Sorry it's been so long, we seem to do that a lot; we'll be really good at writing for a few months, and then fall off the band wagon. I'm resolved to do better! We'll see how it goes.
So update in our lives, Ben will be graduating in April. Our lease will be up in April as well, so that means farewell to Rexburg! The only problem? We don't know where we're going yet. We have it narrowed down to a few options, but nothing solid. Graduate school applications are in and we're in the interview processes right now; it's just the waiting game that keeps us from knowing where we will be.
This "decide where we will live and go to school for the next 2-4 years" process has been really interesting for us. As we usually do with important decisions, we've been praying about it for a while. There have been many options as to what we could do, and (not surprisingly) the answer of what to do isn't coming all at once.
I think God wants us (not just Ben and I, but all of His children) to be able to make important decisions with a sure knowledge that what we are doing follows His plan for us. That knowledge doesn't come from Him saying "Hey, do ______ thing, at _______time, in _______place." He gives it to us one small piece at a time as we diligently seek answers. If God gave us the entire answer all at once, we wouldn't have to be very consistent in asking, would we? We would have to be diligent until the big answer came, but then, what reason would we have to continue to seek His guidance? For us at least, the answers have come in the form of really small steps to take. It's been a process of feeling out which program to pursue, and then which colleges to apply for. Do we work for a few years to gain experience before going into a program, or look for a program that is tailored to those without experience? Then we had to revisit which colleges we were applying for...about 3 times. Then we had to go over every detail of the application process (especially the essays) and come up with the money to pay all the application fees. Now we are in the interviews, and later it will be comparing offers and pros and cons of each program. Starting next week it will be visiting each campus to see how we feel about it. It takes a lot of time and effort and sacrifice, but I believe we're at a point where we are okay with that. Nothing that is worth anything is easy, and usually easy street is a dead end anyway.
Hopefully in the next 4 weeks we will know where we are moving to, which program Ben will be studying in for his masters degree, what employment we will have in order to not starve to death, and overall have a rough sketch of what the next 2-4 years holds for us. In the mean time, my biggest struggle is to resist the temptation to freak out. Not because I'm actually worried about whether or not we will end up in the right place or find a job or housing or anything like that, but because my pride tells me that I need to freak out. The temptation to be worried about something important comes from the natural desire within to not look like a fool to those around me who constantly ask "So what are you're post graduation plans?". I've realized that if I take out the factor of other people possibly judging me, and just think about if I trust God is in control or not, I'm really not worried at all. But when I think others are judging me or think that I'm foolish for not having our plans worked out yet, that's when the urge to act like a freaked out maniac strikes. Why is this? I think it comes from the desire to feel normal. Maybe an effort to not look like I think I'm better than everyone else, or an effort to look like I can relate to everyone else's circumstances too. It's tough to put a finger on why, but I know that it's rooted in my pride and desire to build my own self-image.
That's a problem. Obviously we all struggle with our own personal problems, and pride is a sin that nearly no one can escape. In fact I think Jesus Himself was the only person who was able to fully evade the temptation to indulge in pride at least once or twice. The problem with pride is that it's all about me. How do I look? How do I feel? What will others think of me? If I'm constantly focusing on myself and how I look, than I don't have time to worry about God or what He desires for me, or how He looks through me.
That probably doesn't make sense at first, but think about it. As Christians one of our duties is to use our time and efforts and resources to glorify His name. We are to do all things with "an eye single to the glory of God". The scriptures say that we are to "receive His image in our countenances". If I'm so worried about MY image, then I definitely don't have HIS image. It's something we all need to work on. For me, right now, I'm working on resisting the urge to worry about how I look, and trying to make God look good by doing what He would do and saying what He would say. Do others recognize Him when they see me? If they don't, then I have a lot of changing to do.
So back to my urge to freak out about not knowing what we're doing with our lives in the immediate future...so what? So I don't know what's going on, who does really? Why worry about whether or not I look like everyone else who does or doesn't "know" (or rather have a plan which will possibly not go accordingly) what their doing? I just need to worry about making sure I'm doing what He would do and saying what He would say. Everything else will fall into place. My trainer on the mission always had a saying "Everything will all work out," and she's right. I just need to stop worrying about my image and start worrying about if I have His.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
The 3 step miracle process
Well, the holidays are over, so I guess I have no more excuses as to why I haven't written in our blog! We've been traveling and gearing up for our last semester of school (and by "our" I mean Ben's) and trying to figure out where we are going after that. Grad school here we come! We're just not sure which grad school yet.
