Faith In Every Footstep

There is always a lesson to be learned and today was no different.  Let me share an experience that touched my heart.
Our oldest daughter, Natalie, spent some time up in the night ill.  Becky and I didn't hear her at all in the downstairs bathroom.
Becky and I had no idea that she had been up until she told us this morning.  She questioned whether to stay home from school.  There really wasn't that option, today.  She asked my opinion and I thought back on the many times in my life, for many different reasons, I have gotten little sleep.  I told her that she needed to go to school and that I would give her a blessing of strength and that she needed to exercise faith that she would have the strength that she needed to make it through the day. 
I wondered how her day had gone.  When I got home from work, I asked her how her day had gone.  She smiled and told me that it had gone well.  She expressed her gratitude to Becky and I for teaching her about faith.  She was thankful that she had learned a valuable lesson today on faith. 
I love when a lesson is learned.  It's been another great day of learning.

Think Positive

Some days are a struggle to think positively.  Today seems to be one of those days, for me. 
I recently read an article that stated the results from a survey taken where one thousand people were polled.  This question was asked of each individual.  "What do you do at the beginning of your day to establish a positive mind set?"  There were a variety of answers but the overwhelming winner was, "I tell myself that the day is going to be good."  I about laughed right out loud because I thought that people were going to expect some sort of magical answer.  If I would have been polled, I would have been with the majority.  I firmly belief, (this was taught to me in my childhood by my parents) that each one of us has to be the controller of whether the day is good or bad.  Nobody else can dictate that outcome for us.
I have said it before but I have the luxury of being married to Mrs. Positive herself.  She knows what it means to have mind over matter.  I appreciate that outlook immensely.
For those who are reading this, today, who are having a less than extraordinary day, my advice to you is think of something that has blessed your life and changed who you are for the better.  There is that one time for all of us.  Sometimes we need to review our happiest times to remind us that life, is in fact, a pleasant existence.  Like the survey taught, "I tell myself that the day is going to be good!"  And it will be.
Those of you who are having a great day I applaud you for your effort in making the day what is. 
I must admit that just since I sat down to write this small piece, I already feel better about the second half of my day.  I appreciate my life and those people in it that bring me the greatest joy.  I have much to be grateful for and you do too.  Remember to make the most of the moments in your life.  They come and go so quickly.

Now That's Special

In 1987, I had the good fortune of witnessing an athletic performance that has had a profound impact on my life, particularly in regard to how I work with young people in teaching and coaching. 

I found a seat in front of the floor exercise area and enjoyed watching athletes of all ages and abilities perform their tumbling routines.  As the competition came to a close, the last participant was rolled onto the floor in a wheelchair.  Assisted by his coach, the athlete with Cerebral Palsy stood, and positioned himself in the middle of the floor.  Bent at the waist, his arms and legs severely contracted, I realized that every muscle in his body was fighting against his will to control them.  After helping him stabilize, the coach exited the arena with the wheelchair, leaving him standing alone, facing a full grandstand.  A hush tumbled over the crowd as if everyone was thinking, “What is he going to do?”  We had watched athletes run, jump, turn cartwheels, perform forward and backward rolls. I too wondered, “What could his constricted body possibly do?”  For several minutes all eyes were fixed on this young man, as he attempted to hold his body still.  He lifted his right foot, lost his balance, put it back down and steadied himself.  A few more long moments passed before he again tried to lift his foot with the same result.  At that moment, it was apparent that his floor exercise was to balance on one foot.  As if everyone in the stands realized this at once, the energy began to rise in anticipation and support for this courageous Special Olympian.  He tried twice more – gaining confidence with each attempt.  There was another lengthy pause before his fifth try. When again, summoning all the concentration he could muster to gain control of a body that had never followed instructions, he raised his right foot and balanced on his left for almost 5 seconds.  As his right foot came back to the floor, he slowly raised his fists in triumph, accompanied by a smile that lit the hearts of every spectator.  The crowd leapt to its feet with a deafening roar! Some people were crying. Some were smiling. Others stared with looks of amazement.  But, I knew in that moment that we all stood in appreciation and awe for having witnessed another human being’s courage, will and perseverance to achieve his personal best.  Rushing onto the floor, his coach wrapped him in a hug – he stood in her arms for several minutes soaking in the standing ovation.  Finally, she helped him back into the wheelchair and they exited the arena, leaving me, for one, feeling richly blessed.  (From an article written by Auburn Olympian Reita Clanton.) 

Our lives are filled with the 'feel good' stories.  We are encouraged to want to do better.  Our spirits are lifted to greater heights.  Experiences like this one force us to realize the things that are the most special.

Follow Your Instincts

There are many times when a choice has to be made and I hesitate because I'm not quite sure which direction I should go.  And I'm not necessarily talking about good versus bad.  Maybe the choice is good versus good.  Experience has shown that more times than not if I will follow my instinct, (God given gift) the decision I decide on ends up being what's best for me.
Our family attended Sacrament meeting today in West Jordan, Utah to listen to our niece as she spoke, prior to entering the Missionary Training Center, in Provo, Utah in two weeks as she embarks as a full-time missionary in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission.  She spoke of a church leader who counseled her to follow her instincts in relation to whether a mission was the right thing for her.  She spoke, today, with humility and gratitude.  We are excited for her opportunity to serve.
Each one of us has the opportunity to choose.  I hope that I will pay close attention to what my instinct says on any given days in my life.  God has built into each one of the us the ability to choose the things that we should do.  That internal compass will lead us to reach the potential that He knows we can.  The responsibility is ours and the rewards are great! 

