What Brilliant People Do

I read a quote recently:  

"Some days I amaze myself.  The other days I put the laundry in the oven."

While I bumble about, I admire the brilliance of those around me. Because some days I don't feel very clever,  perhaps because of a mismanaged day, a poor judgment call, something I said that hurt someone,  a missed opportunity, an ever increasing to do list etc. I love to see the brilliant things others do, so I can do them too.

I made a list of what I am learning from brilliant people around me:

• Be brilliant in the basics.  Do the simple things that matter most really well.
• Decide to not be judgmental but encouraging.  It builds confidence for all.
• Look for ways to serve everywhere you go.
• Cornmeal will get rid of ants.
• Listen, really listen to understand how the other person thinks.
• Approach things with an open mindset. Don't see barriers, see possibilities.
• Post your goals on a wall. Look and think about what you want to see and be every day.
• You have a mission and a message that no one else can give like you.
• Baking soda in the water will make boiled eggs easy to peel.
• Family is the treasure.
• Look up for answers.
• Look ahead and plan.
• Failures are pathways to success if we learn from them.
• Gratitude is the mystery problem solver. 
• Chill.
• Nurturing meals are a powerful way to draw people together. 
• Say I'm sorry.  Take responsibility.  Don't make excuses.
• Bring honor, respect and value to every situation.
• Work hard.  It is the way to get ahead.
• Be loyal. 
• Follow your heart.  Be passionate.

I love to watch, learn and talk to brilliant people.  We talk, listen and good things happen.  And when I confess that I put the milk in the cupboard and the cereal in the fridge, I smile when I learn that a few of the brilliant people around me have done the same.

A New Ship Just Left the Harbor

This month a new family unit was created.  A new umbrella will shelter and protect my daughter. In essence a new marital boat with one man and one woman was just launched with all of its rights, responsibilities and powers. 

Just as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin had rules of conduct, these two wonderful young people have high standards that have governed their personal lives to this point and have determined what kind of people they have become. Now the marital boat has joint decisions to make that have a power and identity all their own. A thrilling journey begins in which they craft their ship and chart their course.

An intriguing description of Nephi's ship has application to marriage: 

And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. (1 Nephi 18:1-2)

And so a marriage is not built in the world's pattern, but in God's. Among the many inspired descriptions of marriage, this is one of my favorites:

“Marriage is more than your love for each other. … In your love you see only your two selves in the world, but in marriage you are a link in the chain of the generations, which God causes to come and to pass away to his glory, and calls into his kingdom. In your love you see only the heaven of your own happiness, but in marriage you are placed at a post of responsibility towards the world and mankind. Your love is your own private possession, but marriage is more than something personal—it is a status, an office. Just as it is the crown, and not merely the will to rule, that makes the king, so it is marriage, and not merely your love for each other, that joins you together in the sight of God and man. … So love comes from you, but marriage from above, from God.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison, ed. Eberhard Bethge (1953), 42–43.)

Oh how I cheer them on in the new boat! And like King Arthur in Camelot told Sir Tom of Warwick to "Run, run," to tell the wonderful message of the knights of the round table, I say to you, "Run, run!" While the world may parade its deceptions and disillusionment, you run with the sure faith in the marriage and family treasure. You run with the confidence in a divinely ordained marriage. You run with the knowledge that thousands cheer you now, billions from eons before and future spirits that now await. Run with the message of love, hope and joy to a world that needs your light!

The Lord Blessed the Sabbath Day, and Hallowed It.

Several years ago when one son was about four, he examined his carrot carefully before eating and declared, "I don't see any vitamins in these carrots."  Like vitamins in carrots, I sometimes miss the blessings and treasures buried inside seemingly ordinary commandments.  For example, the Sabbath Day has layers of treasures that have always been there, but I haven't taken the time to study, learn and appreciate the miracle within.  
  
In Exodus 20:11 it says, "the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." I am intrigued by the word hallow. The definition of hallow is to "make holy or set apart for holy use." Synonyms include "to devote, dedicate or consecrate."  I understand this in at least three ways. 

