Last but not least, I learned...
4. the real meaning of sacrifice. The night after I found my wallet, I couldn't help but relate to the prophet, Abraham. After his wife Sarah miraculously gave birth to Isaac in Abraham's old age, The Lord commanded him to give Isaac as an offering to him. When I lost my wallet, it was the Lord's way of telling me to give up something that I truly loved. Not because it was bad, but just because he asked. However, I didn't do so right away. I don't know exactly what was going through Abraham's head as he departed from the other men they had been traveling with, to take his son up to "go yonder and worship," knowing that his real intent was to give up his son as a sacrifice and he REALLY didn't know why... But, I know what was going through mine, and perhaps it was similar. The whole time I prayed and asked for it to be over, and asked that I didn't have to give up my treasure, or my ability to drive. Finally Abraham and Isaac reached the top of the mountain, Isaac was tied and on the alter, and Abraham "stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." and I walked to the right hand side of the car and said, "today I will be a passenger... and tomorrow, and the next day... Perhaps even until the end of my
mission. And that is okay."
And I went happily about the work, without my lack of driving privileges at the back of my mind. Sometimes, a test is just a test. An angel came to Abraham and said, "lay not thy hand upon the lad." That was all the Lord needed. He wanted to know how willing Abraham was to follow his commandments, even when he wasn't sure exactly why they were given. He said to Abraham, "I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."
I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us. I know that the majority of this plan, we will never understand. Much of the plan requires us to give up things we consider valuable in order to receive eternal blessings. Remember that if you want the best out of life, "trust in the Lord, and lean not unto thine own understanding!" (Proverbs 3:5)
:)
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Ants in Your Pants - March 3, 2014
I have been thinking about lately has been communication, and I'm not just talking about letters and emails I love receiving. I'm talking about talking, and being honest. Do you realize how important it is to tell others what you are feeling? I felt that communication was important before my mission, but since my first transfer, that has been emphasized like nothing else.
Have you ever had ants in your pants? I have. I was once taking advantage of the short summer months with my friend (Now Sister) Rachel Thompson. We were taking pictures of flowers on our walk around the beautiful lakes in Lacombe. As I sat close to a flower, taking a picture of the shrubbery, I felt a tiny pinch. And then another. And another.
I had ants in my pants.
I didn't know that actually happened! It was terrible! I was so uncomfortable! I told her we needed to go home, because I had ants in my pants. So I dropped her off at her house and started driving home in my manual transmission car. I was VERY uncomfortable, and suffering from bugs biting my rear end. Consequently, I wasn't properly using my clutch foot, or my foot for the gas and the break. I went around a corner with a man behind me and I was starting and stopping like mad. The man driving behind me had a choice. He could be angry, or he could assume that maybe I was a nice person, perhaps even a professional driver, and was just having a bad day. How was he to know what I had ants in my pants?
Later, in another instance, I was talking to one of my friends as we drove. I was dealing with a lot of really difficult emotions, and I was having a hard time doing so. I made an off-hand thoughtless comment to him and silence followed for a couple of moments. I would not have known how much I hurt him unless he asked me a question that I'm sure took some courage to ask. He asked me in a quiet, calm voice, "did you really mean that?"
To this day I consider that very profound. Being offended is selfish. When something someone does or says to you makes you feel hurt, do you ask yourself that? I believe that it is VERY rare that people actually say or do things with malicious intents. We all have something going on in our lives, our own "ants in our pants." It is important to remember this. When feelings of hurt arise, I want you to consider the intent behind others actions. And this is where communication comes in! "Did you really mean that," was the perfect thing to say in the situation. My friend could have easily been offended and not talked to me for the rest of the ride, but instead he gave me a chance to realize what I had said and apologize for it. I hadn't realized before how much it would have hurt him. My intents were not in any way harmful.
These negative feelings can grow inside and become hatred and anger. Please don't let this happen. Ask others about how they feel, and just as importantly, make it known to others how you feel! It can be simple, small statements that make the difference.
Have you ever had ants in your pants? I have. I was once taking advantage of the short summer months with my friend (Now Sister) Rachel Thompson. We were taking pictures of flowers on our walk around the beautiful lakes in Lacombe. As I sat close to a flower, taking a picture of the shrubbery, I felt a tiny pinch. And then another. And another.
I had ants in my pants.
I didn't know that actually happened! It was terrible! I was so uncomfortable! I told her we needed to go home, because I had ants in my pants. So I dropped her off at her house and started driving home in my manual transmission car. I was VERY uncomfortable, and suffering from bugs biting my rear end. Consequently, I wasn't properly using my clutch foot, or my foot for the gas and the break. I went around a corner with a man behind me and I was starting and stopping like mad. The man driving behind me had a choice. He could be angry, or he could assume that maybe I was a nice person, perhaps even a professional driver, and was just having a bad day. How was he to know what I had ants in my pants?
