"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" has always held a special place in my heart. If you can have an "our song" with deity, that is mine. So many times, that song comes on and I immediately know how much I am loved and, frequently, revelation just starts to flow. (Hmmm...maybe I should listen to it more often.) There is a very distinct moment on my mission when it came on. I vividly remember the way the leaves were blowing around the freeway as we got off on the Hopkins Road exit in Richmond, VA. That morning, I'd been struggling to know where I should go and what I should do after my mission. (You may recall that, when I decided to serve, I didn't have family support and I really didn't have a "home." I hadn't lived where I grew up in over 7 years and would have no reason to go back to where I was living at the time in Rochester, NY.) I wondered if I was a competent missionary and was doing what the Lord would have me do. In that moment, listening to that song, I knew it would be ok and the spirit helped me to know that I was exactly where I was supposed to be - it had been foreseen, though not be me. I was supposed to be in that green Chevy Malibu getting on Hopkins Road to visit Enrique and Suzy. I had the thought, "Tell me, Lord, how could you have known for so long that I would be here in this place? One year ago I wouldn't have guessed it and two years ago I knew nothing of the church." The answer came, "Anne, I know you and I know your heart. I knew that your heart would lead you to this place because it is where I need you to be. I knew that you would make the choices that would allow you to become an instrument in my hands."
As we walked into church today, I saw my friend, Trina, and she had a copy of the music for this song in her hand. With hope in my voice, I asked if she would be singing that song today. She confirmed that she was. I told her it was my favorite and I was excited to hear it and went and found my seat.
My boys were particularly cuddly today and were each trying to claim a spot leaning on me. It felt good. I felt loved. We listened to the speakers and then Trina got up to sing. As the music started, I was brought back to that moment in Virginia when my station in life, my path at the time and my competency in that path, was confirmed. Lately, my friends, I'll be honest and say that I have really been struggling with feeling competent - at just about anything. I've been feeling that everything I try seems to fail in one way or another and I've wondered if I am in the right place, if I am doing the right things, how I am blessed with these great little boys and an amazing husband that sometimes I take for granted, am I messing things up and limiting the progress of my kids by decisions I make. But, sitting there today, listening to that familiar hymn and holding those two amazing boys, the Spirit washed over me. Again, it let me know that I am exactly where I was supposed to be. Again, it had been foreseen, though not by me. Those boys need me as their mom - not any of the other "super mom" friends that I have. Me. They need me, my flaws and my awesome strengths to raise them to be what the Lord would have them be. I am exactly where the Lord needs me right now. And, oh how I needed that confirmation.
I am grateful for inspired musical numbers (even if she had just sung the same song a few months ago). I am grateful for having an "Our Song" with the Holy Ghost. Maybe I really should listen to it more often.
Showing posts with label Hymns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hymns. Show all posts
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Mosiah 11:28-29: Abinadi's Standard
Noah’s reason to try slay Abinadi is that Abinadi is causing
contention. This is true in the senses
that those whose hearts are pricked by Abinadi’s words will not stand for the
way of life of Noah. I feel this is a
way in which people can be blindly led away since Noah has a valid point in
trying to avoid contention.
How often,
in our day, are righteous people or causes pushed out of the mainstream or
silenced because they would upset the “apple cart” of our corrupt society? It is so difficult to find a family-friendly
TV show or movie. (And if we do happen to find
one, we are lucky if there are not some horrible commercials on - just a plug for Netflix and no commercials.) What can we do to seek out the Abinadi's of today and their messages? How can we shift the mainstream to accept the righteous and not seek to push them out? (For the record, I think that last question is impossible.)
Update: After writing this somewhat depressing and discouraging post, I attended the broadcast of the Groundbreaking for the Meridian Temple. The opening hymn was "High on a Mountain Top". Maybe it is because the lyrics were on a big screen and not in a book but I paid more attention. The second and third verses, in particular attracted my attention.
2. For God remembers still
His promise made of old
That he on Zion's hill
Truth's standard would unfold!
Her light should there attract the gaze
Of all the world in latter days.
3. His house shall there be reared,
His glory to display,
And people shall be heard
In distant lands to say:
We'll now go up and serve the Lord
Obey his truth, and learn his word.
Some day the temple, (and the gospel), we'll draw the attention of all the world. Some day...
