Love

Jeanne 1 Comment

Recent world events have caught the attention of us all: hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes. The news is flooded with images of the immensity of these catastrophes. Acts of kindness and heroism are abundant and remind us all of the power of service, kindness and love.

The story is told of a small group of swimmers caught in a rip tide. They were being pulled out into the ocean with no help nearby. A woman on the shore, seeing their plight, asserted that no one was going to be lost that day. Those on the shore formed a human chain that reached out into the ocean far enough to pull the stranded swimmers to safety.

Matthew 25:40 “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Thomas S. Monson, president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints spoke beautifully of these timeless principles: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/kindness-charity-and-love?cid=HP_WE_6-8-2017_dPFD_fGC_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng

Love is found in each mountain. Love is seen in each sea.
Love runs, swims, and flies through now endlessly.
Love’s in the smile of a friend when they truly care.
Love’s in the kind word we give, when someone’s in despair.

Love powers hope, as faith grows within.
Love lifts us from sorrow’s worries and helps us to win.
The pure charity of Christ is the source of true love.
He gives the Holy Ghost, like the wings of a dove.

Happy Autumn

Jeanne 1 Comment

Several years ago I penned a note to my grown children. I would like to quote pieces of it here: “I was walking to work tonight and noticed a lot of Halloween decorations..blow-up stuff, etc. and thought about how I liked them. They are ‘comfort’ things, like comfort foods: foods you eat because they trigger an emotional good feeling. Well, these decorations did that too. They made me feel happy and warm, and when I thought about why they did this, I realized that they open up memories that were good ones, like past Halloweens when you kids would dress up, and how excited you were. Carving pumpkins. Decorating the yard and house. Crispy fall leaves and cooler darker nights.

I suppose it’s not all that stuff that I really love. It’s the feelings that were associated with those activities. They were times when we were all happy and excited, and we were together and shared an experience that made us feel good, safe, and loved. Also, Halloween is the gateway for the holiday season: Thanksgiving and Christmas, which also have their own magic. I am warmed and softened as those memories fill up my mind. All these things make up what we really are…down to the core…stuff you can’t change…things that ‘override’ everything else. Things usually hidden away that only come into our conscious mind when we see something like a pumpkin, or a Christmas tree. Strange, isn’t it? That such simple stuff can be so powerful. I hope you have some good memories that pop up every now and again..the kind of memories that bring tears to your eyes, hope in your heart, and a love that fills you to overflowing. If you do, then all those things we did together were truly great and remarkable. Take the time to pause and drink in the season!”

This piece was especially appealing to me because I am tired to the bones of this long hot summer. Perhaps if I put out the fall decorations, summer will accept the fact that it’s days are numbered, and perhaps we will get those cool nights!

Wishing things were different is common to all of us, I suppose. Which brings me into thoughts of wanting to change the unpleasant, the sad, the terrible, and the painful. There is much of that in the world, and I am reminded of the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

I believe that a loving Heavenly Father sent us here to learn and grow, and that we cannot effectively do that without resistance, pain, perplexities, sorrow, etc. But He has given us a light. It’s true that comfort, peace, and guidance are available to all of us who learn to humbly come unto Christ. See lds.org and type “For God So Loved The World” in the search bar, and view the video.

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-042-for-god-so-loved-the-world?cid=HP_FR_1-9-2017_dPFD_fMLIB_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

The Best Talker is a Good Listener

Jeanne 1 Comment

The best talker is a good listener. Why is this so?
Everyone wants to be listened to, they love to be heard, you know.
So, if we want to be listened to, by loved ones and those we meet,
Listen with full intent, to each soul that we greet.

The next part of talking is to choose our own words well.
Bring out your own thoughts carefully and be patient with those who fail.
Pray and ask for guidance to know what we should say.
The Holy Ghost can guide us who listen and obey.

Encourage those who share with us by questions to learn more:
Like, “Tell me more.” “What happened next? or “What made you feel so sore?”
When talking with family or friends, or a stranger along the way,
A listening mind and hearing heart serves us well each day.

A simple recipe on how much to talk is 1/2 when two are there,
1/3 if 3, 1/4 if 4, and less is best to others caught in sorrow, hate or fear.
The best talker is a patient and kind listener, remember this and grow,
For we can be a truer friend when we listen with heart, mind and soul.

James 3:3-5, 13. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, withersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a fire…Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

For a 3 minute video illustrating this concept in the context of a family, go to
LDS.org
and then type in “Parenting:touching the hearts of youth” in the search bar.