First, there must be a space to stop daily physical labor, step back, and reflect on our path.  Faster often means less focus and perspective. The best remedy for that malady is to stop, step back, and be still.  I understand hallow in this sense to stop, dedicate and plan the weeks work, to be God's work.

Secondly, I understand hallow to mean that all that exists in creation only has meaning as we dedicate ourselves to the purpose for which the earth was created. In other words we make ourselves holy on the Sabbath day by consecrating ourselves to God's work and THEN the earth is fulfilling the measure of its creation.  It makes the creation holy.

So following that train of thought, the content and creation of each day and week can only be hallowed if I step back, consider how my devotion to God is connected to the previous week and the coming week.  Without turning to Him, focus is lost and the purpose of all of mortal life becomes lost or wasted.  I think of Malachi's plea to turn our hearts to the fathers and the fathers to the children, or the earth would be "utterly wasted."  Utterly wasted!  I am beginning to glimpse why I must turn in a deeply significant way every seven days to devotion and consecration to God, that what takes place on the next six days is not wasted.  And certainly at least a major portion of what is hallowed that day and the following days would connect the hearts of fathers, mothers, and children "lest I smite the earth with a curse."  Hallowed, certainly must be tied to effort to strengthen family ties on both sides of the veil and worship God. 

Thirdly, hallow the Sabbath means to cease to carry burdens spiritually and trust the Lord.  Jeremiah 17:22 states "Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.'"   David Wilkerson said the "sabbath means we are to cease from our own works - our striving in human strength - to merit God's salvation".  We are to cease doing it our way and carrying burdens on our own, and put our faith and trust in Him.  Hallow means in part to let go! 

As we hallow the Sabbath Day, may the sought after blessing be: "this city shall remain for ever,"  and we may "ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." (Jeremiah 17:14)

What Does God Want?

"What do you want?" is the recurring question throughout the month of December. I have a better question.  What does God want?  It is His birthday we are celebrating.  

He answers that question:  "Love one another, as I have loved you."  Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked.  Visit the sick.  Liberate the captive.  Where are they?  All around us. Years ago, I was taught about the have and have nots.  Everyone has something to give. Everyone needs something from someone else. We all are haves and have nots. Several years ago we befriended a refugee family from another country. Their warmth and kindness back to us is far greater than we have ever given. Often the greatest need is in our homes. Our children and spouses may hunger for approval, need to be clothed in acceptance and taught God's laws and blessings that they may be free.

What does God want? He wants us to make His will ours.  Many older couples give freely of their time and money to serve missions.  I loved these words Elder Oaks shared from the application of a couple missionary: "Will go anywhere and do what is asked." 

And there is the perfect birthday gift for God. "Will go anywhere and do what is asked." There is faith and trust.  There is the quest of a lifetime.  That kind of allegiance and obedience is protective. It is liberating and life giving. That is the answer to the more compelling Christmas question.

Who am I?

One daughter recently described herself for a display table as:

• homemaker
• genealogist
• princess in training

Her defining words, prompted me to think how we see and label ourselves.  I marveled at these labels and how they motivate her daily plan.  I pondered; Who am I?  Truth seeker... music lover...  one who loves beautiful words... idea creator... nurturer... gardener.   What about the labels I allow stray thoughts to create for myself?  Sloppy... late... disorganized... STOP!   How do the words I say about myself influence my actions?

In an effort to overcome disorganization, I called on a professional organizer. She instructed me to say each day:  "I am an organized person."  After bursting out in laughter, I found myself putting things away and minimizing clutter as I recited this phrase over and over. Why?  Because that is what an organized person does! 

When a family member labeled me "unhappy" one day, I thought, that does not, will not, cannot possibly describe me.  I will from this moment remember, ponder, recall, live and dwell on the multitude of blessings that are within my grasp every moment of every day.  Why?  Because I am a joyful person.  And a joyful person reflects on wonderful blessings.

And what are our most powerful identities?  Mother? Wife?  Homemaker? Sister? Neighbor? Daughter?  Aunt?  Powerful identities show mutual influence in relationships and the power inherent in that to lift each other. 