The last few weeks have really taught me a lot about how aware of us God really is. Even when I'm not thinking about my problems, He is, and He's preparing to help me with them. Of course, He can't just drop the solutions into my brain without me asking for them, and He can't force me to do what I need to in order to solve the problem. I need to make the choice on my own. Going through some of the trials we've been dealing with (health issues, financial issues, and baby sleep issues, to name a few) I've noticed that God always has a solution ready and waiting for me, I just have to access it. I learned how to do just that in one of my religion classes, and I thought I would share it here.
The way to access God's solutions to our problems is a 3 step process that is actually pretty simple to follow. I learned this in context of accessing miracles, but I have no problem replacing the word "miracle" here with "solution", since miracles we seek usually tend to solve problems we are facing. To give credit, this information comes from Ross Baron, a Stake President and religion teacher at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
The first step to finding the solution to our problems is to desire. Now, that might seem like a no-brainer, since everyone would love to have their problems go away; this is actually talking about proving to God that you're serious about finding a solution. Nobody likes having problems, and most people will complain about them, but complaining doesn't mean you're serious about doing something to solve the problem. Like I said earlier, God isn't going to just drop the solution in my lap. I have to ask for it. Asking in prayer is one way to show our desire to receive an answer. Studying the scriptures is another way to manifest desire, because it shows we are searching God's words, believing that we will find the answer there. Pondering possible solutions is another way. God gave us a brain and He wants us to use it. He wants us to use logic and reasoning and think through things. If we expect God to give us a detailed description saying exactly what we should do, we are being slothful, (according to the scriptures). So the first thing to do is show God you truly desire an answer (or miracle, or solution).
The second step is usually easier, it is to receive inspiration. Now, this is actually God's part of the process: we seek a solution, He inspires us as to what action we need to take. Receiving this inspiration will only happen if we are paying attention. Do you have a feeling you need to do something specific? Did an idea pop into your mind of what do to while you were praying or studying? Did you suddenly remember an experience where something you learned earlier would apply to your current situation? Pay special attention to your feelings and thoughts when you're praying, studying the scriptures, and thinking about solutions. This is how God reveals to you what you're supposed to do. Occasionally He will place someone in your path that says "you need to do _____ in order to fix your problem", but usually He answers you with thoughts and feelings. If you aren't sure if your thought or feeling about something is coming from Him, ask Him in prayer. He'll let you know.
The third step is the hardest. The third step is to do what God inspired you to do, or to put it in gospel terms, to act. The reason this is so hard is because sometimes the thing God has asked us to do doesn't seem as if it will directly or immediately solve your problem. A perfect example is financial issues: most people would readily accept the answer to get a second job if they have insufficient finances to provide for the family, because more working = more money, and therefore the deficit is taken care of in simple math. A lot of people struggle with receiving the answer to pay their tithing, because paying something doesn't put more money in your bank account, it takes away from it. This is where we need faith. Do I have the faith that if I pay my tithing - which initially gives me less money than I already have - that God will provide the way for me to pay all my bills and feed my family? This is where most people fail to receive a miracle, because they fail to act on what God has asked them to do. They just don't see how paying ANOTHER "bill" could be the answer to their financial problems, and so they ignore the instruction from God. Without their action, God cannot produce the miracle, and so they are left to themselves to figure our their financial problems. On the other hand, if they act and pay their tithing (even if it doesn't make sense), God works miracles in order to bless them with the answer to their problems. Sometimes those miracles are subtle, and sometimes they are very obvious, but He works them just the same. The important thing to remember is that He WILL NOT provide the miracle if you don't act on what He has asked you to do. A lot of people expect God to just give them the answers, but there is nowhere in scripture where we find evidence of God doing a miracle for somebody before they were obedient to what He told them to do.
My favorite example of this pattern in the scriptures comes from the Old Testament. In Joshua chapter 3, the Israelites are finally done wandering in the wilderness and need to enter the promised land, but they have a problem: The Jordan river stands between them and the promised land, and it's currently at flood level. Joshua (the Prophet at the time) has big shoes to fill - he's been called to be their leader right after Moses, who did amazing miracles like parting the Red Sea,making water come from a dry rock, and causing an earthquake to happen that only destroyed the part of land where the wicked people were standing. Joshua is doing a lot of seeking in order to know how to be an effective leader to these people. God promises him in verse 7 that He will do miracles through Joshua and show the people that Joshua is God's prophet just as Moses was. God then instructs Joshua to tell the priests carrying the Ark to go and stand in the middle of the river. Now to the common man, this seems pointless and silly. How will a handful of men standing in the middle of an overflowing river help thousands of people get across it? This is where faith comes in. They just need to do it, even if they don't understand why. So the priests do it. They act on what they were told to do. The result was a miracle. As soon as their feet touch the water, it stops flowing from that point, but further up stream the water is still flowing. It literally looks as if an invisible wall is blocking the water, causing it to heap higher and higher as if the water was standing up. Kind of like this, but I imagine it higher:
The people then walked across on completely dry ground - not mud - dry ground. God could only do this miracle after the people got their feet wet. This pattern repeats itself over and over and over in the scriptures.