Update: After writing this somewhat depressing and discouraging post, I attended the broadcast of the Groundbreaking for the Meridian Temple. The opening hymn was "High on a Mountain Top". Maybe it is because the lyrics were on a big screen and not in a book but I paid more attention. The second and third verses, in particular attracted my attention.
2. For God remembers still
His promise made of old
That he on Zion's hill
Truth's standard would unfold!
Her light should there attract the gaze
Of all the world in latter days.
3. His house shall there be reared,
His glory to display,
And people shall be heard
In distant lands to say:
We'll now go up and serve the Lord
Obey his truth, and learn his word.
Some day the temple, (and the gospel), we'll draw the attention of all the world. Some day...
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Try to Show Kindness in ALL that You Do
If you had asked me 24 hours ago if I had ever been a bully, I would have said, "No," with a firm conviction that I had not. However, my answer has changed in the past 24 hours. Thanks to my lengthy commute home from work late at night, I have a lot of time to think and reflect.
It all started when I was passed by a Dodge Neon.
In my church growing up, instead of having YM/YW, we mainly were grouped off by our class year and sometimes with more kids for trips and retreats. We had a small confirmation class of about 9 people and my closest friends that I keep in touch with come from that small group. In the group, there was a girl who was significantly shorter than me, (so yeah, really short) and she was a little socially awkward. During a big trip to Atlanta, (which is a long trip from Northern Minnesota), she demonstrated that she was somewhat obsessed with the new Dodge Neon and their "Hello" ad campaign. Every time she saw an ad or a Neon, she would say something along the lines of "Oh! Hello! You're so cute!" I don't remember if we ever teased her about it to her face but there were plenty of things said behind her back. (Which, really, does being a bully have to be done to their face?) And I know that those jokes about the Neon led to many other backbiting conversations about her.
I then remembered another girl, also from a church group. She was from a somewhat poor family and you could easily tell by the way she dressed. I don't remember anything that we said about her and I remember, for the most part, being kind to her. However, I do remember that at one retreat, she was asleep and we tried the "pour warm water on her hand" trick to see if she would wet the bed. (She didn't...she just woke up. Duh!) I don't think we did it to bully her but just to try out the trick and she was the first one to fall asleep. However, years later, when I learned that she had taken her own life, that attempt at being funny came to the forefront of my mind almost immediately. I doubt our "joke" had anything to do with her decision but I still grieve for the kindness that was not shown to her, even in just that one night.
As that Neon passed me last night, all of those memories came flooding back and I felt horrible for the way I had participated in hurting both of those girls, (and I'm sure there were others). I did not do it to be mean. I did it to fit in. The other friends who participated were good and loyal friends. I am certain that if I had chosen the higher road and tried to be nice to those girls that my friends would not have turned on me or added me to their bullying. (And if they had, would that have been real friends?)
So, to my amazing little boys, (and to anyone else that may listen), I urge you to try to do better in this area. Do (at least) try to show kindness in ALL that you do! Avoid speaking evil of others or laughing at their expense. As you look at others, think of the lyrics of "I Am a Child of God" with different perspective. If you find yourself thinking unkind thoughts, think of directing the lyrics to them. "You are a child of God. And he has sent you here. He has given you an earthly home, but maybe you are not blessed with parents kind and dear. And so, I will walk beside you and help you find the way, that we both may live with him someday." For those that go to the temple, a good measure of your thoughts of others is, would you say those thoughts while in the temple?
I know that I can do better in this area but I am grateful for a patient and guiding Heavenly Father to help me to find the right way and see others as he would see them.
It all started when I was passed by a Dodge Neon.
In my church growing up, instead of having YM/YW, we mainly were grouped off by our class year and sometimes with more kids for trips and retreats. We had a small confirmation class of about 9 people and my closest friends that I keep in touch with come from that small group. In the group, there was a girl who was significantly shorter than me, (so yeah, really short) and she was a little socially awkward. During a big trip to Atlanta, (which is a long trip from Northern Minnesota), she demonstrated that she was somewhat obsessed with the new Dodge Neon and their "Hello" ad campaign. Every time she saw an ad or a Neon, she would say something along the lines of "Oh! Hello! You're so cute!" I don't remember if we ever teased her about it to her face but there were plenty of things said behind her back. (Which, really, does being a bully have to be done to their face?) And I know that those jokes about the Neon led to many other backbiting conversations about her.
