Bad Thoughts and Tender Mercies

We all experience bad thoughts from time to time and this week was my turn. It was Tuesday when the thought came into my head that no one calls me to "check on me". I call people all the time and say that I am checking on them but no one calls me and says that. Usually people call to tell me something or to ask for something. I must say that I recognized right away that it was silly to think like that. That it was from the Adversary and I did not want to give the thought acceptance or power over me. But the thought persisted Wednesday and Thursday but I kept trying to ignore the thought. Thursday evening I was with some friends and I almost told them about what I had been feeling but chose to just keep it to myself. It served no purpose to tell them and I did not want to give the thought voice. Then today my friend Sherry called and said, "Hello friend, I am calling to check on you!" I started to cry and she asked what was going on. I said I was fine but would she please repeat what she had said. Then I told her of the battle I had been waging and that she was the Lord's messenger to me to let me know, again, that He knows my thoughts and concerns and loves me. She said that she had been told a couple of days earlier to call me and use those exact words. I told her that I recognized that those were not words that she uses. She agreed, that was not her normal greeting but she was told to use that greeting when she called me. It was so wonderful to talk with her again! I am so grateful for good friends that Listen Right and then act! It was a true tender mercy from the Lord!

"Twas The Night Before Jesus Came"

Every Thursday Rudy and I work in the Boise Temple. Last week, the Thursday before Christmas, Sister Floto gave a talk during our prayer meeting and she read this poem. I asked if she had made copies for us and she said no, but she would make them and put them in the shift coordinator's office. Well I forgot to pick one up on my way out so I got a copy of it today. It would have been great to post this on 'The Night Before Christmas', but I think it is appropriate any day of the year. I hope you enjoy it too and think about its message and how it applies to each of us. Love you!!!

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all thru the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,

Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap

Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray

I knew in a moment this must be "The Day".

The light of His face made me cover my head

It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,

I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand.

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name,

When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love

He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound,

While the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late,

I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.

I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight,

Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear,

The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There's only one life and when comes the last call,

We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

Author

Bethany Farms

(Revelation 19:11-16)

Finding the Blessings

Sunday's Sacrament meeting we had a guest speaker, Brother Daniel Hennis. He said he lives just south of the Garden of Eden in the corner of Missouri. As he took his place at the podium he presented the Bishop with his "certificate" to prove his worthiness to address the congregation as stated in the Doctrine and Covenants. His wife is living here in our ward with their daughter-in-law while their son is away having joined the military helping with the children. She has been here several months now and actually was able to get a job and serves in the Primary as the chorister. She is delightful and I have often wished I could get to know her better. Thoughts of her came often when I was helping Leslie while Eddy was away at Air Borne School. I was only going to be there five weeks. My sacrifice was so small compared to hers. Anyway, back to her husband's talk.

He too seemed delightful and it seems his talk is worth remembering as well. He spoke of the small branch he lives in. That if 100% attendance occurred only 3 or 4 rows of our chapel would be filled. Their stake takes in portions of 4 states. They are few in number but strong in spirit. Brother Hennis said that his talk had cost him $800. Strange comment, right? He then proceeded to explain what he meant. They are not blessed with abundance. They live in a small travel trailer. They were in need of a better car and he went to a junk yard and purchased a vehicle he thought he would be able to fix up with just a little effort. However when he got into it he found the engine and the transmission were both damaged and would cost a lot of money to repair. He called his sweet wife to tell her the problem and her counsel to him was to go into his bedroom, get on his knees and give thanks. He said "for what?" She said to him, "find one thing that you can be thankful for and continue praying until you can express only gratitude for your many blessings. He agreed to do it and soon found that he could not stop expressing thanks to his Heavenly Father for his many blessings. Soon after that he discovered the parts he needed for the car would come from far away places for much less than what he had anticipated.

The lesson is always the same. It is easy to give thanks when things are going well. Our challenge is to remember to give thanks when things are challenging. Brother Hennis reminded us to occasionally give prayers of gratitude, asking for nothing, just give thanks to our Heavenly Father for ALL that He has given us.

