My friend who is a school teacher pulled me aside last night to give me something she had saved. It was a magazine article listing positive things about homeschooling.
Bless her sweet, sweet heart. I didn’t know it until I talked with her, but I needed to feel that support.
She talked to me for the first time about her mother’s cancer yesterday. I asked her if she had any news (hoping she would share about her mother) and she almost didn’t tell me. But with flushed cheeks, she rushed to tell me details of a new study that her mom began that day.
Because chemo isn’t working.
I told her I was grateful that her mother was accepted into the study. I told her that her mom is a blessing to so many people and that her mother and the girl were in my thoughts and prayers all of the time. And because I didn’t know how to end my open expressions of hope that the new study medication will help her mom, I said, “You never know…”
What?
I should have said, “I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for you and for your mom, and that plan is beautiful.” Because that is what I know.
And I should have hugged her before continuing with the lesson.
Paige’s lesson was about remembering the messages of General Conference. She told us that one or two days a week during the last several months she has been reading a General Conference talk for her scripture study and that it has blessed her life. She shared the following scripture:
And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place. -D&C 124:45
What does it mean to “not be moved out of their place?” she asked. Daniel brought up the talk given by Elder Pearson about Lehi’s vision. The righteous stayed by the tree of life. They didn’t leave it. If we follow the prophets, he said, this is what it means to stay by the tree.
Paige shared this quote:
“We have the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; but all these books, without the living oracles and a constant stream of revelation from the Lord, would not lead any people into the Celestial Kingdom of God. Of course, these records are all of infinite value. They cannot be too highly prized, nor can they be too closely studied. But in and of themselves, with all the light that they give, they are insufficient to guide the children of men and to lead them into the presence of God. To be thus led requires a living Priesthood and constant revelation from God to the people according to the circumstances in which they may be placed” (President George Q. Cannon 1827–1901), First Counselor in the First Presidency, Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of George Q. Cannon, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist (1987), 252.
Paige asked us to share our favorite messages from General Conference last week. Mark immediately told us the story from Elder Holland’s talk, full of details, about the two brothers who went rock climbing in Southern Utah, one brother saving the other from a fall. As the rest of us shared, Mark rolled on the floor and moaned. I thought he was just bored, but then he said, “The brownies are getting stone cold!” So, midway through sharing our notes on General Conference, Daniel served brownies to the group. Thankfully, they were still warm.
This plant that I nearly over-watered to death has been drying out and perking up in the light of my biggest window. I’ve left it alone for two weeks and it’s thriving.
I’m remembering this lesson as Daniel now holds a drivers permit. I must not be overly zealous in my nurturing that I don’t allow him to stretch and grow in responsibility. My efforts to “protect” can weaken my children.
“Let your children have some freedom to learn, to experience, and reach for the sun,” the little plant reminds me.
Have you ever talked yourself out of giving a gift? I’m at that phase of giving where I hope that my generosity doesn’t seem silly, misplaced, juvenile, or crazy. Have you ever read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli? There are elements of Stargirl in me. I remember important dates in people’s lives. I don’t play the ukelele, but I serenaded almost every sister who joined our Relief Society in Texas with my guitar when I visited their homes. I try to figure out people’s tastes in food, music, literature, and color. I feel deeply for people in their struggles. I don’t know what to say most of the time, so I think of things to give people. But that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to give. What if my gift makes them feel uncomfortable?
You can do this, Angie. You can do this. It’s just a doll. And 99% of the time, it is worth it to show that you care.
I am working on this beauty this week. The lighting is bad today (snow!) so I will wait to take a photo of her finished hair. I fall in love with each doll and of course, every recipient. I love to watch individual beauty emerge with each stitch. I feel a bit like a spectator to their creation, surprised by their “personalities.” She begins her journey, along with a piece of my heart, through the mail to her new home on Friday.
Years ago, a good friend gave us a family home evening journal. Inside were pages to fill in the minutes of our family gatherings each Monday. There was space to list who conducted, which songs were sung, the lesson topic, and family business, but most fun was the place for family news. I go back to our family home evening journals from those early years and smile at the things we listed as accomplishments of the week.
We gave up the practice of keeping a family home evening journal, and the blog seemed to fill in for the “family news” part of our record. However, I have missed the record of what we did together each Monday evening. I’m going to try to give a small recap of what we do for our Monday family home evenings each Tuesday on the blog.
We went to dinner last night with a Christmas gift card. We enjoyed this family time. When we got home, I was in charge of the lesson. I showed this video and then we studied and discussed prayer, referring to the Bible Dictionary:
As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest blessings.
Daniel shared that prayer should be a real communication between child and the Father. He said that we need to avoid saying the same things without thinking (vain repetition) and pray often so we develop a relationship. Paige shared that we are children of God and that the video depicts how everything we have is a gift from Him. Richard shared that Heavenly Father doesn’t ask us to pray for his ego, but because everything He asks us to do is for our benefit. I told the kids that prayer is a little bit like playing catch. There are two participants. We show we are ready for answers (or a pitch) by turning to God and preparing ourselves for what he sends to us. If we don’t pray (turn toward the pitch), we aren’t prepared for answers and we aren’t in tune with what Heavenly Father wants for us.
Memories of General Conference, my parents’ mission reunion, and the Easter egg hunt at Spring Lake add some sparkle to my Monday morning thoughts. Mark told me that he wanted to give Easter gifts this year. He and I taught the cousins how to make their own wash cloth bunnies, complete with googly eyes and pom pom noses and tails. Oh, those crazy cousins. Mark didn’t want to to part with them after building forts and bunnies, playing in the Secret Garden, reading the funnies in the library, and having all the soda he could drink.
I realized very late this year that I’d forgotten to decorate for Easter. I had forgotten that I had an Easter wreath. I finally unpacked the pink plates. I have spent more time in the New Testament this week. Richard presented the annual Easter Family Home Evening lesson. We open eggs with objects related to the Savior’s sufferings, death, and resurrection inside. We read scriptures associated with each.
I saw the original of this painting last year and I have a print of it framed beside my desk. This images helps explain the times when my burdens have been lightened because I have relied on the Savior. It reminds me that the Savior understands grief and pain and sin and every little thing. It reminds me how precious Jesus is to the Father. It reminds me how precious he is to me. Perhaps it says something significant to you, too.
Mark updated our white board calendar yesterday. I was grateful for the image that he chose to draw on Easter Sunday. The empty tomb is my favorite symbol of hope.
The tradition continues…
This is Paige’s last General Women’s Meeting at home. I hope we can keep our tradition in the years to come. Congratulations, darling girl. We did it. I have loved going to these meetings each spring with you.