Stronger Through Him

 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 ...