Service: It's about love

I have been pondering about all the negativity and strife seen on the media, it being an election year and all. Concerned to see Presidential candidates speak and act more like schoolyard bullies than dignitaries. Aghast at how adults on Social Media are acting more like toddlers having a temper tantrum than mature people just because of who someone supports or does not support as a potential President. What happened to civility? It seems that these days how someone leans politically is the most important thing people consider about them, not their gender, race, character, nor their worth as a member of our human family. How you vote can effect your ability to be employed or even cause you to lose your job.

Gone by the wayside is the ability to celebrate diversity of gender, abilities and opinions. There seems to be a push for sameness and mediocrity. No one is allowed to excel or fail. It occurs to me that what a lot of people lack is charity. Unconditional love for one another. So, how does one develop charity for another? In a word: SERVICE. When we serve others, we learn to love and appreciate them. That is what is so lacking in this culture that is more concerned about "rights" than ensuring that all have equal opportunities to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to serve three of the elderly ladies in our church. On March 17, the Relief Society that all LDS women belong to celebrated its 174th anniversary. It is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world. Every year, Latter Day Saint women gather for a dinner or some other fun activity  in honor of this organization with such a rich history of philanthropy and good will.  It may surprise you to learn that Relief Society was instrumental in the creation of hospitals in this country, assisting women to get training as nurses, mid-wives and other useful careers, and also very active in the suffrage movement. For over a century and a half, the sisters of Relief Society have quietly served in their local communities and joined with other charitable organizations to relieve the suffering of others, in whatever form it arises, especially in times of crises.

My service of the evening was to provide the transportation so these good ladies could come and enjoy a wonderful feast and bask in the glow of friendship and sisterhood. Unfortunately, just as I had them all loaded up to go to the church, my old, tired van refused to start. I relied upon the good graces of the nice young woman at the front desk of the retirement home for assistance. She was more than happy to give my battery a jump with the new cables her mom had recently given her for "just such an occasion".  We were late, and I was a bit stressed trying to get them all there, but I was well paid for my service as I watched their glowing faces and listened to their animated conversations during the Relief Society dinner.

I wonder...what would happen if our elected officials would remember to serve the people rather than attempt to be their Lord and Master? What would happen if the news media would begin reporting just the facts and embrace their role as informers and protectors of the people rather than trying to manipulate, indoctrinate, and destroy for ratings. What if all of us really strove to serve everyone in our human family regardless of differences in politics, religion, race or creed? 

I encourage you to consider ways you can serve your community. This cold and dreary world needs your light, your hope, your love.  Your SERVICE.

What Is My Worth?

One of my favorite stories is the one about how someone holds up a twenty dollar bill and then asks their audience if anyone would like it. Then he proceeds to crumple it up and asks if they still want it. Of course, everyone still does.  He uses this to illustrate the point that by the time we get to adulthood, we are ALL crumpled,and a bit worse for wear, but our value as children of God is still the same.

Today, in church we were talking about surviving adversity, meanwhile keeping our faith in the gospel intact and somehow experiencing joy and peace in the journey. Many of us spoke about how the mere knowledge that the Savior is there to walk beside us comforts and helps us get through whatever trial we are facing. The topic of feeling worthless until we learned the knowledge of the gospel and how we all have a divine birthright as literal and spiritual children of God was brought up and ever since, I have been pondering the different phases I have gone through regarding my own sense of worth(or lack thereof).

It is hard to believe at times that our times of adversity are not always our fault. Here are a few quotes from today's lesson that spoke to me. The words are from Howard W Hunter(1907-1995) who was President/Prophet of the LDS Church when I first joined in 1993.

"I have observed that life—every life—has a full share of ups and downs. Indeed, we see many joys and sorrows in the world, many changed plans and new directions, many blessings that do not always look or feel like blessings, and much that humbles us and improves our patience and our faith. We have all had those experiences from time to time, and I suppose we always will..."

“When [the difficulties of mortality] humble us and refine us and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to make us better people.”

"So I hope you won’t believe all the world’s difficulties have been wedged into your decade, or that things have never been worse than they are for you personally, or that they will never get better. I reassure you that things have been worse and they will always get better. They always do—especially when we live and love the gospel of Jesus Christ and give it a chance to flourish in our lives. …"

"Contrary to what some might say, you have every reason in this world to be happy and to be optimistic and to be confident. Every generation since time began has had some things to overcome and some problems to work out."

"We need to have faith and hope, two of the great fundamental virtues of any discipleship of Christ. We must continue to exercise confidence in God, inasmuch as that is the first principle in our code of belief. We must believe that God has all power, that he loves us, and that his work will not be stopped or frustrated in our individual lives or in the world generally. …"

"I promise you in the name of the Lord whose servant I am that God will always protect and care for his people. We will have our difficulties the way every generation and people have had difficulties. But with the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have every hope and promise and reassurance. The Lord has power over his Saints and will always prepare places of peace, defense, and safety for his people. When we have faith in God we can hope for a better world—for us personally, and for all mankind."

These words do help me in my struggles to erase the negative tapes in my head that whisper I have few talents, I am a total screw-up, I am lazy,etc...to see that adversity in my life is not evidence of any lack in me nor does it effect my worth; especially in God's eyes. Too often, I embrace the negative attitudes and harsh criticisms of others, yet neglect to embrace and internalize all the many compliments and acts of love that are offered to me.

So where are you on this path of self-worth discovery? I would love your feedback and the opportunity to cheer you on.

“Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. …

“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:34, 36.)

Like a Bad Penny....I Am Back!

During a conversation today during our church potluck someone mentioned how much they enjoy my blog and I realized that although I have been posting on Facebook, I have not actually published a blog post since May of 2011! 

So, what has happened in my life since 2011? Fascinatingly enough, a lot of my struggles are exactly the same, with a bit of progress toward my goals, but not as much as I had hoped.I fell off the sugar-free diet bandwagon and have not been able to get back on. I do not yet exercise on a regular basis, and still do not follow the Fly Lady's counsel on how to become clutter-free, even though I added her app to my tablet. Yet, I do feel I have progressed spiritually and am happier today than I was four years ago or even two years ago. I developed fasciitis in my left heel and after a year of the pain not going away opted for surgery on that and the bunion on my big toe.

Christopher, my oldest son and his wife, Ginny still live in Lubbock, TX, but are planning to move to the Fort Collings, CO area in the next year or two.

Erica is married to Kevin and our only grand-son, Mark is five and attending Kindergarten at Herkimer Elementary.

Angelena graduated from High School,attended BYU-Idaho University, met Taylor and as of August 15, 2015 became Mrs.Taylor Pulis. They live in Billings, MT.

My church callings have been: RS President, Primary Worker, Stake Social Media Specialist, Assistant Director of Utica Stake Public Affairs, and Family History Center Director. I also volunteer at the local Public Library in West Winfield.

Blake was called as Branch President of the Herkimer Branch and he served for four years. Several of our friends and my dad passed away.

Petwise, our lab mix Strider and our cats, Rascal and Clown have passed away. Curtis still sleeps with a little plush puppy with the same black and tan coloring that he named Strider. Santa brought us a black lab puppy last Christmas that we named Lily. Aunt Sue gave Curtis a gold fish for Christmas that he has named Dexter.

Curtis is now ten and in the fourth grade, looking forward to attending middle school next year and very busy in Cubscouts. Marie is seven and excitedly looking forward to being baptized on her 8th birthday on Friday,May 1st.

So now that you are caught up on my life, my next post will have an actual topic and we will go from there...