Service Being Our Greatest Joy

I continue to watch this very carefully in my own life.  There is power in serving somebody else.  Our greatest example is our Savior, Jesus Christ.  From the New Testament we read:

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."

I am humbled by His great love, for not only His disciples, but for each one of us.

There is power in service that we render for our spouse and our children.  There isn't a better opportunity, in this world, than to give Christ-like service to those who are closest to us. 

I watch with hope that a man will, with gentleness, treat his sweetheart with love.  In turn, I anticipate that the gentleness will be reciprocated from her to him.  There is nothing better for a strong relationship than these acts of kindness.

I love to hear parents talk kindly to their children.  Our family was at Danny's indoor soccer game, last weekend, and a father was giving his young daughter some helpful tips to better her game.  He spoke with gentleness and softly, yet his point was heard and well taken by the young girl.  I could tell by his example how he talked to his other children and his wife.  

My parents taught me as a young boy that the secret to a successful marriage is to serve, serve, and serve some more.  A person can't serve too much.  I have witnessed it, first hand, in my own marriage.

I am thankful for Jesus in my life.  I am trying to be like Him.

The words of a favorite song give great clarity to this subject and act as a great reminder of what I should be doing.

"As I have loved you, love one another.  This new commandment, love one another.  By this shall men know, ye, are my disciples.  If ye have love, one to another."

I am trying to love my family and everybody else around me through acts of kindly service.

Life Is Bright

Today, I wanted to share a story, that we have all heard about, but continues to inspire and remind us of the importance of positive thinking, even in the face of adversity.

When Alex, who was diagnosed with childhood cancer just before her first birthday, was four, she told her parents she wanted to set up a front-yard lemonade stand. Her plan: to give the money to doctors to help them find a cure. Her first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand”, held with the help of her older brother Patrick, raised an astonishing $2,000 in one day. While bravely fighting her own cancer, Alex continued to set up lemonade stands every year. As news spread of the remarkable girl so dedicated to helping other sick children, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands—donating the proceeds to her cause.
In 2004 when Alex passed away at the age of eight—her stand and inspiration had raised more than $1 million towards finding a cure for the disease that took her life. 

I read another great piece today that helps to form in our mind the importance of 'looking on the bright side.'

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are. After that, we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire. The truth is there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.
It’s best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with…and remember that time waits for no one.
So, stop waiting… Until your car or home is paid off.
Until you get a new car or home.
Until your kids leave the house.
Until you go back to school.
Until you finish school.
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married.
Until you have kids.
Until you retire.
Until summer.
Until spring.
Until winter.
Until fall.
Until you die.
There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. (Author Unknown)

Becky and I prayed together last evening and I couldn't help but think about our niece, Briana.  She is just a few days from leaving the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah to go to her assignment in Indiana, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I hope that her time spent in the MTC has been worthwhile to her and effective for her personally.  I thought about my nine weeks spent in the exact center where she is.  I loved every minute there.  It was a highlight of my missionary experience.  I hope that even during discouraging times, she has made the most of her time, knowing that the time, there, would end and then it would be 'game time' with all that she has learned.  I love you Briana!

We are all part of this great journey, called life.  It is up to me and you to make the most out of the situation we are in.  Work hard and the rewards, in the end, will all be worth it!

Contentment

Today, I had a conversation with a coworker that caused me some frustration.  He made the comment about the town that I live in as being one that he and his wife had no desire to live because of the mass amounts of sexual predators.  I asked him if either he or his wife ever lived in Magna.  He of course, said no.  I asked him how he knew that it is such a horrible place to live.  He said that a site on the internet ranked it high in this category.
I will be the first to say that Magna is not the top choice for everyone to want to live.  I must say that I thoroughly enjoy the community we are a part of and the joy it is to make a positive impact on it.  We enjoy the many associations we have with the people of this community.
I learned a valuable lesson today.  I should never be guilty of talking negatively about the place that someone lives. 
I was not offended by his ignorance but I was frustrated by his lack of maturity to look into and find out about a place before making an affirmative statement.
Every town or city has its positive and negative.  I believe that the experience somebody has, in a particular place, is dependant upon what they invest.
I believe that looking at something with a positive pair of glasses is the better way.
I want to be a positive thinker and I want people around me to know that is the way I feel.