So to recap - desire the answer, pay attention to receive the inspiration of what to do, and then DO IT, no matter how hard or ridiculous it seems. Without the action, the rest of the process is useless, and you receive no miracle. It all comes down to whether or not you have the faith to act.
The last few weeks have really taught me a lot about how aware of us God really is. Even when I'm not thinking about my problems, He is, and He's preparing to help me with them. Of course, He can't just drop the solutions into my brain without me asking for them, and He can't force me to do what I need to in order to solve the problem. I need to make the choice on my own. Going through some of the trials we've been dealing with (health issues, financial issues, and baby sleep issues, to name a few) I've noticed that God always has a solution ready and waiting for me, I just have to access it. I learned how to do just that in one of my religion classes, and I thought I would share it here.
The way to access God's solutions to our problems is a 3 step process that is actually pretty simple to follow. I learned this in context of accessing miracles, but I have no problem replacing the word "miracle" here with "solution", since miracles we seek usually tend to solve problems we are facing. To give credit, this information comes from Ross Baron, a Stake President and religion teacher at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
The first step to finding the solution to our problems is to desire. Now, that might seem like a no-brainer, since everyone would love to have their problems go away; this is actually talking about proving to God that you're serious about finding a solution. Nobody likes having problems, and most people will complain about them, but complaining doesn't mean you're serious about doing something to solve the problem. Like I said earlier, God isn't going to just drop the solution in my lap. I have to ask for it. Asking in prayer is one way to show our desire to receive an answer. Studying the scriptures is another way to manifest desire, because it shows we are searching God's words, believing that we will find the answer there. Pondering possible solutions is another way. God gave us a brain and He wants us to use it. He wants us to use logic and reasoning and think through things. If we expect God to give us a detailed description saying exactly what we should do, we are being slothful, (according to the scriptures). So the first thing to do is show God you truly desire an answer (or miracle, or solution).
The second step is usually easier, it is to receive inspiration. Now, this is actually God's part of the process: we seek a solution, He inspires us as to what action we need to take. Receiving this inspiration will only happen if we are paying attention. Do you have a feeling you need to do something specific? Did an idea pop into your mind of what do to while you were praying or studying? Did you suddenly remember an experience where something you learned earlier would apply to your current situation? Pay special attention to your feelings and thoughts when you're praying, studying the scriptures, and thinking about solutions. This is how God reveals to you what you're supposed to do. Occasionally He will place someone in your path that says "you need to do _____ in order to fix your problem", but usually He answers you with thoughts and feelings. If you aren't sure if your thought or feeling about something is coming from Him, ask Him in prayer. He'll let you know.
The third step is the hardest. The third step is to do what God inspired you to do, or to put it in gospel terms, to act. The reason this is so hard is because sometimes the thing God has asked us to do doesn't seem as if it will directly or immediately solve your problem. A perfect example is financial issues: most people would readily accept the answer to get a second job if they have insufficient finances to provide for the family, because more working = more money, and therefore the deficit is taken care of in simple math. A lot of people struggle with receiving the answer to pay their tithing, because paying something doesn't put more money in your bank account, it takes away from it. This is where we need faith. Do I have the faith that if I pay my tithing - which initially gives me less money than I already have - that God will provide the way for me to pay all my bills and feed my family? This is where most people fail to receive a miracle, because they fail to act on what God has asked them to do. They just don't see how paying ANOTHER "bill" could be the answer to their financial problems, and so they ignore the instruction from God. Without their action, God cannot produce the miracle, and so they are left to themselves to figure our their financial problems. On the other hand, if they act and pay their tithing (even if it doesn't make sense), God works miracles in order to bless them with the answer to their problems. Sometimes those miracles are subtle, and sometimes they are very obvious, but He works them just the same. The important thing to remember is that He WILL NOT provide the miracle if you don't act on what He has asked you to do. A lot of people expect God to just give them the answers, but there is nowhere in scripture where we find evidence of God doing a miracle for somebody before they were obedient to what He told them to do.