Definitely words to live by! This is another testament that Heavenly Father knows who we are, where we are and what we need, whether it is a dress for a wedding or parts for a car.

Faith and fear cannot exist at the same time. Peace and anger cannot exist at the same time. Choose to live in faith and peace "At All Times and In All Things and In All Places" that we may overcome is my prayer and my constant goal.

Thankful for Safe Passage

It is early Tuesday and I just heard a radio report that made me very sad and very grateful. The reporter said that there were two fatalities this weekend of people traveling home from Idaho through Oregon. In one car a man on his way home to Portland died from his injuries while four others in the same car survived their injuries. Another man died when his car slid off the ice and rolled several times. I am so very sad for all the family and friends of these to men!

This tragic event makes me realize even more the great blessing it was to have three of my children travel back to their homes safely this past holiday weekend. We had a wonderful visit and that memory will live on unclouded by troubles during the return trip home. Other than the fresh reminder of just how far away we live from each other.

I love having them here with us! Thank you, thank you, thank you for making the journey East! I know that their safe passage was an answer to the prayers offered in their behalf!!!

Garlands

Christmas garlands became a tradition in my home when my children were young. At the age of two or so my nephew had bitten a glass ornament from off their Christmas tree and a piece of glass caught in his throat which had to be removed by the doctor. Well that scared me so I took all of my breakable ornaments off the tree. Then one year while living in Snohomish I found some beautiful pine cone laden garlands in Costco that I could put up in my window and hang the breakable ornaments once again. Nowadays with the downsizing of my Christmas tree I have put my favorite and special handmade ornaments on the garlands. The red glittered strawberries were a gift from my mother when we lived in Marysville, the strawberry capital of Washington. The spindle was made by my Dad. The painted wooden tree is from a paint by number set I did when Catherine was little. My friend, Heather, would make an ornament each year for me. Mr & Mrs Santa Pig are from her, of course. The rope of wooden beads came from an after Christmas sale at The Bon. Megan made the origami star and the blue rocking horse is part of the paint by number set I mentioned earlier.

I love how each ornament brings with it special memories. They bring fond memories of friends and family, special times and places. The ornaments may seem ordinary or even plain to the casual observer. However, to the one who holds those memories dear they are more than beautiful and their value is far greater than the material it is made with for they were each made and or given with love. And each year they are enjoyed increases their value and their treasured memories.

When I moved here there were more windows, doorways, and thresholds which of course necessitated the addition of more garlands. Each new garland has a theme of its own.

So much fun!

Prepare for Christmas

Coming home on Wednesday the 10th, after being away from home for 5 weeks helping family, my first thought was to just relax for a bit, however, I had a strong feeling that I should get my Christmas decorations up before I started anything else. I had no idea why but it seemed like a good idea to be prepared and then be able to relax. So we started decorating Friday morning. Then that evening I received a call from my oldest son that he needed help with tending his 3 year old son, Mason, and could I take care of him for 2-3 weeks. So we made arrangements to meet in the middle of the long road trip between our homes on Monday. Withe the decorations up we were able to spend our time playing with Mason and he really enjoyed the pretty lights too. Was I ever grateful for "the feeling" to get the decorations up.

Isn't it wonderful that Holy Ghost would help me to make our preparations for Christmas earlier than usual this year. It is our tradition to put them up for Thanksgiving each year but never this early. I am so grateful for that prompting and have enjoyed the beauty of the Christmas lights every night since then.

Live in Thanksgiving Daily

Think for a moment, if you will, of someone you know who is truly happy. We've all met those who seem to radiate happiness. They seem to smile more than others; they laugh more than others -- just being around them makes us happier as well.

Now think of someone you know who isn't happy at all. Perhaps they seem 10 years older than they are, drained of energy -- perhaps they are angry or bitter or depressed.

What is the difference between them? What are the characteristics that differentiate the happy from the miserable? Is there something that unhappy people can do to be happier? I believe there is.

Let me tell you a story to illustrate this observation.