Later, in another instance, I was talking to one of my friends as we drove. I was dealing with a lot of really difficult emotions, and I was having a hard time doing so. I made an off-hand thoughtless comment to him and silence followed for a couple of moments. I would not have known how much I hurt him unless he asked me a question that I'm sure took some courage to ask. He asked me in a quiet, calm voice, "did you really mean that?"
To this day I consider that very profound. Being offended is selfish. When something someone does or says to you makes you feel hurt, do you ask yourself that? I believe that it is VERY rare that people actually say or do things with malicious intents. We all have something going on in our lives, our own "ants in our pants." It is important to remember this. When feelings of hurt arise, I want you to consider the intent behind others actions. And this is where communication comes in! "Did you really mean that," was the perfect thing to say in the situation. My friend could have easily been offended and not talked to me for the rest of the ride, but instead he gave me a chance to realize what I had said and apologize for it. I hadn't realized before how much it would have hurt him. My intents were not in any way harmful.
These negative feelings can grow inside and become hatred and anger. Please don't let this happen. Ask others about how they feel, and just as importantly, make it known to others how you feel! It can be simple, small statements that make the difference.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Lessons from the Lost Wallet: Trust in the Lord
I learned...
3. Trusting in the Lord is relieving! It may seem hard at first, but the feeling as we give up our will is relieving! Liberating, in fact. Where I am from (Alberta, Canada), driving 4-wheelers in farmer's fields is a popular pastime. However, if you drive too fast, the ride can easily get uncomfortable and even dangerous. Coming from a field onto a smooth highway after even half an hour of driving on rough terrain is a wonderful feeling. You feel like you are riding on clouds, and you begin to realize how sore you had been making yourself. So it is when we finally accept the plan of the Lord, and what he has in store for us. When we try to make all of our own decisions and refuse to take advantage of the trials we face, it is like we are trying to rush through a farmer's field. When we give our will to the Lord we are letting him take us to the smooth highway. I learned this when I finally stopped fighting, wishing that I could just find my wallet and my pain could be gone. I accepted that there were blessings that had come and were to come, and that I was learning and growing.
3. Trusting in the Lord is relieving! It may seem hard at first, but the feeling as we give up our will is relieving! Liberating, in fact. Where I am from (Alberta, Canada), driving 4-wheelers in farmer's fields is a popular pastime. However, if you drive too fast, the ride can easily get uncomfortable and even dangerous. Coming from a field onto a smooth highway after even half an hour of driving on rough terrain is a wonderful feeling. You feel like you are riding on clouds, and you begin to realize how sore you had been making yourself. So it is when we finally accept the plan of the Lord, and what he has in store for us. When we try to make all of our own decisions and refuse to take advantage of the trials we face, it is like we are trying to rush through a farmer's field. When we give our will to the Lord we are letting him take us to the smooth highway. I learned this when I finally stopped fighting, wishing that I could just find my wallet and my pain could be gone. I accepted that there were blessings that had come and were to come, and that I was learning and growing.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Lessons from the Lost Wallet: Co-Piloting
I learned...
2. How to BE a co-pilot, literally and figuratively, and the importance of doing so. I never thought that being a co-pilot was an important role, but I learned that is NOT the case. As I sat in the passenger seat every day, I realized that there are things that I needed to do, and things that I needed to see. Oncoming cars, missed directions. At first I felt useless, and helpless. I have ALWAYS been one to take the wheel. My motto was "if you want it done RIGHT, do it yourself," and, sometimes, "if you want it done AT ALL, do it yourself." Please learn from my experience and change this way of thinking. I learned that if you want it done right this time, sure, go ahead and do it yourself, but if you want it done right in the future as well, teach someone else to do it! The supporting role is just so crucial!
2. How to BE a co-pilot, literally and figuratively, and the importance of doing so. I never thought that being a co-pilot was an important role, but I learned that is NOT the case. As I sat in the passenger seat every day, I realized that there are things that I needed to do, and things that I needed to see. Oncoming cars, missed directions. At first I felt useless, and helpless. I have ALWAYS been one to take the wheel. My motto was "if you want it done RIGHT, do it yourself," and, sometimes, "if you want it done AT ALL, do it yourself." Please learn from my experience and change this way of thinking. I learned that if you want it done right this time, sure, go ahead and do it yourself, but if you want it done right in the future as well, teach someone else to do it! The supporting role is just so crucial!
Lessons from the Lost Wallet: Everything happens for reason
I learned...
1. Everything happens for a reason. Remember, if you can't drive, maybe someone else needs to learn how to drive. In 1 Nephi 17, Nephi is commanded to build a boat, and against all odds (not knowing how, starting from scratch, fighting against his older brothers), he does. I imagine that was pretty hard. But later on, in 2 Nephi 5, specifically verse 15, Nephi uses the skills he learned building a boat to teach others how to make build buildings and work with the resources that were available in order to establish a city.