My favorite example of this pattern in the scriptures comes from the Old Testament. In Joshua chapter 3, the Israelites are finally done wandering in the wilderness and need to enter the promised land, but they have a problem: The Jordan river stands between them and the promised land, and it's currently at flood level. Joshua (the Prophet at the time) has big shoes to fill - he's been called to be their leader right after Moses, who did amazing miracles like parting the Red Sea,making water come from a dry rock, and causing an earthquake to happen that only destroyed the part of land where the wicked people were standing. Joshua is doing a lot of seeking in order to know how to be an effective leader to these people. God promises him in verse 7 that He will do miracles through Joshua and show the people that Joshua is God's prophet just as Moses was. God then instructs Joshua to tell the priests carrying the Ark to go and stand in the middle of the river. Now to the common man, this seems pointless and silly. How will a handful of men standing in the middle of an overflowing river help thousands of people get across it? This is where faith comes in. They just need to do it, even if they don't understand why. So the priests do it. They act on what they were told to do. The result was a miracle. As soon as their feet touch the water, it stops flowing from that point, but further up stream the water is still flowing. It literally looks as if an invisible wall is blocking the water, causing it to heap higher and higher as if the water was standing up. Kind of like this, but I imagine it higher:
The people then walked across on completely dry ground - not mud - dry ground. God could only do this miracle after the people got their feet wet. This pattern repeats itself over and over and over in the scriptures.
So to recap - desire the answer, pay attention to receive the inspiration of what to do, and then DO IT, no matter how hard or ridiculous it seems. Without the action, the rest of the process is useless, and you receive no miracle. It all comes down to whether or not you have the faith to act.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Hone$ty Pay$
So it's Christmas time, and I'm sure everyone (like us) has been doing a lot of shopping and wrapping and waiting in line at the post office to make sure all the presents get delivered by Christmas Day. We tried to get all our shopping done early(er) this year. One gift purchasing experience left me quite happy we made the decision a long time ago to be honest no matter what.
We purchased quite a lot of our gifts this year from Amazon.com, and with coupons and combining good deals, all but one gift came with free shipping. The one that didn't happened to be the most expensive purchase we've made this season. It came on time and we were pleased with the product. A few days after all of our gifts arrived, we received an extra box in the mail. I'm part of a world-wide Mommy gift exchange event on Facebook, and I figured it must be the gift from my Secret Santa, so I opened it. The package inside was clearly NOT meant for me, and there was a paper on top of the item with the name and address of someone else. When we compared the box to another one we had received we realized it was from the same seller who sold us the gift we had to pay shipping on.
Now, for us it wasn't even a discussion about what to do with the box. It wasn't ours and it needed to go to the rightful owner. But looking back, if we were dishonest people, it would have been super easy to keep it and get away with it. The box was mailed through USPS, and there was no tracking number, so the shipper would have no way of knowing that we had it. In addition, the person who actually ordered the package probably would have waited several more days before complaining that she hadn't received the box yet, so they wouldn't know where to look first. And some people might rationalize "It's not MY fault they mailed me the wrong box" and use the "finders keepers losers weepers" way of thinking. But in the end, it would have been dishonest no matter which way you look at it to keep the box. All I could think is that some poor woman in Michigan is waiting for a Christmas gift to arrive, and if I don't do something soon it might not get there in time for Christmas.
So I emailed the seller. I explained the situation and hoped they would get back to me soon. I got a phone call from the guy who owns the company apologizing for the mix up. I asked if he wanted me to mail it back to him so that he could send it to the right person, but after some discussion we decided that that would definitely get the gift there way too late. I agreed to take it to the post office and mail it to the woman who made the purchase, and then email the seller a receipt so that he could reimburse me for the shipping. I had to go to the post office that day anyway since I still needed to mail my Secret Santa gift all the way to England (which by the way is SUPER expensive!).
The next day I was surprised to see that we had a large deposit into our bank account from Amazon, much larger than the cost to mail the misplaced package to Michigan. When I checked my email the seller had sent me a message saying he had refunded not only the cost on the receipt for mailing his box, but also my previous purchase and shipping charges as a thank you for taking the trouble to help him out! I couldn't help but smile at his kindness.