Adversity

Jeanne 1 Comment

Adversity can build the muscles of each troubled soul.
Without opposition, how can we choose to grow?
We learn through pain and sorrow to have more empathy.
Persecution can turn us to prayer and deeper charity.

A redwood tree grows strong and tall, but it’s roots don’t grow so deep.
Against the wind-tossed storms of life, one lone tree finds little peace.
But as they grow together, as their roots intertwine,
No gale that blows can topple those giant redwood pine.

We choose not to stand alone through our adversity.
We turn unto our loving God and friends and family.
We pray for help and plead for strength that we may overcome,
That through our trial, we may learn true wisdom from God’s Son.

Hate, anger and bitterness cause cankers on ones’ soul.
Repentance, forgiveness and patience help our inner peace to grow.
Adversity can be good or bad, it’s up to us to choose
To grow in understanding, or let Satan light our fuse.

We choose to use adversity to humble us to God,
To strive for help through prayer and hold fast the iron rod.
We gain strength from friends and family as we let our roots entwine.
Together with Christ’s true church, adversity becomes a tool to strengthen each heart and mind.

Real faith is something that I believe takes most of us a lifetime to acquire, if we ever do at all. I find myself in the same spot of struggling with reconciling God’s will for me, and my own plans and desires. I can have faith if I feel that God will grant me my desire, but my heart tells me that isn’t real faith, that’s just expecting God to fill our orders, and that is assuming that we always know best…The video clip in the link below addresses that very problem very well, and challenges me to ask myself, “Does it really matter?”

There is a scripture in Ether 12:27 in the Book of Mormon that is quoted in the video clip. What are some of your thoughts about faith, humility and adversity?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/topics/adversity?lang=eng&_r=1

The Divers

Jeanne 1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago I attended the funeral for my Aunt, who was the last of all my Aunts and Uncles, and it seemed like a chapter was closing. My own mortality seemed a little too close for comfort. For those of us who have finished our era of child raising, time seems to have passed alarmingly quickly. Although this can certainly be quite depressing, it also helps us to understand the importance of enjoying the present journey…not fretting about what we did or didn’t do in the past, and not being consumed with worry over what might lie ahead. My Aunt was exemplary in demonstrating the development of talents and sharing them with others. Bit by bit, she influenced many in a positive way. Her poetry has been a catalyst to me with my own writing, and especially this poem:

The would-be divers slowly climb the steps to the top
The platform
High and intimidating, bids them “Stop!”
And yet, their feet drive to the brink
And off they go,
No time to think!

We watch below and shake our heads.
This, we will never do, we said.
Unaware that we are in the line
Pressing forward all the time.

The oldest ones have gone before
One by one,
Now in our past.
Occasionally a youthful soul
Pushed through the line.
We watched, aghast.

Our steps for now are slow and gay.
We take our time.
We sing and play,
Unaware that our steady steps
Lead us higher every day,
Until, at last, we reach the top.

How the decades fled!
We are now atop.
Some feel peace, and some feel dread.
All surprised
How short the time
From bottom to the top,
A few short years, just a lifetime,
So much shorter than we thought.

Our time will come when toes grip the rim.
Our teeth and hands are clenched,
And we are shoved or nudged,
First flying, and then drenched.

Be assured, our time is coming.
Ignore the pace…the distant drumming,
Be with those who now surround us,
Else we miss the purpose of the climb.

Only as we enjoy the journey,
Will the diving be sublime!

This link is http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/feature-films/2016-10-0002-mans-search-for-happiness-1986?lang=eng a remake of my favorite short video when I was a child. I deals very effectively with the issue of “time”.

On the Ship of Hope

Jeanne 1 Comment

On the ship of hope we can cross the sea of despair.
As we prepare our sails of faith, the winds of truth blow fair.
The maps and charts of holy writ, will keep our rudder true,
Safe from the destructive rocks of sin. Love’s star will guide us through.

Hebrews 6:19, “Which hope we have as a anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast…”
Ether (Book of Mormon) 12:4, “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world…..which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works…”

Our poetry we identify as “dictations to the spirit”…

Look to the light! visit lds.org and especially look to the video library and watch the YouTube entitled “Men’s Hearts Shall Fail Them.” by Elder Russell M. Nelson http://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=men%27s+hearts+shall+fail+them+russell+m+nelson

4th of July!