I then remembered another girl, also from a church group. She was from a somewhat poor family and you could easily tell by the way she dressed. I don't remember anything that we said about her and I remember, for the most part, being kind to her. However, I do remember that at one retreat, she was asleep and we tried the "pour warm water on her hand" trick to see if she would wet the bed. (She didn't...she just woke up. Duh!) I don't think we did it to bully her but just to try out the trick and she was the first one to fall asleep. However, years later, when I learned that she had taken her own life, that attempt at being funny came to the forefront of my mind almost immediately. I doubt our "joke" had anything to do with her decision but I still grieve for the kindness that was not shown to her, even in just that one night.
As that Neon passed me last night, all of those memories came flooding back and I felt horrible for the way I had participated in hurting both of those girls, (and I'm sure there were others). I did not do it to be mean. I did it to fit in. The other friends who participated were good and loyal friends. I am certain that if I had chosen the higher road and tried to be nice to those girls that my friends would not have turned on me or added me to their bullying. (And if they had, would that have been real friends?)
So, to my amazing little boys, (and to anyone else that may listen), I urge you to try to do better in this area. Do (at least) try to show kindness in ALL that you do! Avoid speaking evil of others or laughing at their expense. As you look at others, think of the lyrics of "I Am a Child of God" with different perspective. If you find yourself thinking unkind thoughts, think of directing the lyrics to them. "You are a child of God. And he has sent you here. He has given you an earthly home, but maybe you are not blessed with parents kind and dear. And so, I will walk beside you and help you find the way, that we both may live with him someday." For those that go to the temple, a good measure of your thoughts of others is, would you say those thoughts while in the temple?
I know that I can do better in this area but I am grateful for a patient and guiding Heavenly Father to help me to find the right way and see others as he would see them.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
"Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel"
The opening hymn in church today was "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel". Frequently, I don't give the attention that I should to the lyrics of hymns. Today, I was really taken by the lyrics of the third and fourth verses. They state, "Then don't stand idly looking on; The fight with sin is real. It will be long but must go on; Put your shoulder to the wheel...Then work and watch and fight and pray with all your might and zeal. Push ev'ry worthy work along; Put your shoulder to the wheel." It made me really think of our boys and how their generation (and ours) cannot "stand idly looking on" but must actively strive to stay on the right path. The effort needed to does not come easy so we must work to do it, watch for things that would lead us off the path, fight off those temptations and difficulties, and pray for the strength to do it. It is a long battle but one that must be fought. And it makes it a lot easier if you do it with a "heart full of song". I hope that I can help my boys to joyfully work on the attributes and traits that will lead them on the right path by doing so myself.
Speaking of a "heart full of song", LJ has always had an affinity for music and lately has gotten really excited about the songs "I Am a Child of God" and "Teach Me to Walk in the Light". He frequently tells us that he "likes those songs" and wants to sing them. He is still learning how to enunciate all the words but it is very sweet to hear his little voice sing along.
Humor me by letting me share one other quick thought from church today. One of the youth speakers was one that I worked with in Young Women. She is the oldest in her family. Her younger brother was passing the sacrament and happened to be the one that passed it to her. Since she was on the stand, I was able to watch their interaction. As he approached, she looked up at him with reverence and respect. As she took the bread and water, she said "Thank you". I felt that it was not only "Thank you" for carrying the bread and water to her but, more importantly, for being worthy to participate in providing the opportunity for her to renew her baptismal covenants.
Speaking of a "heart full of song", LJ has always had an affinity for music and lately has gotten really excited about the songs "I Am a Child of God" and "Teach Me to Walk in the Light". He frequently tells us that he "likes those songs" and wants to sing them. He is still learning how to enunciate all the words but it is very sweet to hear his little voice sing along.
Humor me by letting me share one other quick thought from church today. One of the youth speakers was one that I worked with in Young Women. She is the oldest in her family. Her younger brother was passing the sacrament and happened to be the one that passed it to her. Since she was on the stand, I was able to watch their interaction. As he approached, she looked up at him with reverence and respect. As she took the bread and water, she said "Thank you". I felt that it was not only "Thank you" for carrying the bread and water to her but, more importantly, for being worthy to participate in providing the opportunity for her to renew her baptismal covenants.
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