Even if we hadn't have received monetary compensation for doing the right thing, honesty still pays. It adds to your reputation as a trustworthy person, it builds confidence that you're doing what God wants you to do, and it gives you the peace of mind knowing that no one can accuse you of trying to cheat your way through life. Most importantly, it shows the Savior that you take seriously your commitment to follow in His footsteps. God blesses us for doing good, and more often than not those blessings are much less subtle than money in your bank account. Often it is simply a feeling inside that you helped someone else. It is the peace in your heart and mind, and another drop of oil in your lamp (referring to the Parable of the 10 Virgins). And those blessings, however subtle they might be, have eternal significance. I would rather be honest and add value to my soul than be dishonest and add value to my bank account (although in this rare instance being honest added to my bank account as well).
So whenever you're in a situation where someone has made an error in your favor, or it would be really easy to get away with paying less than you are supposed to, or keeping something that isn't yours, please remember honesty. Christ teaches us that we should seek treasures in heaven, not treasures on earth. Having perfect integrity is one of the best ways to ensure that you are seeking the right treasures. So remember to be honest and have a Merry Christmas this season!
We purchased quite a lot of our gifts this year from Amazon.com, and with coupons and combining good deals, all but one gift came with free shipping. The one that didn't happened to be the most expensive purchase we've made this season. It came on time and we were pleased with the product. A few days after all of our gifts arrived, we received an extra box in the mail. I'm part of a world-wide Mommy gift exchange event on Facebook, and I figured it must be the gift from my Secret Santa, so I opened it. The package inside was clearly NOT meant for me, and there was a paper on top of the item with the name and address of someone else. When we compared the box to another one we had received we realized it was from the same seller who sold us the gift we had to pay shipping on.
Now, for us it wasn't even a discussion about what to do with the box. It wasn't ours and it needed to go to the rightful owner. But looking back, if we were dishonest people, it would have been super easy to keep it and get away with it. The box was mailed through USPS, and there was no tracking number, so the shipper would have no way of knowing that we had it. In addition, the person who actually ordered the package probably would have waited several more days before complaining that she hadn't received the box yet, so they wouldn't know where to look first. And some people might rationalize "It's not MY fault they mailed me the wrong box" and use the "finders keepers losers weepers" way of thinking. But in the end, it would have been dishonest no matter which way you look at it to keep the box. All I could think is that some poor woman in Michigan is waiting for a Christmas gift to arrive, and if I don't do something soon it might not get there in time for Christmas.
So I emailed the seller. I explained the situation and hoped they would get back to me soon. I got a phone call from the guy who owns the company apologizing for the mix up. I asked if he wanted me to mail it back to him so that he could send it to the right person, but after some discussion we decided that that would definitely get the gift there way too late. I agreed to take it to the post office and mail it to the woman who made the purchase, and then email the seller a receipt so that he could reimburse me for the shipping. I had to go to the post office that day anyway since I still needed to mail my Secret Santa gift all the way to England (which by the way is SUPER expensive!).
The next day I was surprised to see that we had a large deposit into our bank account from Amazon, much larger than the cost to mail the misplaced package to Michigan. When I checked my email the seller had sent me a message saying he had refunded not only the cost on the receipt for mailing his box, but also my previous purchase and shipping charges as a thank you for taking the trouble to help him out! I couldn't help but smile at his kindness.
Even if we hadn't have received monetary compensation for doing the right thing, honesty still pays. It adds to your reputation as a trustworthy person, it builds confidence that you're doing what God wants you to do, and it gives you the peace of mind knowing that no one can accuse you of trying to cheat your way through life. Most importantly, it shows the Savior that you take seriously your commitment to follow in His footsteps. God blesses us for doing good, and more often than not those blessings are much less subtle than money in your bank account. Often it is simply a feeling inside that you helped someone else. It is the peace in your heart and mind, and another drop of oil in your lamp (referring to the Parable of the 10 Virgins). And those blessings, however subtle they might be, have eternal significance. I would rather be honest and add value to my soul than be dishonest and add value to my bank account (although in this rare instance being honest added to my bank account as well).
So whenever you're in a situation where someone has made an error in your favor, or it would be really easy to get away with paying less than you are supposed to, or keeping something that isn't yours, please remember honesty. Christ teaches us that we should seek treasures in heaven, not treasures on earth. Having perfect integrity is one of the best ways to ensure that you are seeking the right treasures. So remember to be honest and have a Merry Christmas this season!
What is Christmas?
Over the past few days I've been contemplating my feelings towards Christmas. I'm sure we all remember as kids, how excited we were every Christmas morning to run to our Christmas tree and check out all the present we got. I remember laying in bed for hours Christmas Eve, unable to sleep for the excitement within me. I remember the warmth and excitement of the entire Christmas season, how it just built up and up and up, all culminating on the 25th.
