This piece came to my mind this week during a time of complexity. The descending notes during the phrase, “Thy will be done” make me think of our Father’s care descending upon His children.
We were able to move my grandmother to Utah this week and we have experienced miracles in each step.
A happy list today:
Negative Covid test results for a loved one
A sunflower in a vase beside my sink
My Christmas quilt is all quilted with gold swirls and I’ve attached the binding. It’s ready for hand sewing. This might be my favorite step.
New fabric on the pillows
Time spent in the Book of Mormon: I love that book.
Our kids have fun interests (classic cars, portraits, music composition, cooking, piano, woodworking, reading) and they are good company.
Richard is a good calculus tutor.
Rain is in the forecast.
My first issue of The Friend arrived today, after letting our subscription lapse for a few years after our kids left Primary. I have missed this church magazine!
I just watched the first episode of The Chosen series. I don’t think it’s very accurate but I really liked it, if for no other reason than it portrays biblical personalities as relatable people.
Seven months ago, before the pandemic impacted our lives, I had an idea to create an emotional tool kit, with physical objects to inspire and comfort. I wrote down a list on a post-it note, and began to move the note in my day planner, putting it off for another time. Maybe I was in denial. “Oh, I won’t need this,” or, “If I make it, something will happen that will make me need this.”
Then came new levels of isolation, earthquakes, uncertainty about the evacuation of missionaries, challenges from distance learning in schools, canceled plans, discomfort and disfigurement from abdominal surgery, and the secluded hospital stay. And so on.
I have been comforted, even without my little tool kit, no doubt about that. Still, this week, I remembered that I hadn’t compiled it, and decided it was time. It wasn’t difficult. I gathered things into an old hat box and slid it beneath my bed. Who knows if I will ever use it as I envision I might. If nothing else, it is a time capsule, and a reminder of my faith that comfort can be found in Christ, always.
The objects are small and have personal meaning. Some things are soft; others spur memories; on the bottom of the box are the scripture notes I have taken this year, which follow my 2020 spiritual journey even better than my journal. I tucked in a Michael Buble album that I love.
At times, everyone needs reminders that things are going to be okay.
If you are doing well, share your energy with others. If you are doing poorly, consider handling some physical reminders that Heavenly Father loves you and sent His Son for you. Allow the Spirit to bring joyful things to your remembrance. (John 14:26)
Last fall, I attended a presentation by the man who produced this video. He made this clothing to help students understand and appreciate how the Israelite High Priest symbolized Christ. I wonder which detail is meaningful to you. For me, it is the names of the tribes of Israel written on precious stones, borne on the shoulders and over the heart of the High Priest.
On Mondays for scripture study we work on marking the footnotes of the New Testament assignment. We mark the Joseph Smith Translation footnotes in red and the Greek footnotes in green. This takes some time, but it really helps us understand what we are reading.
“Read the Gospel of Mark aloud,” I have been told several times in my life. “That’s the way it was meant to be experienced, aloud and during one sitting. It will take you a couple of hours.”
Well, today I did it, using Julie Smith’s rendition. It took less than two hours to finish. The King James Version is still awesome, but a modern language translation helped me see things I did not see before.
Her rendition is free on the Kindle. (LINK) If you have two hours alone, I recommend you read it aloud (or any way you like) and enjoy the good news.