Straining at a Gnat and Not Swallowing a Camel

The Power of Writing Things Down

I'm so thankful for the ability to write things down to express emotion. I just read over some very old unsent letters, and I decided to skip reading most of them. I’m glad that writing can help us work through things, gain perspective, and develop patience. While we all sense a desire to express ourselves, I'm so glad that I've left many things unsaid.

 Straining at a Gnat and Not Swallowing a Camel

Strained Communication

Often misunderstandings come from an inability to communicate our hurts appropriately. While there may be ample reason for us to feel the way we do, we cannot necessarily see into the other persons’ minds or hearts to know their intents or perspective. When there isn’t enough trust established to proceed with communication, sometimes we just need to pray for each other and hope for the best. 

Prayer is the Important Key

Prayer. Isn’t that the key to good communication? Here, with our Heavenly Father, we can always develop a relationship where we know we can be understood, we will be validated, and reproof will always be given with ample love. When we feel the Savior’s love, we will be able to love ourselves more, no matter what others may think, do, or say; and, we will be able to extend His love to others more freely, until we can develop that love in ourselves. 

We Need to Repent Ourselves

Prayer will also help us so our own part in the dissonance and what we are lacking ourselves. We will see our own need to change and find mercy, which should in turn help us to feel more merciful. We can seek inspiration on how to proceed: how to serve, how to wait, or how to let go. 

Serving and Forgiving

When there are opportunities to build more trust through service and shared experiences, we should seek to take advantage in developing more stable relationships. If we fall and skin our knees, we should try again. But even when things are rocky, we shouldn’t be throwing rocks.

For the times when I have spoken hastily or sought for vindication, I’m thankful for the ability to repent and repair. Sometimes feelings are raw for a long time, and even when people may want us to eat our words, or when they regurgitate them, we really cannot take them back. But we can choose to give second, third, and seventy-seventh chances, trying to give each other the benefit of the doubt.

How has writing been therapeutic to you in putting things to rest? 

How have your benefited from repairing strained relationships?

Following Happily: Sheeple? Thanks for the Compliment

Sheeple? Thanks for the Compliment

plainbibleteaching.com

Do you ever feel offended when you hear someone referred to as a sheeple? When we remember whom we follow and whose we are, we should be glad to acknowledge that we follow happily and feel thankful for the compliment.

Jesus said,

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand" (John 10:27-29).

Before this Jesus so spoke to those who do not believe, who mock the believers,

        “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I                        said unto you” (John 10:26).

In humility we should pray that those who so seek to offend will be able to be drawn into the fold. The Father loves them as well, and if they choose His Son, He will again choose them.

Last Night's Dream

A Family Christmas

clipartkid.com

I had a dream last night. It was rather strange. I was at a family Christmas party. My Dad was there. Suzanne and her family were there. Valerie was there. I think my Mom was there, but I can’t really remember. It feels like she was.

Well, we had a good time visiting; and everybody was busy doing different things. After the day was half over, Valerie said to me, “Heidi, why don’t you go fix your hair. Sure, you haven’t even combed it today.”

So I went into the bathroom to see what she was talking about. And half my hair was pulled into a pony tail on the one side of my head. The other half was hanging, and a mess, and matted.

I was in disbelief. I must have fallen asleep the night before with pigtails in my hair and one of them had come out, and I spent Christmas day that way.

So I thought that I’d surprise everybody and curl my hair. So I plugged in my heat curlers (who does that anymore?), and I was getting ready to curl my hair. But it took so much longer than usual, because Suzanne's girls had taken the pins that hold the curlers and hid them in different nooks and crannies around the bathroom.

So that was my dream.

Now I am open for interpretations. 

Basking in the Light

Basking in the Light

A friend of mine titled this photograph for me. It warms my soul that it is so appropriately named, “Basking in the Light”. Vereen said that when she looked at this photo, “The first thing I saw was a child touched by the Light of Christ. Beautiful.” While I completely agree, this set me to thinking.

Children

I believe that we all see little children as special. We notice their sparkle and the goodness that they add to this world. We sense the wonder of creation and continuation. It is marvelous to behold.

We need to hold onto these sentiments as we are introduced to one another and interact with one another. Why? Well, it is because we are all still little children. We are children of God.

Light of Christ

Every human being born into this world is endowed with the Light of Christ. Every single one. He said, “I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:2). 

God Loves Us All

Jesus loves all of us with a love that is endless and complete. God makes His sun to shine on all of us and his rain to fall on all of us, because it is His good will to bless us and help us to find joy. (See Matthew 5:45)

Look for the Good

How quickly do we look for the darkness in one another, when we should be noticing the light? How often do we condemn the imperfections in ourselves, when it would serve us better to be thankful for our gifts and develop them?

Bask in the Light

I am pleased with the composition of this photograph. The child is truly basking in the light. What a great example for all of us. There is light everywhere around us, and there is light within us. Let us find pleasure and joy in our work, in our days, in our families, in our friends and associations; and let us bask in the Light.

Furthur Reading:

John 1

Doctrine and Covenants 93

Living the Gospel Joyful

Bless the Legos, the Beasts, and the Children

Bless the Legos, the Beasts, and the Children

But Most Especially, the Children

(Google Image from cagi-in.org)

A couple of years ago, outrage circulated the Web at a rather quick rate over a Minnesota dentist who killed a lion in Zimbabwe. The circumstances were sketchy, and killing such a beautiful animal for sport surely is upsetting.

More recently, zoo keepers in Cincinnati had to make the difficult decision to end the life of a beloved gorilla in order to save a boy’s life.

Both of these glorious animals had names: Cecil the Lion and Harambe the Gorilla.

So what’s my point? Well I entered a discussion thread over Cecil during that time of outrage, and someone said that it is arrogant to think that a human’s life is more important than an animal’s life. I am certain, after seeing the “silent” verbal attacks on Facebook concerning the boy and his parents who were at the zoo that there are thousands who agree with him. While I do not wish to diminish the grandeur of all life, and I don’t devalue the life of these animals, I am not arrogant because I believe God’s word.

Man Made Just a Little Lower than the Angels (Psalm 8)

(Second reference Hebrews 2)

1 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

God Loves All His Creations

Although God notices the fall of a sparrow; although He feels sadness for the beast who loses His life; although God recognizes inconsistencies and injustices; God still loves His children more than all of His other creations. Why? He loves us most because we are His children. And His first two great commandments are that we love Him and that we love one another (see Matthew 22:36-40).

The Lord Wants Us to Trust Him and Find Safety in Him (Luke 12:27-28)

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

God Values Us Above All His Creations (Matthew 10:29-31)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

What Should We Value Most?

Even more recently I read about a young boy that knocked over a lego sculpture that was valued at $15,000. Evidently, the exhibit was open for picture taking, and the boy accidentally knocked it over. From the responses of Facebook readers, you would think that the child’s was valued at a lesser amount. The comments made against him and his parents and their parenting skills were horrendous.

I think that the lack of empathy we have for human beings is appalling. It seems that some people care more about the well-being of animals and legos than they do people.

If we are of so much worth to our Father, I believe that it is arrogant when we do not acknowledge that every other human being on earth is also of great worth to God. Every one. We all make mistakes, and that is part of the reason for us being here. We need to learn and grow. And I believe that our Father will be happy if we choose to aid rather than hinder each other in our journey back to Him.