The Worth Of A Friend

Just as I promised, this week I am going to share some experiences that other people have had with good friends in their lives.  If you have something to share, please email them to me dfish0223@yahoo.com.
This story comes from my mom. 

"I was an extremely shy girl. I would get sick to my stomach if I went to stay overnight anywhere that my parents were not with me.  When I was a Beehive (12 or 13) in Young Women at church I had the most wonderful leader. Her name was Edith Van Sloten. She pulled me in and loved me like I was the only girl in the class. I know she did the same with all of the girls. It was springtime and she started talking up what a fun summer we were going to have and that she wanted all of us to go to Young Women camp. As I remember the cost of the camp was sizeable for that time and she was willing to help us with ideas to earn the money to pay our way.  Sister Van Sloten hired me and another girl to wash all of the outside windows in her home. We worked very hard all one Saturday. We did several other fund raiser projects and finally had our money.  A couple days before we were to go to camp I started to get very anxious and nervous about being away from home, but we had worked so hard that I hoped that I would be okay with Sister Van Sloten. So with the encouragement of my parents I packed my suitcase and my sleeping bag and off I went with my group.  I only made it one night at camp and my parents had to come and get me. I was sad that I would have disappointed the leader that I loved so much, but she assured me that it was okay and that there were lots of other fun times ahead.  I have never forgotten what a wonderful friend Sister Van Sloten was to a very shy young girl."  Thank you, mom.  I love you. 

The affects of one person are far-reaching.  Friends are those we can count on to accept us for who we are, all of the time. 

There Is Power In Knowledge

About eight months ago, I was asked to visit an older couple who live in our neighborhood.  He is retired from the Boeing company.  She has had average health over the past several years.  Me and my good friend, Michael, were asked to visit this couple as part of a church assignment.  It has been an enriching opportunity.  We have been faithful in visiting them each month and sometimes several times.
On Friday afternoon, Penny passed away.  I was notified of her passing later that afternoon.  I spoke with her husband, Don.  We chatted with each other.  He cried on the phone to me.  I listened intently as he spoke of his great love for his sweetheart.
My mind has thought about the short time I had to know Penny (short for Penelope).  I found great joy in being around her.  A couple of short weeks ago, Michael and I were called to their home to give them both a priesthood blessing.  As we laid our hands upon her head, and I offered the blessing, I felt a great peace come over me as I assured her that her health would be strong enough until her time would come to leave this existence.  I knew that a Heavenly Father was there and He was aware of all that she needed.  I still feel that same way.  I now know that His comforting presence will be with Don.
Even the thought of Becky being gone is about more than my heart can bear, I know with a surety that the kids and I would be watched over and our hearts would be comforted through such a tremendous loss.
We have all had a loss of a loved one at one time or another.  We know of the sting that the loss of a loved one brings.  We can be assured that God is with us.  He will fill our hearts with peace.  He will make His love perfectly manifested.  He loves us more than we can possibly comprehend.
I spoke with Don last night and I assured him of these same truths.  I told him that I loved him. 
We have knowledge of the light we can have even during our darkest days.  Don will feel and see of the light I am talking about.  We can too.  There is peace in knowing that one day, he will see her again.  I am thankful for this knowledge.

I Believe In You

I've been thinking, over the past two days, about some of the things that are the most important to me.  If you're married, think about the one thing that makes your marriage special.  If you're not married, give some thought to the friends that you have and what makes those friendships unique.
I have given some thought to my own marriage, and, the friendships I have with people and what one common thread makes them all special.
When Becky and I hadn't been married that long, we had a conversation that involved trust for one another and the vital part that it played in maintaining a strong and successful marriage. 
I worked with a woman who was nearly old enough to be my mother.  She was someone that I cared about.  I enjoyed the conversations we had about life and about our families.  Our relationship was always appropriate.  This woman asked me one day if I wanted to go get a burger for lunch.  I responded that I would if someone else came with us.  She gave me a funny look as if I was crazy.  I explained to her that I knew it might sound crazy but that it just doesn't look good.  It would be my luck that I would run into somebody that I knew and then their thoughts would run crazy about me being alone with another woman.  Becky and I vowed to each other that even at work we would not go to lunch with someone of the opposite sex, alone.  The appearance doesn't look good and I wouldn't ever want Becky to have reason to not trust me.  "Self-trust is the first secret of success."(Ralph Waldo Emerson)  I want to do things that allow me to maintain trust for myself.
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about the decisions I make.  Each one is based on trust or the trust that would be lost by making a poor one.
I have friends that I would trust with my own life.  I believe that no matter what, they would guard my heart and all would be well.  The number of these kinds of friends is smaller in number but important none the less.
I want to be a person that others can trust.  When I say that I'll do something, there should be no question that it will get done.  When I say that I'm in one place, it is sure that I am there.  When someone tells me something in confidence, they can be sure that I will not tell another person...PERIOD!
These are the things that I want to do.  There is a saying,"that it is better to be trusted , than it is to be loved."  I believe that is true.