Please remember that we can use our trials to bless others. I promise you that someone can be blessed, and that serving others because of your trial, while still suffering, will help you overcome it.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Of Licences, lessons, and laws: the lost wallet
From the diary of Sister Christen Stanford, November 25, '14:
"I had a feeling this morning. It was a hopeful feeling, almost a feeling of liberation. So it is when you finally realize that no matter what happens, the Lord has His hands in it, and that you trust your life in them. I realized this week that it didn't matter when my license came. That come what may, there is always joy to be found in life."
Before my mission I worked as a truck driver, and I loved it. I loved to drive, and that was what I did, all day, six days a week. If I wasn't driving a truck, pulling one or two trailers and 40 tonnes of product, I was driving my car, and it didn't matter where I was going, it just mattered that I was driving. In the MTC (Missionary Training Center), I had no need to drive and didn't do so for 6 weeks. It goes without saying that I was thrilled when my mission president gave me permission to drive right away.
About 3 months into my mission, I lost my wallet. I left it in a restaurant, and when I called back later, they told me that it was not there. And so I was licence-less. I got back all my other important things like bank cards and the like, but because I am a Canadian living in the United States, getting a replacement license was a little bit more of an ordeal. Let me tell you, getting to know the area you are serving in is quite difficult without driving in it. For 5 months, my companions were the only ones who could drive and it killed me. I can't explain to you how hard it was for me, and quite frankly I don't have the time to. I wanted to share with you a couple of things that I learned from my time as a permanent passenger.
Language note: I thought I was pretty clever coming up with three words that described what I was talking writing about today that started with the same letter... Imagine how clever I felt when I went to translate it and the words still started with the same letter.
"I had a feeling this morning. It was a hopeful feeling, almost a feeling of liberation. So it is when you finally realize that no matter what happens, the Lord has His hands in it, and that you trust your life in them. I realized this week that it didn't matter when my license came. That come what may, there is always joy to be found in life."
Before my mission I worked as a truck driver, and I loved it. I loved to drive, and that was what I did, all day, six days a week. If I wasn't driving a truck, pulling one or two trailers and 40 tonnes of product, I was driving my car, and it didn't matter where I was going, it just mattered that I was driving. In the MTC (Missionary Training Center), I had no need to drive and didn't do so for 6 weeks. It goes without saying that I was thrilled when my mission president gave me permission to drive right away.
About 3 months into my mission, I lost my wallet. I left it in a restaurant, and when I called back later, they told me that it was not there. And so I was licence-less. I got back all my other important things like bank cards and the like, but because I am a Canadian living in the United States, getting a replacement license was a little bit more of an ordeal. Let me tell you, getting to know the area you are serving in is quite difficult without driving in it. For 5 months, my companions were the only ones who could drive and it killed me. I can't explain to you how hard it was for me, and quite frankly I don't have the time to. I wanted to share with you a couple of things that I learned from my time as a permanent passenger.
Language note: I thought I was pretty clever coming up with three words that described what I was talking writing about today that started with the same letter... Imagine how clever I felt when I went to translate it and the words still started with the same letter.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Happy New Year! - January 1, 2014
Did you know that when you make goals, you are creating things spiritually before they exist physically?
Now you know!
And now that you know that is the case, did you know that as you create things spiritually before they exist physically, you are becoming a little bit more like Christ?
Now you know!
Remember the Lord as you start your new year. I have a personal testimony that the Lord will help us reach every one of our righteous goals. I have felt his support as I am working on attaining mine! With His help, everything is possible!
Happy New Year!
Moses 3:5
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.
(Language Note: in the Spanish scriptures, it uses the word "físicamente" or physically for the word "naturally" in the English scriptures. I read this scripture originally in Spanish, in a meeting we had as missionaries and that was where it (this thought about goals) dawned on me. Because the translating of the Book of Mormon was inspired in English, and as well in Spanish, reading the Book of Mormon in two languages can really gives the gospel a new dimension. Read this amazing article about how the Book of Mormon was first translated into the Spanish language! It is incredible! How the Scriptures Came to Be Translated into Spanish)
Now you know!
And now that you know that is the case, did you know that as you create things spiritually before they exist physically, you are becoming a little bit more like Christ?
Now you know!
Remember the Lord as you start your new year. I have a personal testimony that the Lord will help us reach every one of our righteous goals. I have felt his support as I am working on attaining mine! With His help, everything is possible!
Happy New Year!
Moses 3:5
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth.
(Language Note: in the Spanish scriptures, it uses the word "físicamente" or physically for the word "naturally" in the English scriptures. I read this scripture originally in Spanish, in a meeting we had as missionaries and that was where it (this thought about goals) dawned on me. Because the translating of the Book of Mormon was inspired in English, and as well in Spanish, reading the Book of Mormon in two languages can really gives the gospel a new dimension. Read this amazing article about how the Book of Mormon was first translated into the Spanish language! It is incredible! How the Scriptures Came to Be Translated into Spanish)
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