Family Home Evening Thought - Jan 31

Little different kind of thought tonight. When I am in the car alone, I listen to a variety of CDs, mostly talks (I particularly like Sheri Dew, Michael Wilcox, and John Lund). However, another favorite is a set of CDs from Focus on the Family - radio dramas of the Chronicles of Narnia, with introductions by Paul Gresham, C.S. Lewis's stepson. Currently, I am listening to the Chronicles again. Each time I listen, I realize even more that Lewis's lion, Aslan, is a metaphor for Christ.
In November and December, I had the opportunity to help one of our assistant principals with a project she is involved with in her church. She and her husband are in charge of a program feeding the homeless in Seattle once a month. In November and December, she cooks 15 - 20 turkeys each month in the ovens at school, while an additional few turkeys are donated by her church for the power and they are given to students' families where there is need, as there always is. I helped both times this year, early in the morning putting the turkeys in the ovens, and after school, taking the meat off, and preparing it for distribution. The rest of the meal is prepared in their church in Seattle. They serve about 200 people there, then put the rest in take-out boxes and drive around in the church van handing out food. Together, we serve those less fortunate. As I worked this past holiday with her, I thought of the words of Lewis in Mere Christianity. These are words to remember as we work with others, also engaged in good works.

"I hope no reader will suppose that "mere" Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions — as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else.

It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall, I have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into the room you will find that the long wait has done some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and paneling.

In plain language, the question should never be: "Do I like that kind of service?" but "Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?"

When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. This is one of the rules common to the whole house. (emphasis mine)

I have found my "room". I invite you to enter and participate there, if you have not yet found your room. There you will find true doctrines, holiness, truth.

Love, Mom

Family Home Evening Thought - Jan 24

I recently finished reading a phenomenal book about the apostasy, called The Inevitable Apostasy. I was impressed with this statement: "Knowledge of these doctrines [the restored Gospel] is power. It is the power to hae peace in troubled times, power to forge ahead when all else has collapsed around us, power to confront falsehood and sin..the greatest motivational power in all the world to be good and to do good." (Tad R. Callister, p. 371)

This year in Primary, our theme is "I Know the Scriptures are True". We are, as a Primary, striving to read the scriptures daily. Will you take the challenge?

Love, Mom

Family Home Evening Thought - Jan. 17

I want to share an experience in scripture study this week, not so much because of the message, but because of what this experience did for me as a scripture student. I read the Sunday School lesson each week, mark the scripture chain, and study the scripture mastery scripture for seminary (still teaching the scriptures in sign language with the music by the Sons of Ammon - if you are interested, Google that one - songs are free, some music is rather hokey, others are great), and decided for the days I have that done, I would go through the hymn book and become more familiar with the hymns and study the scripture references. I have found that sometimes, I think of other scriptures apply, and I find the references and write in my hymn book as I go. Most of the hymns are familiar, but there are some in the "new" hymn book (well, it is younger than any of my kids!) I am still unfamiliar with. This last week, I arrived at #126, How Long, O Lord Most Holy and True. Pretty sure I had never sung or played it before, so I pulled up the music on lds.org, and listened to it. The names of composer and lyricist are well known - John A. Widtsoe and Cecil Gates. For me, listening to the music, which has a strong minor feeling, set a mood that contrasted brilliantly with the words I was reading from D&C 138:11-19, 50-51 and Isaiah 61:1-2. I found myself pondering those faithful brothers and sisters, who came to earth and fulfilled their missions, long years before the Savior would come to break the bands of death, who then waited for that glorious event. I found myself pondering that great vision given to Joseph F. Smith in 1918, reading it again with new eyes. The Spirit bore witness to me of the truth of the account given in the Doctrine and Covenants, and also that the heavens continue to be open.

The point - someday, try something different for your scripture study. Choose a hymn and study the scriptures at the bottom, while the music plays. I have gained a great appreciation for the talented men and women whose works are in the hymn book, as well as a testimony of the power of the hymns to bring the Spirit, to teach, and to inspire.

Love, Mom

Thought for the week, Jan. 9, 2011

Tangible



For me,

great strength comes every week

as I partake of the sacrament

and remind myself that I bear the name of Christ,

that I have taken it upon myself

like something tangible.



Sometimes,

when I am feeling lonely and tired,

I take the name of the Savior upon me

like a warm blanket.

