Month: February 2017

Words

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Over the past few months I have noticed a dramatic increase in hostility among us, as a nation. It seems that the differences between us are wider and deeper, and that there is no longer the desire to reconcile. Compassion and good-will are left behind and replaced with intolerance and hate. We noticed a bumper sticker the other day: “Be The Good”. Have the listening ear. Hear a different point of view. Don’t be so quick to judge. Respect the rights of others. Try our best to do our part in making this world a better place.

Words well chosen can heal a troubled mind.
Words spoke in anger can hurt, maim, or blind.
I’ll choose my words in prayerful thought,
Through all life’s troubled sea.
Kind words can lead a soul to love,
Through hate’s insanity.
Kind words can change illusions
To be both warm and free.
The souls who masters words, My Friend,
Will taste tranquility.

Ooops..sorry, I just realized that we already posted this poem in early January…Oh, well, I think we need a second dose!

Love the Children

Jeanne 4 Comments

Love the children, no matter what may come our way.
Our Lord’s pure charity is what we must seek each night and day.
Only by prayerful service can we share our Lord’s pure love.
Love the children in every way. Teach them of God above.

Children are such a blessing, and often a sore trial. How quickly we sometimes justify brushing them aside because we are tired of being bothered. There is more distance (physical) between me and my grand children, and it has helped me to treasure the time I do have to spend with them.

Memories

Jeanne 1 Comment

Yesterday our grand daughter shared a thought with us. We were looking at a wall full of family pictures, and she made the observation that each photo paints a memory with so many layers that you have to look deeper to find the whole story.

The Umbrella

Jeanne 1 Comment

In the October 2014 Semi-annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President Dieter F Uchtdorf, the second counselor, delivered an address that was so impressive to me, that I did a painting to remind myself of the principle he illustrated that day. The painting is shown below, and a piece of his message is quoted here: “We imagine that God has all of his blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements he has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us. His commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help for us to close the umbrella so we can receive the shower of heavenly blessings.” The entire speech is available at LDS.org, which is an incredible source of timeless information. The title of his message is “Living the Gospel Joyfully”.