Stronger Through Him

 Our last student day of school had this sign on our billboard: Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible. Wait.  It’s always possible? Well, Jesus did say in Luke, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.   Yes.   Always possible, and I have more work to do!

 “Mrs. Potter! Aren’t you going to come into the pool with us again?” I heard the voice of my 11-year old friend from the pool side as I sat chatting with adult friends from the side. I had already been in the pool once and was finally dry.   I left my pool figure somewhere between 1998 and 2002.  And there were 22 kids in the pool.   And a dozen adults watching from their chairs. Surely he had enough people to play with. BUT HE HAD ASKED ME. And looking up at his face I smiled and stood up. “I’m coming.” A few minutes later my husband snapped this picture. Really putting myself out there, wasn’t I?  Can you see my suffering and sacrifice? 🙄 In Matthew 18, the Savior is spending time with and blessing children. He follows up with this admonition, “Whoso shall receive one such child in my name receiveth me.” One way to interpret this is reminding us that we have a responsibility to the children. All of the children. Which is absolute truth. But another way to lo...

 I can’t hold this tiny new life without being transported back in time to when his dad was the precious human in my arms. I was looking at his innocent and perfect  little form (a new hobby I don’t think that I could ever possibly tire from) as I was listening  to my home ward sacrament meeting on zoom this morning and found myself mentally back on a metal folding chair in the Relief Society room in Moscow, Idaho in 1997.   Baby Colton was cradled in my arms and as we sang the song “Teach Me To Walk in the Light” the second verse found my young mama heart pleading, “Come, little child, and together we'll learn Of his commandments, that we may return Home to his presence, to live in his sight-- Always, always to walk in the light.” Softly, I sang the same words to this precious soul more than 27 years later as the Spirit confirmed the importance of our role in teaching him to love and honor the Father from whose presence He just left.   How true it is that paren...

 The other day I had the “grand master” key from the office so I could do some work in the concession stands and get into several locations. This key will open absolutely every door and gate at our school, so obviously requires extra vigilance and security.   At the end of the night I started to leave for home but then realized I still had the key in my pocket. I turned around and went back to the front door to take it back into the office.   The front door was locked so I waited outside in the intermittent rain and pounded on the door for several minutes before I got someone’s attention and they let me inside. I expressed my gratitude and headed straight for the front desk and gave the key to the secretary. She took one look at my damp hair and started to laugh.  “You had the master key in your hand.” I joined her in a bit of self-deprecating but good natured laughter. The literal key to my problem had been in my hand!  In my over zealous focus to complete my m...

  Elihu’s words in the book of Job are some of my favorite in regard to sunsets and sunrises.  “14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?” Stop and reflect on the creations of this world designed by the hand of God. Do you not recognize the wisdom and knowledge of the architects reflected in even the skies above us?  Be the kind of person who can find beauty and joy in every single sunset. Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.