SHORTHAND | Quick Thoughts for a Busy World

Archives for June 2015

Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. D/C 4:1-5 (emphasis added)

~I want with all my heart to qualify.

Aim for Eternity

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When you approach life with the aim to fulfill you may find yourself not just wiping the messy hands and messy face of your child hurriedly to get to the next task, but taking a moment to lock eyes and connect deep with their soul. A second has passed and yet you feel as though you have visited eternity.

 

Fulfill vs Balance

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The goal each day and in life isn’t to balance everything — unless you are a plate balancer.

And if you are a plate balancer you can do nothing else than balance plates, less they fall and crash to the floor.

The thought of having to balance life — children, home, husband, service, school, errands, finances, extended family, time for myself, time with God— is overwhelming. You’ll be sweating pearls as you try to spin each plate in sync.

So what, if not balancing, is the answer?

How is fulfilling different than balancing? Everything still has to get done, be attended to.

It is different in its approach and understanding. The image isn’t of spinning plates but rather of flowing from one aspect of life to another fluidly, giving each individual and aspect of life the undivided time and attention it deserves and needs to be accomplished before moving on to the next task.

As you reflect each night on all that you have fulfilled each day you will find yourself wearing the pearls instead of seeing them scattered all over the floor of your life.

Don’t balance. Fulfill. Wear the pearls. You deserve them.

 

To the Fathers of the Stripling Warriors

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Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. ~Alma 56:47-48

Never has a phrase been so loved when it comes to mothers, but on this Father’s Day it gives me even more understanding of the role of a father. How I revere the roles of both mother and father.

What did their mothers know? What was it that they taught their sons? Why did their sons value liberty over their own lives?

Their mothers knew that the atonement was real. They had publicly witnessed their husbands lay down their weapons of war and lay down their lives to be slaughtered at the hands of their enemies. They saw their husbands in complete peace because of the change that they had experienced through repentance and faith; their husbands feared not death. Why then, would their sons fear death? They didn’t. Their sons had learned to be faithful and not doubting because their parents were faithful and not doubting.

Their mothers taught them, because for many, their fathers were already gone, but it was the testimony of both the living and the dead that taught those young boys.

This Father’s Day, I honor those fathers who day in and day out publicly lay down their weapons of war in honoring their marriage. Who would rather lose their life than break that covenant, not that any life ever need to be lost.

In Christ may we all find hope, love, peace and strength to keep our covenants, teach by example, fulfill our roles as parents and prepare the youth for the ongoing and upcoming battles of life, that their lives may too be spared, that not one will be lost.

I know it. I do not doubt it. The atonement of Christ is real. Fathers are amazing!

Happy Father’s Day!!

 

Prepare Every Day

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Prepare every day for the Second Coming.

That is a family motto in my household. It was a phrase that came to me one day and that impression has never left me. Yet, I wonder often how exactly do we do that…

So I asked God one day and He said, “By developing the gifts of the spirit and helping our children develop the gifts of the spirit.”

I share this with you because I want to know what you have done or are doing to seek these gifts? I’m at a loss other than praying for them and studying what they are. But it is apparently really important to welcoming the Lord back, to preparing the way, to uniting us, and the those who will listen, in purpose. I’m sure it has everything to do with sharing the gospel and making us more effective listeners, teachers and friends, but how do we attain them?

I know we are each given one or a few… can we, should we, seek them all? I think that is answered with, “Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;” D/C 46:8

So we are to seek, doesn’t say how many.

I want to hear what you have to say about this. Please comment and share! Especially on how to help your children develop them. Thanks!

Boxed In

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Ever tried fitting into a box?

It isn’t comfortable.

It doesn’t really work, unless you’re a contortionist.

It isn’t fun. It’s stuffy. Boring. Eventually you will ache. You’re muscles will be screaming for movement — not to mention your soul.

Just don’t do it.

Be yourself and never try to fit anyone else’s mold.

And if someone is trying to box you in, box them up and ship them somewhere they will want to break out of the box and be free.

Life is too wonderful to live it from the confines of a box.

Be yourself. Do what you were meant to do. Live.

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