But now things feel different. I no longer feel this burning excitement within me, super-anxious for Christmas to arrive so I can check out my gifts. I find that I more enjoy just spending the time with family. More than gifts I now cherish the special time spent with family members I haven't seen in a long time. I cherish the memories made and the good times enjoyed.
But I don't need Christmas to be able to enjoy those times with family. I can use any day of the year for that. I'm assuming many adults feel the same way that I do towards Christmas and presents. We no longer feel that drive and desire to get tons of gifts.
So if Christmas isn't really about presents, and if it really isn't focused completely on spending time with family, what is it about?
I feel like the world has turned Christmas into something commercial, something manufactured. They still try to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas, of remembering Christ and his birth. But it still takes a back burner to the worldly aspects of Christmas.
So I wonder if we do the same thing? Do we still claim that we are remembering the true meaning of Christmas, God's purpose for Christmas, when in reality that is just a facade for what we actually do with our families: buying and getting gifts, spending frazzled nights trying to get our family Christmas cards ready, and spending long days making Christmas cookies? Now don't get me wrong, none of these are bad things. In fact, they're wonderful traditions that I cherish in my own family. But my question is are we still putting those things ahead of what Christmas is really about? I know that I'm certainly guilty of this. We say we remember the true meaning of Christmas, but we only spend a few hours on it total during the Christmas season. It's similar for Easter: we remember the true meaning of Easter, but oftentimes we're more focused on egg decorating and hunting and waiting for the Easter bunny.
So how can we put Christ at the center of our Christmas and not leave Him out on the fringes? I guess that's my question for you. I don't claim to know, that's what I've been trying to figure out. So how do you put Christ in the center of your Christmas? Please comment below and we'll try and see if we can figure it out. I'll close, though, with a few comments by some modern-day apostles and prophets that can hopefully steer us in the right direction.
And yet, Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas. - Thomas S. Monson
The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things. - Thomas S. Monson
While it’s true that we can find materialism and anxiety in Christmas, it is also true that if we have eyes to see, we can experience the powerful message of the birth of the Son of God and feel the hope and peace He brings to the world. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf
But now things feel different. I no longer feel this burning excitement within me, super-anxious for Christmas to arrive so I can check out my gifts. I find that I more enjoy just spending the time with family. More than gifts I now cherish the special time spent with family members I haven't seen in a long time. I cherish the memories made and the good times enjoyed.
But I don't need Christmas to be able to enjoy those times with family. I can use any day of the year for that. I'm assuming many adults feel the same way that I do towards Christmas and presents. We no longer feel that drive and desire to get tons of gifts.
So if Christmas isn't really about presents, and if it really isn't focused completely on spending time with family, what is it about?
I feel like the world has turned Christmas into something commercial, something manufactured. They still try to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas, of remembering Christ and his birth. But it still takes a back burner to the worldly aspects of Christmas.
So I wonder if we do the same thing? Do we still claim that we are remembering the true meaning of Christmas, God's purpose for Christmas, when in reality that is just a facade for what we actually do with our families: buying and getting gifts, spending frazzled nights trying to get our family Christmas cards ready, and spending long days making Christmas cookies? Now don't get me wrong, none of these are bad things. In fact, they're wonderful traditions that I cherish in my own family. But my question is are we still putting those things ahead of what Christmas is really about? I know that I'm certainly guilty of this. We say we remember the true meaning of Christmas, but we only spend a few hours on it total during the Christmas season. It's similar for Easter: we remember the true meaning of Easter, but oftentimes we're more focused on egg decorating and hunting and waiting for the Easter bunny.
So how can we put Christ at the center of our Christmas and not leave Him out on the fringes? I guess that's my question for you. I don't claim to know, that's what I've been trying to figure out. So how do you put Christ in the center of your Christmas? Please comment below and we'll try and see if we can figure it out. I'll close, though, with a few comments by some modern-day apostles and prophets that can hopefully steer us in the right direction.
And yet, Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas. - Thomas S. Monson
The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things. - Thomas S. Monson
While it’s true that we can find materialism and anxiety in Christmas, it is also true that if we have eyes to see, we can experience the powerful message of the birth of the Son of God and feel the hope and peace He brings to the world. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Thanksgiving will never be the same
Well I don't need to tell you that Thanksgiving is this week. Our church already celebrated with a dinner on Saturday; I was grateful for that so I could still participate in the church activity but also go out of town to visit family for the actual holiday. I made this cake for the dinner, I'm pretty proud of it.
