Stronger Through Him

  Today in my class, we were reviewing different parts of speech for English learners.  The students had to sort nouns, subjects and adjectives into their proper categories.   I watched as one student in particular kept returning to the board to look at the anchor chart- the poster that showed the definitions of each and gave some examples- again and again. He is not the smartest or fastest student in class. But while the others filled in the page, they made errors.  Some were simple oversights and some clearly didn’t grasp the concept or misconstrued the instructions entirely.   I deliberately commented on how he was using what we had learned and the anchor chart to make sure he was using the right information to make decisions. Soon,  several  other students also approached the board and one girl, with an a-ha look on her face, returned to her seat and began erasing.  Then she walked back up and confidently compared her paper to the chart. ...

 Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Blessed are those who mourn— even when they disagree with the mourner, for grief is the language that makes us kin. And what does mourning look like? It is to stand in shocked horror together, to let our hearts imagine, to shoulder even the smallest iota of suffering borne by others in the heat of a present crisis. It is to hold hands— physically, symbolically— to whisper to the wounded: you are not alone. It is to reaffirm that what happens to one happens to all. That no wound is sealed off, but ripples through the whole body of humanity. It is to cry to heaven for relief, trusting the victims are already cradled in the care of God’s hands. It is to let our tears fall freely until they drown out the ugly, hateful chorus of “who deserves evil,” replacing it with the quiet hymn of compassion. It is to let our shared humanity be cause enough to stand together, to hold each other up through the first difficult hours of unspeakable loss. It is to remember t...

  This week I had a newer friend call and ask if we could use some chicken pot pie. I loved that it arrived with two slices out for their dinner and that we were thought of.  It fed us dinner one night and I took it for lunch two more days, each day smiling and thinking of my friend. Truly, “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).  How lucky we are that the Lord lets us be part of each others’ supply chains!!

2 Ne 10: 23Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. 24Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. This courageous woman stood before the world and publicly spoke forgiveness to the young man who killed her husband. She said many wise and honorable things, but ended her message with these life-changing choices that will aid all in “reconciling to the will of God.” Thank you, Erika, for your faith and your example.

  While talking with a student today, I asked her how she makes choices. She said, “I ask Jesus if this would be a good thing to do or a not-so-good thing to do.  And then I listen to what he tells me.” Her mom taught her that she said.   A bright spot of wisdom from a 12-year old. And as the Savior himself implored, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

 The other night I was working at the Jr High concession stand when a mom and her son approached. As mom mentally debated on which processed, but delicious snack she wanted, I watched her young son lean up to the edge of the counter and wipe his snotty nose along the full  edge.   I wanted to throw up but I politely handed him a napkin and finished mom’s transaction. The moment they left, I urgently sprayed down the counter with disinfectant and scrubbed it clean. I did not say it wasn’t that bad. I did not say maybe I would clean it later. I did not describe someone else’s counter that’s worse. I saw the mess and I cleaned it up. I want to have that same urgency in keeping my own heart, mind, home and world as spiritually clean as possible.   I want to be able to recognize sin and root it out quickly.   Elder D Todd Christofferson shared, “At the same time, let us not justify ourselves in a casual effort. Let us not be content to retain some disposition to do e...

 This weekend, I was privileged to attend the blessing of my first grandson.  Watching my son take baby Casey up and encircling that infant with his Grandpa, Great-Grandpa and close family friends was moving. I thought of the Priesthood examples holding onto each other’s shoulders and all of the blessings and opportunities that will come as they keep their covenants and stand as worthy mentors for him. I listened to the sacred words pronounced for him from his Heavenly Father and then watched his dad hand him to his mom who literally sustains him and in whose arms he feels the safest in the world.  She was seated with her mom and my daughter and I thought of the many righteous women in his life also doing their best to follow Jesus Christ.   Sister Bonnie D Parkin once spoke of her experience at witnessing her first grandaughter’s blessing.   I’m slightly altering her words to speak of Casey instead of Jordan.   “Casey was fortunate. He was born to his pare...

 I’m sitting on a flight with people I know much better than I had planned after our flight was delayed twice….. David Archuleta’s “Glorious” was playing on Spotify through my earbuds and to distract myself from the 90 degree plane temp (the stewardess said she was sorry) I was people watching.  The lyrics began to speak to me specifically in terms of each person on here. “Each one playing a piece in their own melodies and each one so, so glorious!” Varied skin-tones, from wrinkled to smooth. Tall, short, prolific hair or bald. First-class or possibly living out of that duffel bag. Notre Dame, Purdue or IU.   Loud or quiet, sullen or smiles. Each with a story.     Each headed somewhere for something.   Each an absolutely beloved child of God and all sharing a short portion of our journeys in shared space. Oh isn’t it glorious??  And that changes everything!

  This book was recommended and is full of solid advice on how to sincerely and not-so-sincerely apologize. In the story the boy (who knocked down his classmate’s castle) starts out by simply saying “sorry”.  And then morphs that word into “I’m sorry you got mad.” His teacher guides him through the process as he tries again and again. He finally owns that he knocked over her castle, but still detaches that from her response.  “I knocked over the castle.  I’m sorry you got mad.” His teacher wisely teaches that there are three parts to a sincere apology: 1.  State what you did wrong.  2. Say you are sorry.  3. Make ammends if possible.  In NEST language we say: Own It. Apologize. Make it right. In a world where this is not inherently part of our culture and we instead focus on blame or excuses, this is something that must be concretely taught to children and reinforced and retaught to adults. Elder Ronald A Rasband, in his talk on the importance of ...