Well-Rounded

I vividly remember a conversation I had with my dad when I was a teenager. The memory of the conversation surfaced today during a visit with a co-worker. This man loves to ski. It's about all that he can talk about. I could hear my dad's voice from that conversation long ago. "Be a well-rounded person." Now that meant something to me at that time because looking back now it felt like all I was interested in was playing or watching something that had to do with sports. I wouldn't have called myself well-rounded.
I'm not sure why that particular thought came to mind today but I think that the advice, my dad gave me, was solid and spot on.
I am of the opinion that a person can't learn too much about the things in life. No matter how much I think I may know about one thing, there is always something else that I know very little about. The irony too, is that the older I get, the more I realize how little I know about anything. That cracks me up.
It seems wise to learn about many different things.
We once had a neighbor who knew a little about many different things. Becky and I would laugh as we watched him and wondered if there was anything he didn't know or couldn't do. I'm sure he had things that he wished he knew more about, but from our perspective, it appeared that he was very knowledgeable.
I want to be well-rounded. I already know that I know just enough to be dangerous. The desire is still there to learn all that I can.
It's a big world out there. Our minds are a complex creation. There is plenty of storage space therein. Learn all that you can.

Perspective

The alarm went off this morning and I hurried out of bed to turn it off. I stood in the dark for a minute to get my 'bearings' about me. I went into the bathroom and as I turned on the light, the fuzziness that your eyes go through after having just awakened was funny feeling. I stood there momentarily and allowed my eyes to adjust and focus on the task at hand of getting ready for the day.
Life has its focusing moments and some of those moments are easier than others. I believe that there are things that help us stay focused so that there isn't as much adjusting that needs to happen. Let's talk about those things for a minute.
I firmly believe that if things are good and well as far as your relationships with your family go life's focus is easier and more manageable. When those things are not anchored life's challenges seem like the Himalayas.
A clean mind and a clear conscience are imperative. Life is full of various activities--running here and there. The hectic pace is sometimes unbearable. What is put in our minds is important. I would suggest that each of us watch, read, and speak uplifting material. I'm not even talking pornographic material. I'm trying to keep the trash and filth, that surrounds me, out of my life. There are enough tough things to deal with, without the filth that is all around us.
The opportunity to help someone else is uplifting. It builds up the spirit. It gives strength to overcome.
The focus on life keeps a solid perspective on the things that are the most important.
Just keep plugging along. There are blessings, in abundance, around every corner.

What A Blessing

When I awakened this morning, I thought about all of the things that I take for granted.  I am able to get out of my bed, when the alarm goes off.  I go into the bathroom to get ready for the day.  I do these things without a second thought given to how they all happen morning after morning.
This has been on my mind all morning.  I find it a complete miracle that I am able to accomplish all that is required of me each day.
I work as a assembler of the main instrument panel that goes into the cockpit of the Boeing 737 commercial airliner.  I wouldn't say that the work is hard but it does take recognition of detail and the ability to assemble each part the way that the engineering drawing requires them to be.  I don't even give a thought to what I need to accomplish.
Three weeks ago, I was at the store and I noticed a young boy who was just learning how to walk.  He could walk but in a very wobbly and slow way.  He had that new walking look on his face.  There was fear written all over his face that at any moment he could fall down.  It is the skill and confidence combined that allows us to do what we can do.
I need to pay clearer attention to what I am able to do without taking the things of life for granted.
When I awaken, in the morning, I am going to start my day off by giving more thought to all of the things that I am richly blessed to be able to do throughout my life.
I am the luckiest guy alive!  I thank heaven for my life.

We Thank Thee

Yesterday was an amazing Sunday for me.  We attended our regular church meetings and all was quite normal, that way.
Becky fixed a delicious meal for our family.  My mother and father in law and Becky's grandpa joined us for dinner in celebration of my 4oth birthday, a few days ago.  We had a great time, with the kids taking turns performing various songs, musical numbers, hip-hop dance arrangements and an all around great time enjoying one another.
At the end of the evening, as we were wrapping up the night, I asked grandpa if he would offer a prayer, to end the night.  During his prayer, he thanked Heavenly Father for the many blessings He pours upon us in our life.  I was personally impressed when he asked that the windows of heaven would be opened and blessings would be showered upon the head of each member of our family.  I was touched by his prayer of sincerity.
Let me share one more reason why I am thankful for all of the blessings I receive.
I got to work, this morning, and was approached by a man I have worked with for many years.  He began to tell me about his teenage son whose good friend decided to take his own life, yesterday.  That news made me feel bad for the people that loved and cared about this sixteen year-old young man. 
It made me think about the responsibility that I have to be a good listener to those who lack hope in their lives.  Although I have no idea what was troubling this young teen, I assume that his heart was indeed troubled.
I feel an immense amount of gratitude for my Father who blesses my life, each day. 
It is Him who I thank. 
It's been a great day.  This week is going to be one of growth.  I can't wait to see what is in store.