When our oldest daughter, Natalie, was just a young toddler, she asked us one Sunday afternoon if we could see Jesus. Becky and I were puzzled by her inquisition. We asked her several times over what exactly she meant, hoping that we would better understand her. Becky and I still didn't understand what she was talking about. Finally after some thought, Becky realized that she was talking about seeing the statue of Jesus at Temple Square, in Salt Lake City. That afternoon, the three of us took a little trip to Temple Square. As we walked up the rotunda and she saw the statue of 'The Christus', we could see that He was familiar to her. For several times in the following weeks, we went to Temple Square to see Jesus.
Becky and I are so grateful we took those opportunities. Those are 'gems' that we have saved in our memory banks. We talk about them, once in a while, and feel grateful for the way they touch our lives. The time flies by so swiftly and yet those memories are deeply etched into our hearts and minds.
I am grateful for my own feelings of Jesus. I know that He is my Savior and the Redeemer of all mankind.
Natalie taught me that even a visit to Temple Square to see that large, beautiful statue of Jesus would impact us for the good.
Today, I want to pay close attention to Him and all that He has done for me. By the things that I say and do, I too can see Him. That is the greatest desire of my heart and I hope it is for you.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Hokey Pokey
There is a lot of rain in the country of Holland. I got familiar with that reality in a hurry. I also learned a very valuable lesson from the rain.
One day, my companion and I rode our bikes to a person's house that we had met two days before. Their home was a long bike ride from where we lived. The ride was great on the way there but on the ride home, it began to rain--very hard! My companion and I looked at one another surprised by our situation. I have to admit that the experience wasn't that fun up until we decided to do something way out of our norm. Jeff Reeves and I began to sing 'The Hokey Pokey.' Visualize two Mormon missionaries, in suits, riding bikes like the ones straight out of the movie 'The Sound of Music', singing the extended version of the hokey pokey, with actions and all. By the time we had thought of everything that we could sing about, and done them, we had arrived back to our apartment. Reeves and I laughed about that experience not only then but for many days thereafter. We had learned a lesson of having fun no matter what situation we found ourselves in. I felt extremely blessed to have a companion that I really enjoyed, who would look at things on the bright side.
Not everything that we do in life is that fun. Sometimes we are expected to do things that are either out of our comfort zone or that we're not that interested in. I challenge you to create a 'Hokey Pokey' moment of your own during these times of your life.
Let me piggyback something else onto this thought.
I talked with a good friend, just the other day. I called him and asked him how he was doing. "I'm alright." He muttered back. You might not see anything wrong with his response. Life is wonderfully generous to each one of us. When someone asks how you are doing, I believe that it requires a more enthusiastic resonse than "I'm alright." Once in a while, I would expect that kind of response but all of the other times the response ought to be "I'm great or I'm good."
Look on the bright side. It's easier to get through life and its much easier to listen to someone who is doing better than 'alright.'
That's the challenge of the day. 'The Hokey Pokey' always reminds me of that rainy day many years ago. I am thankful for that great day!
One day, my companion and I rode our bikes to a person's house that we had met two days before. Their home was a long bike ride from where we lived. The ride was great on the way there but on the ride home, it began to rain--very hard! My companion and I looked at one another surprised by our situation. I have to admit that the experience wasn't that fun up until we decided to do something way out of our norm. Jeff Reeves and I began to sing 'The Hokey Pokey.' Visualize two Mormon missionaries, in suits, riding bikes like the ones straight out of the movie 'The Sound of Music', singing the extended version of the hokey pokey, with actions and all. By the time we had thought of everything that we could sing about, and done them, we had arrived back to our apartment. Reeves and I laughed about that experience not only then but for many days thereafter. We had learned a lesson of having fun no matter what situation we found ourselves in. I felt extremely blessed to have a companion that I really enjoyed, who would look at things on the bright side.
Not everything that we do in life is that fun. Sometimes we are expected to do things that are either out of our comfort zone or that we're not that interested in. I challenge you to create a 'Hokey Pokey' moment of your own during these times of your life.
Let me piggyback something else onto this thought.
I talked with a good friend, just the other day. I called him and asked him how he was doing. "I'm alright." He muttered back. You might not see anything wrong with his response. Life is wonderfully generous to each one of us. When someone asks how you are doing, I believe that it requires a more enthusiastic resonse than "I'm alright." Once in a while, I would expect that kind of response but all of the other times the response ought to be "I'm great or I'm good."
Look on the bright side. It's easier to get through life and its much easier to listen to someone who is doing better than 'alright.'
That's the challenge of the day. 'The Hokey Pokey' always reminds me of that rainy day many years ago. I am thankful for that great day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)