Light

verb

• provide with light or lighting; illuminate

The church has started their #Light the World campaign this Christmas and I am excited to be a part of it so my hallway board is about #Light the world.

One thing I did do different this year as a family is I made a list.  

Each day, I went through ideas we could do to " Light the World" The reason for the list is that sometimes things can't happen on the very day of the suggestion. As a family, we still watch #Light the world video, discuss what we can  do and then either that day or sometime this month we will do our "lighting"

Some examples: 

Day 11 we plan to make hygiene kits for refugees. It may not happen only on December 11, but that's okay. Day 20 we are planning a service project at Community Action. We also plan to do Day 2 and give water to the food bank at Community Action. Some days I felt were not family projects and were more personal actions to do, so I just put "Personal" for those days.

This idea hopefully works for our family, it may not work for others. I am a list, planning kind of gal that functions better with things mapped out. If you are more the spontaneous type, you and your family may have better ways. 

I just wanted to share. 

Happy Lighting or Illuminating the World!

Reading

read·ing

/ˈrēdiNG/

noun

• 1.the action or skill of reading written or printed matter silently or aloud:"suggestions for further reading"synonyms:perusal, study, scan, scanning, browse

I am a 40+ year old that loves Picture books. I have my own collection that I treasure.  I spend a lot of my time reading children's books to others as well. I am not sure what is is in the written words that can generate so many emotions, but I believe it is somewhat magical.

I am part of an Initiative sponsored by United Way of Utah County. We take books to several elementary schools throughout the county. We read with the students and give them a free book so they are able to start their own libraries in their homes. (We are always looking for volunteers;) 

Recently, I started reading monthly to a resident home for Seniors. I found the opportunity on Just Serve.  I read children's books. The first time I went, I felt a little silly. Here I was reading picture books to grandmas and grandpas. Yet after the first day, I realized how much those words and my reading to them was beneficial. 

One sweet lady didn't speak, but as I was telling the story of Edward the Emu, her expressions were so fun to watch, I read with mocked trepidation as Edward wanted to be a snake instead of an Emu, and her face of shocked humor made it all worth it.  I listen a lot too. They like to tell me stories about their past, or family, yet even when I listen to them, they also request that I read to them. 

William Nicholson said:  “We read to know we're not alone”. I can't help but hope that my short visits of listening, reading and being there help with their loneliness. I know it helps me.

Broken

Broken - physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split; or legally or emotionally destroyed;


Marc and I attended a Kenneth Cope concert the other night. Favorite singer ever! He is probably in his 50's-I have been listening to him for 20 years- so doing the math...but he looks like he's maybe 30.

Anyway, it was great. I felt the Spirit and he played several of my favorite songs. One of my favorites is Broken. I have loved this song for a long time, and I especially love it now in my life. Not because I feel totally broken, but because I feel healed from brokenness.

I rejoice in the fact the demons aren't controlling my mind anymore. (I know there's a more scientific way to describe my severe OCD and depression, but that's how I felt it). I'm glad that although I'm still a little broken, I look forward to the Resurrection for that, I am healed enough to function, and  to live! I feel like I was given a new life and this new life makes me want to help others live as well. 

As I was recovering from my illness, I watched General Conference and cried. I blogged about it  here, but I knew from that Conference I needed to help others, not only because of Elder Holland's talk, but I have felt the importance serving all my life. 

My point is this: Being broken helps us serve. We are given trials in a large part because it gives us the tools to help others. More compassion, empathy, and understanding. Our "personal gethsemanes" are to succor in a small way  for others, the way Jesus succors all of us. He has suffered everything so that "that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Alma 7: 11,12. I love Him for that.  I will show my gratitude to Him as I serve and love His children.  I am grateful he loves broken me.

Good

adjective, better, best.

1.

morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious:

a good man 2. satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree a good teacher; good health. 3.of high quality; excellent.4. right; proper; fit:It is good that you are here. His credentials are good.5. well-behaved:a good child. 6.kind, beneficent, or friendly:to do a good deed. 7.honorable or worthy; in good standing:a good name.

My youngest child came to me the other day, upset by the events that happened at the high school. The story is here. 

Jaycie said, it's just too much for an 11- year old to handle. Honestly it's hard for me to handle. Yet this is what I told her. 

Good is what we expect. We expect to walk into school, or anyplace without being hurt. Good is normal.  Bad things are not normal. We are safe most of the time.

Why? Looking in the bible I found the answers.  In fact the word "good" is used 7 times in the first chapter of Genesis. The Creation. God describes his creations as "good" seven times. Good is what was created. The world is good because God created it as such.

Yes we live in a fallen world where bad things happen,but ultimately we know good will overcome all the bad stuff, because we are God's. 

I was so touched by the aftermath of the tragedy at Mountain View. Good won. . Dr. Chun, the principal shares some of the good. 

Mr. Rogers told us after a scary event, look for the helpers. Or look for the good. Good will always triumph over bad. 

Yesterday, my family saw good triumph over bad. We served dinner to the homeless in Salt Lake.

 Such a sad thing to know many of God's creations live in such a bad state. My heart aches for them. Yet as I dished up the food, I looked around. There was so much good. So many helpers.  I especially saw the good in the eyes of the homeless. We are all created for good.

Mother Teresa says, speaking of the downtrodden, "each of them is Jesus in disguise"

God is good. We are good because we are His.

A favorite from Chris Tomlin. Good Good Father. Lyrics here

Love

Realizing it was the Presidential debate tonight, I thought I would write about something that probably won't come up, but it is what our country, our world needs. Love. Simple yet so so necessary. 

This isn't just about two people vying for President. It is about the way our world is right now. 

It is difficult not to feel hopeless and even helpless as the events of the world seem to become more evil and dark. 

However, although I am unsure what the exact events will be  and how the world will continue spiraling downward, I know that there is  hope. In fact, I have found much comfort in the pages of the Book of Mormon. There is power as well as peace in that book.

Elder Holland expresses it so much eloquently than I in his talk -and apropos for these times-Safety for the Soul.  "Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends"

The Book of Mormon is that safe harbor, and that comfort. Yet it is also a beckon, a call to help share that very same message with everyone.  We can share love wherever we go each and every day. And although it may seem like a little thing, each act of love can perhaps brighten the dark world we live in. There is hope. The hope we know is in Jesus Christ who will,in time, make all things fair, beautiful and glorious. 

Although we feel we are sometimes wading through the muck of this world, there is so much to do make the world a better place. Again I turn to another talk by Elder Holland: 

"So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord."

We got this. Yes we need to vote. Vote our conscience, whatever that means to you. Read the Book of Mormon, as well as other scriptures and words from our prophets. Pray. Pray some more.  And  as His disciples, share Christlike love that can help bring love, hope, and healing to a perilous world. 
( see 2 Timothy 3:1)  

Loneliness

lone·li·ness

ˈlōnlēnəs/

noun

1. 1.

   sadness because one has no friends or company.

In Italy, the other day, sobs from an apartment building could be heard. An elderly couple lived there and the crying was so loud and intense, the police were called. No crime was committed, no one was hurt physically yet this sweet couple were crying, because of loneliness. (Washington post). 

The couple, a 94 year old man and a 89 year old woman, who had not had visitors for months, had just heard some distressing news on the television and just felt a surge of loneliness.

The story does get better. The officers on finding the couple in distress, cooked them dinner and visited with them.  Now those officers check in on them periodically. 

Mother Teresa claims that "loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible kind of poverty" 

The police officers observed that food was scarce in their house, yet managed to cook a simple meal to help their physical suffering. The companionship, time and attention had helped to ease their loneliness and spiritual hunger.

This story tugged at my heart strings. How many people in the world suffer from loneliness. Unfortunately, being around people does not always cure loneliness. All of us have felt lonely at home with family, at church or at school. That is tragic. 

So my little philosophical brain got working and wondering why do we mortals get lonely? Why the need for human interaction? Why can't we function alone without people? Why do we need each other so much?

I don't know the answers, yet I have to say it was the way we were made by our Creator. He wanted us to live in families, he wanted us to have friends. Our Creator is about relationships. Think about it. He sent His Son as a tiny babe to a family. And then His Son lived a life to make relationships last beyond the grave and into eternity. However, in order to have eternal relationships, He asks that we have a relationship with Him. John 17:3 When we die, we don't just go to our own little world and become perfect and self-fulfilled, we live in relationships.

Our souls yearn for the companionship of people. And not just warm bodies around us, but people that connect with us, help us and love us. Our very souls cry, just as that sweet elderly couple, cried out. 

So is there a cure for loneliness? 

Mother Teresa says , "There are many in the world dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love"

Love. Christlike love is the answer. M. Russell Ballard states, using a bee analogy as illustration "to pollinate the world with Christlike love".  Because, perhaps, our despair comes not only from a lack of love, but from a longing for Christ and that longing can only be fulfilled in this fallen world as we mortals share His love.

  

Compassion

com·pas·sion

kəmˈpaSHən/

noun

noun: compassion; plural noun: compassions

1. sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

   "the victims should be treated with compassion"

As human beings, I think we are born with compassion. I think it is part of our divine nature. I have wondered however, how it develops over time. How does compassion as a noun change into a verb?

I believe our compassion, over time, becomes very unique to our experiences. The age old question of why there is suffering in the world- is answered partly,  because it develops our own compassion. Our trials, sadness, darkness can impel us to serve in ways that perhaps no one else can. 

"Healers are spiritual warriors who have found the courage to defeat the darkness of their souls. Awakening and rising from the depths of their deepest fears, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. Reborn with a wisdom and strength that creates a light that shines bright enough to help, encourage, and inspire others out of their own darkness" (Melanie Koulouris)

There have been times when, as a parent, I have wanted my children to not suffer. I have prayed that the suffering would end and the pain would stop. I have been lovingly rebuked by the Spirit, that although I can pray for their relief, asking them to forgo pain and suffering may be denying them of becoming a compassionate human being molded uniquely and specifically to help humanity in some way.

 Our own darkness can become a bridge of compassion that would of never been built without our suffering.

Of course, we don't need to look far for a pattern. The Savior descended below all things in order to succor each of one us. He suffered EVERYTHING. He built a bridge of Compassion to each human with blood, tears, incomprehensible suffering, and pure love.