Daily Reflections

Today we were able to listen to L. Tom Perry in Stake Conference. I felt so blessed to listen to an apostle about the importance of making it to eternal life. He made jokes about how he wished he could have us all marching toward that with excitement. It was refreshing to listen to his wisdom, his down to earth personality, his love for the Gospel. He was an example to me of simply being our best selves. Perhaps, him being his best self came through a life devoted to God. At the end of his discourse he said, "The closer you draw to Him (God), the more blessing s you receive in this life and the world to come. Let Him into your life." He also gave a promise when he said, "I promise you that if you turn your life to Him it will become part of your character--trust in Him."

I was grateful for an apostles insight. I was grateful for the entire conference. I learned about being non-contention, and about becoming through the other speakers--both of which, I could always improve. It has always been my desire to have a non-contentious home, and to become ALL that my Father in Heaven needs me to become. I felt touched by all the messages given.

Some of my favorite one-liners:
Becoming Means to Change
Burying Our Weapons of War causes us to Be Converted to the Lord
What are our weapons?

Sister Marriott (2nd Counselor in YW's General Presidency)
~Only takes one to shift an attitude to avoid contention
~3 Nephi 29 the Savior teaches 3 separate times about avoiding contention

Daily Reflections~Day 1

As I have been studying my lesson on Jesus' miracles, I have reflected on the day to day miracles in my own life. While in contemplation, I received a phone call from my husband expressing frustration concerning our car. Our car needed an emissions test completed; however, due to the engine light continuously manifesting itself, we hadn't yet accomplished the task of an emissions test. We knew that if the engine light was manifested, the car would fail the test. In the past, we have had the car tested on numerous occasions, and we have learned that the light is faulty. Yesterday, the light turned off, and so we were planning on completing the emissions test today; however, when Bryan was ready to take the car to be tested, the light returned to activity. He did everything he could to fix the faulty light, but to no avail. As he was telling me his frustrations, I explained my lesson, and suggested that we pray.

As I kneeled to pray, I explained to Heavenly Father how I realized that the matter of our car was a small and trivial concern; however, I explained how important it was to us to receive the test, and comply with the state laws. For some reason during my prayer, I felt emotional throughout my explanation. I felt that Heavenly Father was hearing my prayer over my car, so I continued to pray about the more important matters of my family. I felt peace and love wash over me as I communicated with my Father in Heaven. When I closed my prayer, I felt a sense of gratitude for the love of a Father in Heaven. Later that day I received a text from my husband stating, "You are the Woman." Meaning: the Check Engine Soon light had turned off on the car.

I know that God hears and answers our prayers. I know that He hears us even in the smallest details. Sometimes our prayers are not always answered in the way we would hope; however, in those moments, it is up to us to trust in God's design rather than our own. In moments where our prayers are answered directly and immediately, I stand in solemn gratitude and awe at a loving Father in Heaven.

Daily Reflections~Day 2

Every morning I pray for help with my son's reading. I pray for inspiration as to how to help him, and guide him. I have faith that someday his struggle with reading will no longer be a struggle, but until then--we work at reading. This morning while working with Jacob, I was impressed to record his reading. I have explained and demonstrated "smooth and connected" reading. I know that Jacob can do it; however, he seems to simply not understand. In fact, he often tells me he is doing what I am asking of him. This morning when I recorded his reading, and he was able to hear himself read through the device, he finally understood what I have been explaining. After hearing the recording, he read with more connectivity. I know this is something that is seemingly small; however, to me--Heavenly Father gave me direct inspiration in helping Jacob become. Heavenly Father cares even in the simplest of matters.

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.