While I have always loved Thanksgiving dinner and watching the parades and football and whatnot, they (obviously) aren't the meaning of Thanksgiving. As we enter this holiday I can't help but think back to what I was doing on Thanksgiving Day last year. On Thanksgiving morning, after Ben and I had been up all night taking care of her and making sure she was comfortable, I watched my Grandmother (who's maiden name is actually my first name, but spelled "Gauchat") take her last breath. We knew it would happen soon, and we got to spend several days with her before it happened, but it still changed Thanksgiving for me. We didn't eat a huge meal or really even celebrate. In fact we went home and slept for the more part of the day (since we had been up all night taking care of Grandma). When we did have energy, all we wanted to do was go be with family.
It didn't matter that we had spent the week leading up to Thanksgiving around our family. Grandma's house was small and she had 8 kids, most of whom came to visit. Most of her grandchildren either flew or drove to see her before she passed, and several of her great-grand children as well. People came from all over (from Canada to Hawaii) and we were all in Grandma's little double-wide for a week (coming and going, but still, it was a huge crowd). Most of the time I would be so overwhelmed with that amount of people for so long that I would want to just be alone for a while, but the feeling of wanting to be with family was amazing that day.
Before this I looked at Thanksgiving as a day when I should think about all the things that I have to be grateful for, but really I was thinking about the pie and rolls and how good my dad's mashed potatoes were going to taste. Now, I can't stop thinking about just being with family. I could care less about the food, heck we could eat pizza and I would happy, as long as I got to spend time with family. I do think that the time spent with family in preparation for Thanksgiving is a fantastic use of my time (you can't beat memories in the kitchen), and I hope that this Thanksgiving you all use the activities of Thanksgiving to really enjoy being with your loved ones. Don't worry so much about the Black Friday sales and whether or not your cranberry sauce will turn out as perfectly as you want. Just enjoy being with your family. That's what matters most.
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| That's all cake and buttercream frosting :) |
It didn't matter that we had spent the week leading up to Thanksgiving around our family. Grandma's house was small and she had 8 kids, most of whom came to visit. Most of her grandchildren either flew or drove to see her before she passed, and several of her great-grand children as well. People came from all over (from Canada to Hawaii) and we were all in Grandma's little double-wide for a week (coming and going, but still, it was a huge crowd). Most of the time I would be so overwhelmed with that amount of people for so long that I would want to just be alone for a while, but the feeling of wanting to be with family was amazing that day.
Before this I looked at Thanksgiving as a day when I should think about all the things that I have to be grateful for, but really I was thinking about the pie and rolls and how good my dad's mashed potatoes were going to taste. Now, I can't stop thinking about just being with family. I could care less about the food, heck we could eat pizza and I would happy, as long as I got to spend time with family. I do think that the time spent with family in preparation for Thanksgiving is a fantastic use of my time (you can't beat memories in the kitchen), and I hope that this Thanksgiving you all use the activities of Thanksgiving to really enjoy being with your loved ones. Don't worry so much about the Black Friday sales and whether or not your cranberry sauce will turn out as perfectly as you want. Just enjoy being with your family. That's what matters most.
Being thankful in both heart and deed
What does it mean to be thankful? We talk about it every year, we go around the table at Thanksgiving and share things that we're thankful for, but what does it really mean? Is being thankful a passive verb? Or does it actually imply action? I have the feeling that true thankfulness, true gratitude, requires action.
Let me explain. I don't think that it's a bad thing to recognize the many things we're grateful for. In fact, we should be doing that. We should be counting our blessings and thanking God for them every day. But I think that gratitude also means we actually have to do something. I think when we experience true gratitude, we want to go out and specifically find the person who deserves our thanks.
A couple weeks ago for our Family Home Evening (for those that don't know what that is, follow this link) Gauchay had us do an activity where we contacted someone and thanked them for something they'd done. I thought of a dear friend who has had a major impact on my life and on Gauchay's. He was a part of God's work to bring Gauchay and I together. And while I was grateful for that, I didn't think I ever had sat down to express it to him. So I wrote him a note of gratitude and tried to put my actual feelings into it. It was an amazing experience. The feelings that came over me as I expressed thanks to someone who had blessed my life were sweet and precious. Showing gratitude is essential to living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So this Thanksgiving I want to give you all a special challenge: instead of just recognizing what you're thankful for, be sure to go out and express that gratitude to whoever made it possible, whether it be someone in your family, Heavenly Father, a friend, or someone you barely know. I promise that the feelings that will come over you and the recipient of your gratitude will be sweet and tender and be something that you will cherish forever. I think this lies at the heart of what Thanksgiving really is, and I know that as we express that thanks and teach our families to express gratitude, that we will grow closer to our Heavenly Father.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
The meaning behind the pain
Everybody has struggles and trials, they are a part of life that we just can't avoid. My personal struggles are different from yours, and in a sense, they are the same as yours too. It's easy to complain about them because they make life more difficult. Some of our personal trials leave us in darkness feeling like we have no way out and we just want to find the exit.
