I'll Be Brave

I read an obituary of a young boy who passed away from the effects of Leukemia. I was deeply touched by one particular phrase that, I'm sure, was written by his mother. There were a few words that the young boy uttered while he was still alive and those stuck out to me the most. "I'll be brave." I am touched that through the five rounds of chemo that this young boy endured he would look into the eyes of his parents and tell them that he would be brave.
I have a renewed commitment to face life 'head on' and brave through all that is given to me to endure in this great life.

A story, of our time, reminds me of the bravery displayed for fellow human beings.

"During fighting in Somalia in October of 1993, two United States Army Rangers in a helicopter during the firefight learned that two other helicopters near them had fallen to the earth. The two rangers, in their relative safety aloft, learned by radio that no ground forces were available to rescue one of the downed aircrews. Growing numbers of the enemy were closing in on the crash site.

The two men watching from above volunteered to go down to the ground (the words they used on the radio were to “be inserted”) to protect their critically wounded comrades. Their request was denied because the situation was so dangerous. They asked a second time. Permission was again denied. Only after their third request were they put down on the ground.  Armed only with their personal weapons, they fought their way to the crashed helicopter and the injured fliers. They moved through intense small arms fire as enemies converged on the crash site. They pulled the wounded from the wreckage. They put themselves in a perimeter around the wounded, placing themselves in the most dangerous positions. They protected their comrades until their ammunition was depleted and they were fatally wounded. Their bravery and their sacrifice saved the life of a pilot who would have been lost.  They were each awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor, their nation’s highest recognition for bravery in the face of an armed enemy. The citation reads that what they did was “above and beyond the call of duty.”

I was taught truth from the time I was very young. My parents saw that it was important, and vital, that I be taught the difference between right and wrong. They allowed me to stumble and fall, in order that I might learn eternal principles that would eventually and absolutely bless my life. When I fell, they were there by my side, to help pick me up and direct me in the direction that would bring me the greatest amount of happiness.
I understand that life has its challenges. Those will make us better. My desire is to be all that I am destined to be. Bravery is one of those characteristics that I would love to master. It is God-like in the purest form.
That young boy taught me a valuable lesson that has deeply penetrated my heart, today.
When all is said and done, I want it to be said of me that I was brave!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I love to hear the funny things that come out of kids' mouths.  Here are a couple of things that I read recently that put a smile on my face.

"At our annual family picnic, my nephew found a salamander in the creek and, quite proud of his catch, brought it over to the adults setting up lunch. After we all ooo'd and ah'd about his finding, my brother-in-law told him it was time to eat and to go put the salamander back where he had found it. My nephew said he wanted to keep it as a pet. They went back and forth about this for several minutes, when my brother-in-law said, "How would you feel if someone snatched you out of your home and took you away? This salamander needs to go back to his home." Dan looked at his dad, perplexed, then looked at that salamander down in the cup he was holding, then looked back at his dad. He then replied (in his you-can't-be-serious voice), "Dad, are you trying to tell me this little salamander could pick me up and carry me back to his home? I don't think so!" (Picnic in the Park~ Jenny Evans)

"My 4-year-old son was up in a tree in our backyard one summer afternoon. From his vantage point, he could see over the fence and onto the road that ran beside our home. After a few minutes, I heard the jingle of the ice cream truck making his rounds for the first time that summer. I braced myself for my son to come running in for some change, but what he came running in for sent me to the floor with laughter. "Mom, mom!" he screamed. "It's the sing-along mail guy!" It then occurred to me that he had no recollection of ever seeing an ice cream truck before, but he was very familiar with the comparable little white mail truck!" (The Sing-a-long Mail Guy~ Rebecca Cleary)


The things that we learn from our children are humbling.  Their insight is valuable.  I find myself wondering what in the world I would do if Becky and I would have never had any children.
I hope to remember, and enjoy, all that flows freely from the mouths of babes.

His Touch

One of my favorite verses is that of "The Touch of the Master's Hand."  I'm sure that you have all read it but read it again and feel of its influence.

'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
(The Touch of the Master's Hand~Myra Brooks Welch)

It doesn't matter who you are or in what stage of life you are in, with His touch, we are all equally important.  It is through His touch that we are able to have more than we can even comprehend, in this life and into the next one, too. 
Each of us have talents and gifts that lift the spirit of someone who is troubled or has lost their way, just a little.
Remember who you are...You are important!

I Prayed

Today, we spent a day as a family.  It was a nice day.  We saw some scenery of the beautiful state of Utah.
As we began our day, our youngest, Danny, complained of his teeth aching.  Shortly thereafter, he complained that his eyes hurt.  Becky told him that he needed to just close his eyes and give them a rest. 
We went about our day and enjoyed it together.
Tonight, as we were traveling home, Danny said, "Mom, do you know why my teeth and eyes don't hurt anymore?"  Becky asked him why.  He adamantly responded with.  "I prayed."
Becky and I wonder all the time how two people can be as blessed as we are.  Heaven smiles on our lives with mass amounts of generosity.
I love life!  Heavenly Father loves us immensely!  We love Him, too.  It's been a wonderful day.

A Little Bit Of Knowledge

Today, is a day that I am grateful for the knowledge that I have.  Both of our vehicles needed brake pads changed and the oil and filter job done as well.  I have done both of these things many times.  I'm not a mechanic, by any means, but I figure that I help put together a commercial airliner so I should easily be able to do some of the simple things with a car.  The kids helped me jack the cars up and remove the lug nuts from each of the wheels.  It was nice to have them close by (and helping, of course.) 
I enjoy knowledge and the satisfying feeling it gives to me.  Even though, I know very little, I feel grateful for the healthy mind I have been blessed with.
Our youngest son, Danny, asked me while we were working, if I really did know what I was doing.  I had to work hard not to start laughing right out loud.  I told him that I did, in fact, know what I was doing.  His next question followed.  "Where did you learn to do this, dad?"  I told him that I learned how to do these things from Uncle Spencer. (That is my brother-in-law)  "I'll bet you're glad he taught you, huh dad?"  I am very grateful that he taught me such knowledge.
These small pieces of knowledge stimulate my mind.  It's never too late to learn.  I love it!

Thanks!

Is there really a better feeling in the world than being thanked by someone?

A few years ago, a young woman from a neighboring town won a scholarship to a prestigious college. Although the inner-city high school she attended was plagued with problems, she overcame them and excelled.

When she graduated, she commended the often-maligned school for its challenging courses and her teachers for their special interest and encouragement.

"I can't say enough good things about the school and the teachers who gave me so much of themselves," she said. "I shall be eternally grateful to them."

Saying thanks not only brightens someone else's world, it brightens yours. If you're feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.

'Thank you' needs to flow more freely from our mouths.  There are many people who do great things for us, every day of our life.  They are deserving of our utmost gratitude!

Music Soothes The Soul

The sound of good music is hard to beat.  I heard a song that brought back great memories when I was a kid. 

"I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way
I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe." (The Lettermen)

My dad had many albums by the Lettermen.  They were a familiar sound in our home.
Each of us have memories that are directly connected with songs.  I love to think of an especially meaningful experience that has a song associated with it. 

I love music!  Good music brings my heart a great deal of comfort.