Jeanne 2 Comments

I woke up this morning feeling tiny pieces of excitement that I used to feel on this day. The anticipation of a loud and happy celebration. My mind went to the dozens of 4ths that I have celebrated. The cannon blast waking up the Monroe residents who dared to sleep past 7am. The crowds at the city parks. The picnics. The special treats of red, white and blue. The parades, and the music….bands and marching. The sprinklers in our front yard, a delight to the grandkids in their swim suits. Don’t forget the slip-n-slide, and the fireworks–2 varieties 1) the small on-the-sidewalk ones that delight and terrify young ones and dogs, often lit off way before dark because they will be long in bed before 2) the big ones at 10PM. Sometimes we watched the big ones from our roof, and now we drive to them, and I still feel the excitement I felt watching them launched from the city hill, very visible from our childhood back yard. This year my heart is heavy. I have no grandkids to celebrate with me this year. No squeals of delight. No sparklers. No picnic. No swim suits. And that is precisely why I am not in the mood to post a patriotic poem today! Perhaps I’ll have more time to contemplate the great gift of freedom, and the price that has been paid, and rejoice that I am so blessed to live where I do, and to have the family that I have. Today I will thank God abundantly for these amazing blessings! What will you do today?




The White Line

Jeanne 3 Comments

Thirty Four years ago, Bob brought me a small, gray stone with a narrow white line straight around the circumference. As he proposed to me, he explained that the dark gray of the rock represented the unavoidable and unpleasant darkness we encounter in life. The white line is us, traveling together in the light. I still have that little rock, and everywhere we go we are always on the lookout for dark stones with white, continuous lines. Over the years we have quite a collection. This year, on our 43rd wedding anniversary, we camped at Teton National Park. I was standing on the beach of Jackson Lake at Colter Bay, enjoying the incredible scenery of majestic mountains, abundant spring wildflowers, and the clear lake waters lapping on the shore. Soon I noticed a rock out some 15 feet or so. It caught my attention because it was dark gray with a wonderful wide white line belting it. I tried to ignore it and snap photos of the birds and mountains, but my mind kept drawing me to the rock. I considered. How far out? How deep? How cold? I’d need to wear my shoes because the small surrounding stones were apt to be sharp to walk on. I’d get very wet. Was it worth it? After intense deliberation, I finally decided that it was worth it. Bob would be immensely pleased and surprised, and so, I ventured out, shoes and all. The water was only chilly, and maybe mid-calf deep. I arrived at the rock, but suddenly realized that it was much larger now that I was close. I reached for it, but found I couldn’t even budge it, let alone carry it out. Reluctantly, I bid it farewell and returned to Bob cooking breakfast. And so the moral to the story is….? You tell me.

Well, that’s not too inspirational. For ultimate inspiration please search lds.org. There is much gold there!

Little Princess

Jeanne 1 Comment

This post is a tribute to my Dad. He was an amazing man….kind, gentle, smart, hard-working, talented, compassionate, honest, fun-loving, ever present, generous, calming, and so much more. I can still remember the day that I decided he was incredibly smart. I asked him how big, heavy airplanes can stay up in the sky. He was a gifted teacher, and explained it very well, as he did many other things from farming, to math, to the moon phases. He passed away in 1988, but his memory brings warmth to my soul and courage to my heart. The following is a song I wrote in an attempt to express my love for him:

Little princess, my princess, I know that you are.
I’ll sit on your bedside and plunk my guitar.

He called me his princess and lingered awhile.
The love there was wordless, a touch or a smile.
And when I was all grown and moved far away,
When I came home, he’d still sit on my bedside and say:

Little princess, my princess, I know that you are.
I’ll sit on your bedside and plunk my guitar.

I’ve lived by his warm touch for so many years.
His words and his music still ring in my ears.
His ways were so gentle, his smile made me glad.
I’ll always, forever, be proud of my Dad.

I miss my dear Dad and I often recall,
His words at my bedside when I was so small.
At bedtime in our house at the end of the day,
I stop by each bedside, I strum and I say:

Little princess, my princess, I know that you are.
I’ll sit on your bedside and plunk my guitar.

Hacking

Jeanne 2 Comments

No poem today. Last Friday I was “Hacked” while on my computer, and was dumb enough to fall for it. I’ve been paying ever since, and, just today got my computer back after having it cleaned and scanned and whatever they do. It will take me a long time to not feel stupid, especially with all the re-doing and organizing that needs to be done on my computer. I am so thankful to family members who stepped in and helped out and have me up and running again. We ought to have a ‘hacked anonymous’ support group where you go to have people tell you that you are an ok person! My spirits were lifted when a friend, after hearing my tragedy, said that he had heard that the smarter you are, the more likely that you will be hacked! Ha, I’d like to believe that! But it did make me feel good. Be careful out there. Don’t CALL microsoft to fix a computer problem when your computer freezes due to a pop-up…

check out this fake: