little babe born in Bethlehem. He was born that night for you and me, So we could grow to perfect be, And live in joy…forever, Together.
And now, another Christmas season is here, and this year I hold a newborn grandson, and those same feelings come rushing in, and I’d like to post a few lines from a poem given to me on my birthday: Rhythm of the Heart–
Basked in your love like a lizard--soaking sun now I too have played the part to soothe the fears to tend the heart watch them fall wait for the rise
A mother's heart is open wide a mother's heart is often broke it's full of guilt it's full of hope tenderness ferocious pride
The days are long the years fly by midnight feedings sleepless nights messy rooms and tickle fights chubby hands--reaching
A mother is a creature divided such overwhelming, bittersweet joy baited breath as bird takes flight please let them soar--let them fly.
I can’t seem to get this 18 min. video to download correctly, so, to view it go to www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world/the-christ-child
Dawn calls us through a window (freed from ivy vines) Through the labor of my best friend with her heart, body and mind. God gives us each talents and watches what we do. We each have our agency to choose what we want to.
The Son's gold touches the sky. The clouds catch His first rays. I rose up slow and careful and stretched my pain away. I gave my thanks to Heaven, to live just one more day-- rose and dressed and slipped away, as my mate slept on today.
I went out our front door and drove to a special place Above the wake-up noise of each soul's fleeting race. I watch the Son's miracles caress each cloud on high, And gaze in awe-struck wonder, of this earth, clouds and sky.
From deer to bunny rabbits, to the birds that praise each dawn, Each miracle reflects God's eternal song.
Now I sit again, in silence as my mobile turns before my face, Reminding us of each precious goal; each family's special in time & space.
Bob wrote this on his birthday–July 20. Here it is, almost September, and I’m supposed to post a poem every Monday. Well, that hasn’t happened this summer. We’ve really been on the run and have not been home-based. But I suspect there aren’t many of you who race to your computer on Monday morning to catch the newest post, do you? If I lived for comments, I’d be dead! So that’s a scolding for both of us.
This is China Cove…one of the places that has distracted me from the blog this summer.
I will entitle this entry as “Eden” because I feel I have been to the Garden of Eden last week. My daughter and I took a trip to Carmel-by-the-sea, visiting the coastline, Monterey Aquarium, Point Lobos, and the enchanting downtown Carmel with never-to-be-forgotten gift shops, and dining that was most memorable and also tasty.
I was going to write a poem about it; something to catch the wonder, the fresh sea breezes, the vivid and wild ocean, the amazing creatures, and so much more….but all I could think of was the words to the hymn, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed…..when thru the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze….Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to thee, How great the art! How great thou art!
Drifting on the Sea of Life is such a risky thing. Without a chart & compass, the rocks & reefs of life can sting. The treacherous waves await us, with every wind that blows. The sirens of lies & deceit can blind our troubled souls,
Confusing truths direction, depending on our goal. Without a map & compass to God's light, how can we know A safe & clear, proven coarse, upon life's troubled sea, Unto that safe, sure harbor, awaiting you and me?
There is a perfect captain, who calls to every soul, Across the endless waves of time & space to help us grow. His motive is our welfare. He guides us from on high To bring us safely home to Christ's harbor, if we will serve and try.
He gives us charts and maps to guide post rocks and hidden reefs. His compass is the scriptures; prayer calls Him to our relief Past rocks of sorrow & tears, and reefs of hidden deceit, Unto the peaceful harbor, where life becomes more pure and sweet.
I've done my share of drifting, with no set place to go. I've sailed through deep depression of body, mind and soul. I've wrecked upon the rocks & reefs of pride's dark vanity. I felt the emptiness, as my sins washed over me.
I called unto my Master: "Please help my sin-torn life!" He reached his hand beneath life's waves, as I drowned in my strife. He guided me to others, who understood life's maze. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches of His ways.
Past all the rocks & hidden reefs, as we follow the Holy Son Through storms of all our trials, Christ helps us work as one.
Don't go faster than we have the strength to go. Don't feel guilty for needing to go slow. We need to be wise about what we can do. Don't be afraid to ask the Lord to help us make it through.
When someone asks us for help along their way, Weigh each circumstance with what we do today. It's better to do one thing well, than two things badly. Time is a precious gift. Spend it gladly. *
We each have things we care about. Dreams we want to do. Only those who watch their time, will make good dreams come true. When someone asks for a dime, let us give them two. A generous soul receives again; good deeds bring God's love through.
Remember, be slow to say, "I will." So we won't break our word. Only when the spirit calls can we truly serve. Don't run faster than we have strength, Or life can get absurd!
*D&C 123:17--Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then my we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
Early settlers to the Bear Lake Valley built this old cabin in Fish Lake, Utah. Pioneers have always been fascinating to me. The ones who came to Bear Lake Valley in 1863 were sent by Brigham Young from the Salt Lake area. Just think. The Salt Lake Valley wast first settled in 1847 at great sacrifice to build homes, plant gardens, and to just try to stay alive. I’m thinking that those early settlers would have thought they were running faster than they had strength, but perhaps it was a matter of survival. Then, after having been there for only a few years, perhaps just enough to build that home and clear land for a farm, they were asked to move again to a colder, less hospitable place. And they went. They were asked to do something that I believe may have seemed too hard, too much.
I think that we, as mothers, are sometimes asked to go too fast; to do too much; to spread ourselves way too thin. But we do it. Why? Because we love. Is that bad? You tell me. Should the pioneers have said, “No.”? When are we really justified to say no? Think about it, and let’s come back an finish this. PLEASE COMMENT!
The link below is entitled “Just a Mom” Click on the ‘red’ to view..It’s only a couple of minutes.
Man up! When life knocks us down; Look up and see the sky. There are always important lessons in the things that make us cry. When we help lift another from their sorrow and their pain, We too lift up our own hearts, through kind service we do gain.
As we 'man up' in our spirits, we are healed within our soul, To face another week, as we from the Sabbath grow. Though our pains and sorrows sting us, and temptations come each day, We grow to know we're lifted, as we strive, fast and pray.
As we pray each dawn and eve, unto our Father, for His light, And thank God for everything--each bright day and starry night, Each of us can take comfort, if we 'man up' and try our best. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, help every worthy quest.
There is a Norman Rockwell painting entitled "Lift Up Thine Eyes".
This is so typical of us today, except we’ve all got cell phones! Looking up can just be paying attention to our surroundings–a blue sky, a flower pot, a beggar on the street, a tree, or maybe even the person we are walking with! I like how the birds in the painting draw our eyes up and up and up. Life can be so routine, but there is wonder and promise even in that. Yes, even in taking out the garbage or cleaning up after breakfast, or, heaven forbid, doing the laundry. Look up. Take a deep breath. Smile. Pay attention to each step of this journey we call life. Open your eyes and really see. Click on the red title of the video below for a 1 minute video that demonstrates one way we can LOOK UP!
Last month we took our van to Jiffy Lube for an oil change, and other minor details. In the business of the day, I sent Bob alone this time, with instructions to please not let them talk us into a big bill, since the Christmas budget was tight. All in all, it still added up to a little over $200, a painful amount, BUT, while he was sitting in the lobby, waiting for the work to be done, he finished writing a poem (quoted below) and shared it with an individual who was also waiting.
When the work was done and the time came to pay , he was informed that the bill had already been paid by the other gentleman in the lobby! What a generous gift, and what a surprise! Perhaps sharing poetry is not as unwelcome as I had come to wonder.
So we went out to I-Hop to celebrate this tender mercy shown to us. As we entered the cafe, Bob, in his usual exhuberant voice declared, “Merry Christmas! I don’t care if that offends anybody.” I sheepishly and quickly ducked into our booth and counseled him to simplify and just keep it to “Merry Christmas”!
After the meal, the server came to our booth and informed us that another customer had paid for our meal. What a day of tender mercies! I don’t suppose this story has much to do with the poem below, except that it was the one he quoted to the Jiffy Lube angel, and, perhaps to realize that God often sends blessings in the form of strangers, or friends, or whatever.
Our saving Grace is here for every single soul,
Who strives to understand the Son, as our own spirit’s grow.
We can’t serve two masters. We can’t serve hate and love.
If we are filled with anger, we can’t feel the peaceful dove.
If we are by the fire, but lay down in the snow,
One act can cancel the other as our heat and warmth does go.
If we go to church on Sunday, but sin throughout the week,
We stagnate like a desert pond and dry up beneath sin’s heat.
The saving Grace of Christ lifts us when we are weak,
If we humbly pray and ask for help, our Lord comforts us, as we seek.
We can feel His wondrous love, in our darkest hour
If we pray with body, soul and mind; we can feel Christ’s wondrous power.
We have found the saving Grace of Christ is a never-ending song.
It sings to us when we are weak, and helps us grow more strong.
And when we fear, from earthly woes, it whispers to our soul–
Keep striving for the Holy Ghost, then we will forever grow.
When I was a child, I first discovered the holiday advent calendars: a pleasant picture with small ‘doors’ to open, labeled 1-24, referring to the days in December. I remember how excited I was to open each one. One of my favorites displayed various woodland creatures behind each door. For some reason, those images absolutely delighted me. Now, most of them have a small chocolate behind the door, which could also be delightful.
I’m thinking that life is like an advent calendar. Each day, there is a door labeled with that date. I imagine–behind each door is a delight. I think of it as a message from God that He loves me and is caring for me, and is there to help me. If I open the door, I feel that same warm joy that I felt seeing those woodland creatures so long ago.
Life really is like that. If we but look for manifestations of God’s love for us, we will see them, feel them, and recognize them every day. It’s such a simple effort with such monumental payoff.
Grand kids…Now that’s a manifestation of God’s love!
