Wrap Your Arms Around

My heart is tender toward our family, Becky and our four children specifically, because of an unfortunate situation here in our neighborhood.  I feel strongly about stating the fact that the time we spend together as families is a real thing.  It should be something that we do because we want to strengthen family relationships and we want those relationships to be the greatest ones we have.  You never know what tomorrow will bring.  I'm not saying that we ever live in fear that something expected may happen rather be prepared so that when something does happen our relationships are strong and intact.
I have receieved a clear reminder of this while making a couple of good visits this evening.  Becky and I sat and visited with our children and put our arms around them and expressed our love for them. 
Take the time to let your family know that you care about them.  Make sure that they know of your sincere feelings for them. 
I am grateful for this life.  It is well worth living for and the various things that I learn are molding me into the person I am supposed to become. 
We are all important in the sight of a loving Father.  He understands what we think and how we feel.  He is very close by and will help us with anything.  We just need to ask and He will give us answers to those pleas.
Thank Him for all that you have and find contentment in the joys of this mortal journey.  In the end we will be grateful for the endurance that is required of us and the patience we will have learned will be beneficial to us throughout eternity.
Life is worth living.  Life yields grand rewards even through the trials that we are required to overcome.  The eternal award awaits us so lets give our all and do our very best!

The Key

I often wonder what it would be like to not have a family.  I watch people who struggle but hang on to the hope that even without their family they believe that things will work themselves out and someone will emerge as their support.
Life is so busy and there are so many distractions.  Some of the distractions are good and others feel like meaningless distractions.
There is an analogy that illustrates life's various activities.  Visualize in your mind a large delicate spider web.  The ornate nature of such a creation is mind-boggling yet extremely fascinating.  Most times our lives become filled with so many different activities that we become 'stuck' in the web of life and it's hard to maintain balance.  What began as just one or two things multiplies into too many to possibly handle.  We become overwhelmed and life begins to 'cave-in' on itself--or that's what it feels like.  Once stuck in the web it requires a lot of energy to break free from it's bond.
The feeling of hopelessness sets into people's lives because there is no balance to sustain them when the times get rough.
Maybe you feel like this and there doesn't seem to be a solution to the problem.  There is always a solution!
I watched a fly get stuck in a web but his overpowering will to survive was too much for the prison device of the hungry spider.  His desperate flailing motions worked just enough to loosen the death grip that bound him down.  The fly flew away and the disappointment was apparent on the spider's countenance.
Life's death grip seems to smother as the pressure is intensified but the will to survive is completely in our court.  With every passing day muster up the energy to stand up and fight.  Just like the flailing fly we too will break free from the bondage that we often experience.  Simplifying our lives will also contribute to the freedom that feels so much better.
Life is great and we can all win the battles that we face.  Stand up and fight until the very end.  Endurance is the key and the fight is always worth it.

I Will See

Here in Utah we experienced a complete 'white-out' with the mass amounts of snow that fell on the weekend. It is winter time here in this state and I am extremely grateful.
I questioned my like while driving in it. The snow fell so densely but it beautified everything around. The trees were snow-capped and picturesque.
While driving our car the large over-sized flakes fell gently on the car windshield. The wipers moved quickly from one side of the windshield to the next clearing off the moist flakes. I drove cautiously but wondered about our safety the whole drive. At one point I wondered if I would be able to see. The snow fall fluctuated at first falling heavily and then lightening up a bit.
'Snow' falls in our lives and we wonder just as I did if we are really going to be capable of seeing all of the necessary things we need to. It is a challenge but we some how seem to find the end of the road and the success that we feel brightens our day and enriches our life. Such was the case with the snow fall. We eventually got to our destination with safety and were able to accomplish all that we needed to do.