I read a really great article this week about finding light and hope during depression, and while I don't agree 100% with everything it said, I love the idea that it is based on. It talks about a sermon given by a pastor who addresses light and darkness as it deals with depression (although I think it can be applied to the darkness we feel during any trial). The article can be found here:
http://www.incourage.me/2014/11/how-to-find-light-in-the-dark-of-depression.html
Oftentimes I think we expect that if we are living our lives the way we think God wants us to, then we should be happy and have an easy time of things, I mean after all, doesn't God reward us with blessings when we do good? Of course that would lead us to believe that if we are doing something wrong, then God will punish us, and therefore we will be miserable.
But surprisingly, scripture doesn't support that. Look at all the good people in the scriptures who are amazing examples of righteousness: they all suffered. There is an entire book devoted to the lamentations of Jeremiah. Job wasn't a sinner, but he lost everything (his family, home, money, and eventually his good health). Abraham was possibly the only Prophet in the scriptures who we don't have a record of being chastised by God, and yet he was asked to ritually sacrifice his own son. Jesus himself is the perfect example of someone who never did anything wrong (in fact he did EVERYTHING right 100% of the time), and he suffered more than anyone in the history of the world will ever suffer. So we can't assume that suffering is a punishment.
What the pastor in this article brings up (and what really caught my attention) is that trials and suffering put us in darkness, and it is up to us to find the light. Trials put us in the perfect situation to seek God's light, and by seeking Him we are coming to know Him better. As we search for Him we study His words, we speak to Him in prayer, and we search within ourselves to find the deepest most secret part of ourselves and offer it to God as we try to understand our situation. Being in the darkness is an invitation to come to know God better.
And in truth, since Christ "bowed beneath all things" and suffered all the pains of everyone everywhere, the darkness of our suffering invites us to walk where He walked. As we seek the light we become as He is. So whether your struggle is depression or financial hardship or that your health is failing, remember that it's not a curse. It's an invitation to come to know God better by seeking His light.
I read a really great article this week about finding light and hope during depression, and while I don't agree 100% with everything it said, I love the idea that it is based on. It talks about a sermon given by a pastor who addresses light and darkness as it deals with depression (although I think it can be applied to the darkness we feel during any trial). The article can be found here:
http://www.incourage.me/2014/11/how-to-find-light-in-the-dark-of-depression.html
Oftentimes I think we expect that if we are living our lives the way we think God wants us to, then we should be happy and have an easy time of things, I mean after all, doesn't God reward us with blessings when we do good? Of course that would lead us to believe that if we are doing something wrong, then God will punish us, and therefore we will be miserable.
But surprisingly, scripture doesn't support that. Look at all the good people in the scriptures who are amazing examples of righteousness: they all suffered. There is an entire book devoted to the lamentations of Jeremiah. Job wasn't a sinner, but he lost everything (his family, home, money, and eventually his good health). Abraham was possibly the only Prophet in the scriptures who we don't have a record of being chastised by God, and yet he was asked to ritually sacrifice his own son. Jesus himself is the perfect example of someone who never did anything wrong (in fact he did EVERYTHING right 100% of the time), and he suffered more than anyone in the history of the world will ever suffer. So we can't assume that suffering is a punishment.
What the pastor in this article brings up (and what really caught my attention) is that trials and suffering put us in darkness, and it is up to us to find the light. Trials put us in the perfect situation to seek God's light, and by seeking Him we are coming to know Him better. As we search for Him we study His words, we speak to Him in prayer, and we search within ourselves to find the deepest most secret part of ourselves and offer it to God as we try to understand our situation. Being in the darkness is an invitation to come to know God better.
And in truth, since Christ "bowed beneath all things" and suffered all the pains of everyone everywhere, the darkness of our suffering invites us to walk where He walked. As we seek the light we become as He is. So whether your struggle is depression or financial hardship or that your health is failing, remember that it's not a curse. It's an invitation to come to know God better by seeking His light.
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