Tonight we attended a piano recital, a long one, with enough songs stored in fingers from a year of pandemic living. I think this was Tim’s last recital. (Noooooooooo!) Mark played Beethoven and Tim played Schubert, and both boys elicited more than polite applause from somebody in the audience. “Whoo hoo!” called someone else’s mother as they took their bows, and I will love her forever for it.
Richard and I were able to cheer for Tim and the other Sterling Scholars this week. Tim performed Valse Romantique by Debussy at the assembly, attended only by parents and the scholars. It felt good to be back in the auditorium again.
Senior year is intense, pandemic or not. I am making efforts to avoid the indulgence of crying about the end of Tim’s era at home, because that would take away necessary energy to press forward, as that is what we must do. We are so proud of him!
Reading: Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
Thinking about: some failures in my leadership; my grandmother, my parents, my kids.
Celebrating: 5 consecutive weeks of health.
Looking at: ideas for displaying some art.
Embarrassed about: a video I made for all the Primary children in my Stake. I forgot to put on my shoes, and the camera caught it. I am all dressed up, but have only stockings on my feet. In my Mr. Roger’s moment of making programming for children, I forgot the importance of SHOES.
Wishing for: some snow or some sunshine, just not this gloom.
Praying for: that’s personal, but our nation is high on the list.
Smiling about: Timothy’s piano performance coming up today that Richard and I can attend.
Eating: I have no idea. It’s time to go grocery shopping.
Thankful for: working machines to wash and dry the laundry so I can focus on other things. And for the chance to be alive at this important time.
When I am weary and have no words of my own, I pray by singing in my mind. This is the song that eventually helped me go to sleep last night, soothing my mind, awake to many things. Dickins was so right about the best of times and the worst of times inhabiting the same sphere. I had a wonderful day with family, and feel God’s blessings, but feel abhorrence for current events.
And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold, I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
Moroni 7:40-41
But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
Jacob 2:19
But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work.
Doctrine and Covenants 3:10
Sometimes the tempest that surrounds us is our own fault because our poor choices make us miserable. But God is merciful! We can repent. We are still chosen and can get back to work for the Lord. “Peace, be still,” is something the Savior has power to say to the winds and rain, and also to our broken hearts when we repent. I love this message of hope.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
1 Peter 3:15
In deciding what to post this month, I realized my perfectionism paralysis about posting my violin recordings was NOT the meekness and fear Peter is talking about. When I play the violin for people, it is one way I share hope and testimony, but probably never perfection.
The memory of playing this song with Daniel is perfect. We played this in 2016 in church and also in people’s homes that Christmas. I have sweet memories of Daniel and me loading and unloading his keyboard into the trunk to carry it through the snow into homes of the elderly in the neighborhood so we could play this song. I cherish those moments with my friends that I will not have this year, but at least now I have a link I can share with them. I think Peter is asking us to be be brave and give, right through our fears.
Today, here is hope in the form of dance. Covid has unleashed new ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. The dancers in this video are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this is a tribute to a sister missionary who passed away recently. It’s also an expression of their testimonies. Whether you like the style of dance or not, I think it’s a beautiful way to share hope.
I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:88