The one I am searching to understand as it pulls and tugs at my mind and heart insistently is "daughter of God."  I can only begin to see glimpses of myself accurately as I really am through His eyes, and when I do, I want to be better and try harder.  I feel an increased gratitude for his grace and increased capacity for growth. Opportunities that would never occur to me now become possibilities.  The defining words "daughter of God," shape and influence my understanding of self and my relationship with others.

As President Uchtdorf said, 

"... the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love...Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time! He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the daughters of His kingdom... Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God?"

Think of it!  He loves me.  He helps me. To see oneself as a son or daughter of God is to open an eternity of power and possibilities. I choose that identity as my quest.

Simply Family

G K Chesterton said:  “The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.” I heard this quote at the World Congress on Families IX this week.  All week long I heard wonderful studies, and testimonials and stories of the power and importance of the natural family.  Historically and statistically the natural family creates a seedbed for happiness, health, wealth, and education.  

After all the studies were explained, and the powerful witnesses borne and the historical stability of the ages shared, I knew in my heart that my own simple experiences were the overwhelming evidence of the true, the good and the beautiful about family.  

Simply family.  Simply learning and growing and learning and growing some more.  Sharing ideas, saying I'm sorry, and lending a hand.   Cheering, comforting, compromising and affirming each other brings joy. 

The simple things today:

Harvesting and preparing the garden for winter.  

Picking the last of the tomatoes and broccoli together.

A teenage son hugging me and telling me he loves me.

A child cooking me an egg.

Seeing the ingenuity of my children as they created 

a pirate with accordion and Captain America costumes.

Discussing a root cellar together.

Planning our next family meeting.

Laughing together.

I went to the conference to learn about family, and I came home to live the family.  I deeply felt the love, hope and faith in my mother as she raised me and my five brothers and sisters.  It is that I wish to cherish daily and give to my children and their children. As Stephanie Nielsen, who fought her way back to motherhood after burns on 80% of her body, said, "Once upon a time is real, and happily ever after is true."

I

Footprints Everywhere

"His footprints are everywhere." was said of Elder Richard G. Scott at his funeral yesterday.  His words, testimony, and love reached everywhere into peoples lives and blessed them, leaving a "footprint" of truth and light.  He blessed mine.  One of the truths that has stayed with me, he taught at the Education Week Devotional in 1997 titled Finding Happiness.  He shared a dream in which illusions, deceptions and lies were all about in a most terrifying way as he tried to find his lost wife.  Only through faith and absolute persistence in gospel truths could he break free from the manipulative, evil and contrived environment. It has helped me immensely to see hopelessness is the illusion, and faith is the absolute reality.  He left a gospel truth footprint with me.

It caused me to ponder: Where is the evidence after we have left the room, the home, the neighborhood or this life of truth, love, and kindness?  What is left when we have left? 

My oldest daughter visited with us recently for a few days.  She also left her "footprints." After she left, she sent this text:  "I know I don't always leave you all with kind words, but this time I did!  Look for them on doors around the house." We found many cards like this all over the house with messages to her brothers and sisters:  

"You are a true friend." 

"You make important things a priority, I like that a lot." 

"You are a comfort in hard times, thanks for being a shoulder to lean on." 

"Thanks for being willing to give your time off work to change my oil." 

"Thanks for talking with me about serious life decisions, that was fun." 

"You're quick to help others and serve without complaining." 

"You bring peace to his house."
"You're smile is delightful."

For days, I basked in the light of those delightful, positive and loving words.  Her footprints were blessing the entire family every day as they walked through the doors of our home.

What about God's footprints?  I love these words by James Russell Miller in The Gate Beautiful:

Even if there were no assurances in the Bible, telling us of his love, no promises of his care, common daily providence is so full of God that a thoughtful person could not doubt his existence or his care for his children.  God is the most real Friend in all the world... We can see his footprints everywhere.  We find evidences of his love, his interest, his kindness, in people's lives all about us. If one says he has never seen God, he has at least seen God's faithfulness, evidences of his love, his interest.

I know God cares about me, I see His footprints in my life. Who can measure all the truth, and love that is shared in divine footprints.  Who can know of the blessing of family and friend footprints that daily lift our sights, give us courage and change our lives.