Daily Reflections-Introduction

This week I am teaching a lesson on the miracles that Jesus performed while He was on the earth. As I have reflected on this topic, my mind remembered a talk given by Elder Eyring in 2007 entitled "O Remember, Remember". In his talk, he shared an experience that touched my heart then (when he gave the talk) and now. He said:

"When our children were very small, I started to write down a few things about what happened every day. Let me tell you how that got started. I came home late from a Church assignment. It was after dark. My father-in-law, who lived near us, surprised me as I walked toward the front door of my house. He was carrying a load of pipes over his shoulder, walking very fast and dressed in his work clothes. I knew that he had been building a system to pump water from a stream below us up to our property.

He smiled, spoke softly, and then rushed past me into the darkness to go on with his work. I took a few steps toward the house, thinking of what he was doing for us, and just as I got to the door, I heard in my mind—not in my own voice—these words: “I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.”

I went inside. I didn’t go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family. Grandpa didn’t have to do what he was doing for us. He could have had someone else do it or not have done it at all. But he was serving us, his family, in the way covenant disciples of Jesus Christ always do. I knew that was true. And so I wrote it down, so that my children could have the memory someday when they would need it.

I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened.

The years have gone by. My boys are grown men. And now and then one of them will surprise me by saying, “Dad, I was reading in my copy of the journal about when …” and then he will tell me about how reading of what happened long ago helped him notice something God had done in his day."

I remember starting a journal to emulate what Elder Eyring did with his family; however, I wasn't consistent in my efforts, and eventually I forgot my resolution. Perhaps, I didn't ask for the Savior's help. Perhaps, I didn't have enough foresight. I'm not sure of the reason for my not continuing. Today, I recommit myself to this task, and this time--I will be praying for help. It is my goal to see God's hand in my life, and record daily thoughts. To be honest, this task overwhelms me. And because I am overwhelmed, I pray. I know I am weak when I am left to my own strength, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). I am certain that by remembering the daily messages, my family will be blessed as Elder Eyring's family was blessed. I am certain that testimony will develop, and Christ will be a focus in our home.