A long time ago in a faraway village lived a man who everyone did their very best to avoid. He was the type of person who believed that there was only one competent person in the world, and that one person was himself. Consequently, he was never satisfied with anything. His shoes never fit right. His shirt never felt comfortable. When his food wasn't too cold, it was too salty, and when it wasn't too hot, it was too bland. If a field wasn't sowed by himself, it was not sowed well. If he didn't close the door, the door was not closed properly. In short, he made a career of frowning, lecturing, criticizing, and mumbling about the incompetencies of every other person in the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, the man was married, which made matters all the worse. No matter what his wife did, in his eyes it was wrong. No matter what the unfortunate woman cooked, sewed, or cleaned -- or even when she milked the cow -- it was never satisfactory, and he let her know it. She tried very hard to be a good wife, but it seemed the harder she tried, the less she pleased him. Finally, one evening she could take no more. "I'll tell you what we'll do," she told him. "Tomorrow I will do your chores and you will do mine." "But you can't do my chores," the man replied. "You don't know the first thing about sowing, hoeing, and irrigating." But the woman was adamant. And on top of that, she was filled with a righteous anger that frankly astonished and frightened the man to the point where he didn't dare disagree.

So the next morning the wife went off to the fields and the man began the domestic chores. After thinking about it, he had actually convinced himself he was looking forward to it. Once and for all, he would demonstrate to his wife how things should be done. Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan. In fact, nearly everything the man touched turned into disaster. He spilled the milk, let the pig get into the house, lost the cow, burned the dinner, and ultimately set the house on fire, narrowly escaping with his own life. When his wife returned, she discovered her husband sitting on a pile of ashes, smoke still rising from his clothes. But the woman wasn't the type to rub things in. She helped him up, wiped the soot from his beard, fixed him a little something to eat, and then prepared a bed of straw for them to sleep on. From that day forward, the man never complained about anyone or anything else for as long as he lived.

What do you suppose this story teaches us?

For one thing, it teaches that those who complain make their own and others' lives miserable. The story also teaches humility. It reminds us that "pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). It teaches us not to judge others until we walk in their shoes for a while.

In addition, the story illustrates a quality that the Roman orator Cicero claimed was "not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others" (Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Plancio, 54 b.c.). It is a quality I have found in every happy person I know. It is a quality that instantly makes a person more likable and more at peace. Where there is an abundance of this virtue, there is happiness. Where there is an absence of this virtue, there is often sadness, resentment, and futility.

The virtue I am speaking of is gratitude.

In our story, it was the absence of gratitude that made the man miserable. His inability to appreciate others caused him to be critical of their efforts. Not only did he not empathize with them, he could not allow himself to acknowledge their contributions.

The disasters that confronted him surely made him humble, but, more particularly, they made him appreciate and be grateful for his wife. Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable.

You might be surprised to know that gratitude is a commandment of the Father. "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things" (D&C 59:7), the Lord has commanded in these latter days. Even further, He has admonished that "in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments" (D&C 59:21).

In the Book of Mormon we learn that we should "live in thanksgiving daily" (Alma 34:38). Isn't that a wonderful thought to live in thanksgiving daily? Can you imagine how your life would improve if you lived in thanksgiving daily? Can you imagine how your life would improve if others did the same? Do you think the world would be a happier place? less stressful? less angry? more spiritual?

President Joseph F. Smith proclaimed: "The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 263).

Earlier I asked you to think of someone you knew who was truly happy. Think of the person again, if you will, and grade on this principle: Does he or she live in thanksgiving daily? Now think of someone you know who is unhappy or resentful. Does this person live in thanksgiving daily? It is difficult to even imagine a resentful person who is grateful or a grateful person who is resentful. President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: "Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. It expresses itself in ugly egotism and frequently in wanton mischief... "Where there is appreciation, there is courtesy, there is concern for the rights and property of others. Without it there is arrogance and evil" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 117).

By Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Ensign, Sep. 2001, 6

I thought this was such a good article I just had to post it for all to read. I miss Elder Wirthlin!!!