We All Want A Friend

I love a good story.  Here is one for you that I read and enjoyed immensely.

There was a time when Whitney didn't have a lot of friends. She was a bit shy and reserved. She never really wanted to be popular, but she did want to have someone to share secrets and laughs with. All through high school, though, she just slipped in and out of "light" friendships where she didn't find a lot of comfort or companionship.

When it came time to go to college, Whitney was quite nervous. She was going to be rooming with someone she didn't know and living in a town 300 miles away from home. There wouldn't be a single person she knew in town. She had no idea how she was going to make friends in this new environment. The first week of classes, something happened that changed Whitney's life forever. In her English Composition class, she was asked (as were all the students) to share a little about herself. She told everyone where she called home and all of the other ordinary details that students share in such situations. The final question for each student was always the same: "What is your goal for this class?" Now, most of the students said it was to get a good grade, pass the class or something similar, but for some reason, Whitney said something entirely different. She said that her goal was to make just one good friend.  While most of the students sat in silence, one student came to Whitney and held out his hand and introduced himself. He asked if she would be his friend. The whole room was silent – all eyes focused on the Whitney and the hand extended just in front of her. She smiled and stretched her hand out to take his and a friendship was formed. It was a friendship that lasted all through college.

Everyone wants to feel needed.  Several years ago, I was leading a group of young men at church.  After church, on Sunday afternoon, I would take two boys to visit a few elderly people.  One visit was to a ninety-two year old woman.  She was very friendly but old and fragile.  She didn't remember who we were until we had been there a few minutes and then her mind would spin into action and she remembered precisely who we were.  One Sunday afternoon, we stopped by for our visit and her seventy year old daughter answered the door.  She invited us in.  I said hello to this elderly friend of ours.  She sat silent and starred at me.  "You are the most handsome man I have ever seen," she said.  I didn't know who she was talking about but I took what she said as a compliment.  I walked over and sat next to her on the old couch.  I reached over and held her hand.  When I looked at her face she smiled and gently squeezed my hand.

Each one of us longs for someone to love and care about us.  We can brighten someone else's day by acts that we consider simple.  Let's be that friend.
I want to try something a little different beginning on Monday.  I hope that all next week the blog will be devoted to uplifting personal stories from the readership of this blog.  Will you please send me your own personal stories about friendship and the impact a good friend has had in your life? I would like to hear from some of you all next week.  Email those to dfish0223@yahoo.com.

Family Time

I love to spend time with my family!
Becky and I just got home from taking the boys to see a movie.  We saw "We bought a zoo."  Great show!
I called home, this morning, to chat with Becky.  I asked how everything was at home.  Becky said that her and the boys were getting ready to go to the movie.  She asked if I could go with them.  At first, I thought that today was probably not the best day for me to do that.  I got off of the phone with her and thought about the memories that I could make by taking a little time off of work to go to the show.  My decision was a no-brainer. 
There isn't anybody that doesn't understand how busy life can get.  Our family is the exact same.  I encourage you to take the opportunity to spend quality time with your family.  It may seem inconvenient at times but the pay-off is huge.
The memory I made today was one that I will remember and think about for a long time.
Let me share a personal experience I had in my childhood.  My older brother and I were out in the front of our home playing catch with the baseball.  We could throw the ball back and forth for hours and never tire or get bored.  While we were playing catch, our dad pulled in the driveway from a long day at work.  We understood that he had church responsibilities that he was leaving to fulfill and so we never pressured him to play.  He got out of the car and said hello and asked us about how the day had gone for us.  He went into the house to check on mom, like he always did.  Ten minutes passed by and the front door of the house opened.  Dad had changed out of his suit and had his baseball glove on his left hand.  We asked what he was doing because we knew that he had other commitments.  He said that he had made other arrangements for the evening and that he was going to stay home and play catch with us boys.  We played until our arms were sore.  It was a memorable moment in time.  I was happy that dad had spent that time with us.
That was many years ago and yet, my mind sees it as very clear. 
I want to make decisions that will impact the lives of each member of our family positively.  I love to spend time with my family and I hope you do too!

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.