I Love You

The words 'I love you' are three of the most important words.   Their meaning runs deeper than just the words alone.  They are the words that many people hear every day.  Some people haven't said 'I love you' in many years.
I was talking to Becky on the phone yesterday and the end of the conversation came.  I anticipated what the end of every conversation with her includes.  "I love you,"  Becky sincerely uttered.  I paused momentarily and replied, "I love you, too."  I got off of the phone and thought about the deep love that I feel for her.
Many years ago, a story was related to me about a young man who struggled with a personal battle that his father strongly disagreed with.  His father's pride stepped in to the point of disowning his own son. The man told him to leave his home and never return.  The mother's heart was broken and she watched her son leave.  A couple of years passed with no word from their son.  The son went his way and lived his life.  His heart was broken that his father no longer wanted to see him because of his personal decisions.  One day, a knock came on the door and to the mother's surprise, she opened the door to find her son standing on the front porch.  She wrapped her arms around him, overjoyed at his homecoming.  The father sat in the living room and upon hearing the sound of the familiar voice came to the front door.  He looked at his son and the anger instantly overtook him.  He sternly reminded his son of his words two years earlier.  He told his son to leave and never return.  The heartbreak in the son's eyes were more than he could personally take.  The father closed the front door, leaving his desperate son all alone on the front porch.  A few hours passed and the prideful man walked out to his barn behind the house.  As he opened the large barn door a wave of emotion overcame him.  To his astonishment, he found his young saddened son hanging from the rafter of the large barn with a rope around his neck.   His lifeless body spoke of the devastation in his heart.  He had longed to hear the healing words that his father could have spoken. 
I know that this story is probably an extreme one but I can't help but think of the importance it is to speak meaningful words of 'I love you'.  These words need not become only words spoken out of habit.  They are words that deeply penetrate when they're spoken with sincerity.  They are words that take on new meaning when actions accompany.  I want to be a better example of someone who truly loves and not just somebody who says that they love.  The impact we will have on people that we love will be far-reaching.  Our sincere love will break down all barriers.  Now is the time to let our love be known to those people that we care about the very most.  Now, is the time to love.

Can You Feel That?

This story ranks near the top of my favorite stories ever told.  I know that you have your own experiences that are just as meaningful.  Sit back and enjoy a good cry with me.  This story was told by President Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until his death in 2008, about an experience in his father's childhood.

“An older boy and his young companion were walking along a road which led through a field. They saw an old coat and a badly worn pair of men’s shoes by the roadside, and in the distance they saw the owner working in the field.

“The younger boy suggested that they hide the shoes, conceal themselves, and watch the perplexity on the owner’s face when he returned.

“The older boy … thought that would not be so good. He said the owner must be a very poor man. So, after talking the matter over, at his suggestion, they concluded to try another experiment. Instead of hiding the shoes, they would put a silver dollar in each one and … see what the owner did when he discovered the money. So they did that.

“Pretty soon the man returned from the field, put on his coat, slipped one foot into a shoe, felt something hard, took it out and found a silver dollar. Wonder and surprise [shone] upon his face. He looked at the dollar again and again, turned around and could see nobody, then proceeded to put on the other shoe; when to his great surprise he found another dollar. His feelings overcame him. … He knelt down and offered aloud a prayer of thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife being sick and helpless and his children without bread. … He fervently thanked the Lord for this bounty from unknown hands and evoked the blessing of heaven upon those who gave him this needed help.

“The boys remained [hidden] until he had gone.” They had been touched by his prayer and felt something warm within their hearts. As they left to walk down the road, one said to the other, “Don’t you have a good feeling?” (Adapted from Bryant S. Hinckley, Not by Bread Alone, 95).

That story just makes me want to serve someone in need.  There are people who wait for people, like you and me, to help them.  Today is the day.

Do Your Best

In my high school Physical Education (P.E.) class there was a required run that all students had to do.  The run took up one whole class period, taking into consideration the duration it would take for everybody to complete it.  Your grade was based on a chart that listed your age and the amount of time that it took for you to complete the run.  Because our school mascot was the Rams, the run was called the RAM JAM.  In P.E. I thought that only an 'A' grade was acceptable.  There were some days when I would line up at the starting point of the RAM JAM and I couldn't stand the thought of having to run it.  I was never the fastest kid but I always wanted to get an 'A' grade.  Once the whistle was blown for me to start the run I dreaded it until a burst of energy would come over me and competition against the clock became my best friend.
Life is much like the RAM JAM.  There are certain things that don't seem the most exciting.  Sometimes those things turn out to be the very best.  
I work for the Boeing Company and I am a member of the team that builds the Main Instrument Panel in the cockpit of the 737 Commercial jet.  It is made up of many different sub-assemblies and every part is expected to be installed per the blueprint.  I have the desire every day to assemble and install every part, exactly as they are designed to fit together.  
I believe that doing my best allows a feeling of peace in my life.  I am trying to live my own life in a way that would be pleasing to those who care about me the most.  My personal measuring stick, when I do something in life, is whether Becky would approve of my actions.  I don't want to do anything that would embarrass her or anyone else in our family.  
Our RAM JAM of life deserves our very best effort.  Ready, Set, Go!