I wrap myself in it

the way my two-year-old grandson

wraps himself in his cherished "blankey,"

and I feel warmed

and comforted.



If I am feeling vulnerable,

sometimes I take the name of Christ upon me

like armor,

feeling it solid

and bright

and impregnable,

so that no opposition can puncture it

and so that no wound can devastate me.



Sometimes

I take the name of Christ upon me

like Joseph's coat of many colors,

a beautiful garment

in which to dance

and rejoice

and praise the Lord.



-- Chieko Okazaki


Remember Him.

Love, Mom

Happy New Year (one day late)!

Just a thought to start out the year. Always remember:

You are God's own child. He loves you with an infinite love. You have infinite potential and worth. You are not to compare yourself with anyone else because God doesn't.

Have a wonderful year.

Family Home Evening Thought - Oct. 18

It has been a few busy weeks since I wrote. Since then, I have had the opportunity to think about life and death. Three weeks ago, I again served as an interpreter for a funeral. This was for a young man I interpreted for some years ago. His parents are wonderful, humble people. His mother has a stutter at times, and is quite shy, while his father was a humble, quiet man, content to serve without being a leader, who also had some health problems for many years. They have three children, two daughter, and a son, who is deaf. The father passed away after several months with cancer, having previously had major heart and other problems. I got a call asking me to interpret, which I did. The funeral was a celebration of the life of a humble servant of Jesus Christ, who knew where he was going. While his family will miss him greatly, they know of the plan of the Lord and that they will be reunited someday.
Last Friday, I again learned that a good friend from my paraeducator days at Highlands, Debbie, is dying of CJD, a disease similar to "mad cow" disease. Three months ago, she was fine, and in the next few weeks, she will leave this life. This time, the hope of a reunion with her family is unknown, her husband acknowledges no higher power of any kind.
Death comes to all, eventually, but how grateful I am to know that when the time comes for me, and for those I love, I know where we will go, and have the promise of a reunion in the presence of my Father.
I love each of you. Love, Mom

Family Home Evening Thoughts - Sept. 6

While on our "sisters trip" this summer, Kathy Bertasso told of some advice she and Mike received in their mission presidents training. They were told that it was their choice to make every day a good day, regardless of what happened. We took that advice on Wednesday of our trip, as we walked around D.C. Our goal - we would not complain about the heat, regardless of how hot it was.
I have been trying to do better in my own life - trying not to complain about things that bother me. I'm not perfect by any means, but I am trying to be positive, even with the technology problems we are having at school.
Last night, we attended a fireside presented by Tom and Sandi Hachtel, of our ward. Tom and Sandi, together with many of their family members, participated in the Nauvoo pageant this summer. They told us of the advice they were given as family cast members. The weather in Nauvoo during the summer includes rain - sometimes very hard and persistent storm. Naturally, this isn't the most comfortable way to practice and perform. Tempers tend to flare, and complaints become divisive. They were given a quote from Brigham Young, telling the Saints how to get along with one another. This is my thought for the week.

"If you feel evil, keep it to yourselves until you overcome that evil principle. This is what I call resisting the devil, and he flees from me....when you are influenced by the Spirit of holiness and purity, let your light shine; but if you are tried and tempted and buffeted by Satan, keep your thoughts to yourselves - keep your mouths closed; for speaking produces fruit, either of a good or evil character...You frequently hear brethren and sisters say that they feel so tried and tempted, and have so many cares, and are so buffeted, that they must give vent to their feelings; and they yield to the temptation, and deal out their unpleasant sensations to their families and neighbors. Make up your minds thoroughly, once and for all, that if we have trials, the Lord has suffered them to be brought upon us. And he will give us grace to bear them...But if we have light or intelligence - that which will do good, we will impart it....let that be the determination of the individual, for spirit begets spirit-likeness; feelings beget their likeness....if then we give vent to all our bad feelings and disagreeable sensations, how quickly we beget the same in others, and load each other down with our troubles, and become sunk in darkness and despair!...in all your social communications...let all the dark, discontented, murmuring, unhappy, miserable feelings - all the evil fruit of the mind, fall from the tree in silence and unnoticed; and so let it perish, without taking it up to present to your neighbors. But when you have joy and happiness, light and intelligence, truth and virtue, offer that fruit abundantly to your neighbors, and it will do them good, and so strength the hands of your fellow beings.

Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 5:351-352

I am accepting the challenge...will you?

Love, Mom