The Savior Was Never Rude

I have been examining my life lately. Seeing my weakness has been a goal for over a year.
I haven't taken it seriously enough though, and have just started to think about where my life needs to improve. Several things have come to light even today as I have pondered and asked for help from above.

In our fast-paced world we tend to leave it all on the floor and get all we can out of a day. We are each tired and pushed to our limits. We are ill or just don't feel well. We're hungry, have headaches, feel disappointment and hurt. It happens. It's really life. Very, very, few days go as we plan. Frustration mounts. Then we reach "a breaking point", end of 'our rope', "wits end", or whatever we choose to call it! I've heard some people actually see the color red. We hurt someone, slight them; showing disrespect and rudeness.

I've been asking myself about those times, Times when I've been challenged by my circumstance and said wrong things. Sadly, at my age you'd think I'd get a grip on my tongue Especially when I'm unable to keep my emotions in check. Words fly and we are unable to call them back. And so it goes. Damage. Damnage.

I 'profess' to be" trying to be like Jesus and following in His Way".. in all that I do and say. AND I fall short, and excuse myself with one or several of the aforementioned excuses. I don't like excuses. They bug me. So today in taking it to The Top I have realized, 'the Son of Man hath descended below all these'.

HE didn't allow Himself to dishonor His Father with a get-back thought. He didn't let anyone 'have it'. And He was tested way beyond our tests. He held true to his beliefs.

' He suffered' takes on even greater and new meaning today. He was so valiant and constant. He could have called down legions and struck down despots but he didn't. He yielded His will to His Father. He kept his tongue, and in His life he shows us how.

Maybe this is a good place in my weakness list to begin again. I marvel, and stand all amazed at ' The Grace Jesus offers me!'

I would do well to proffer that 'Grace' so fully to my associates and family. Did the Savior have occasions to lash out? Yes.

HE did NOT do it, except as he felt it dishonored His Father.

I have enough work to do as the Earth turns, and erew the Sun goes down.

Join me won't you? It doesn't have to be an impossible dream.

Tender Mercies/ How is it Done Lord?

From time to time I marvel at the Lord's ability to bless and sustain us when we need a 'little kiss' from above to remind us, no not remind, but reinforce His Presence, and "the helps" we are getting from the unseen world above.
How does He Do It? We are in awe at His mercies, and are only able to acknowledge His Hand and Give Him Gratitude.

Our Two Testifyers:

Cecily left the MTC for Spain, earlier than her 'leave date' suggested she would, 42 days earlier! No chance to email her or even tell her to ask if she could call from the Airport like they still did last year!

I hoped, we hung around here and manned the phones,... no call, did she really leave, was her email a joke? Did she leave?

The next day found us still wondering... the phone rang, it was my darling Draper cousin, Nance. (The one that is always good to be there, even popping in for Pete's and Bekah's Baby blessing, and barely invited, and NOT invited for Cecily's Farewell). She'd be "too busy I think, and it would put that added stress in her life on Sundays' that she doen't need with her calling." (Stake R.S.Pres.)

I greet her, and she recounts the story of her husband yesterday hearing his name called out in the S.L. Airport, "John, John, John." He ultimately sees and greets Cecily. And flies her to New York! Finds her after the flight, reminding her at their parting, "I got you this far Sister Ackerman, now it's up to the Lord to get you to Madrid."

My heart soared at this news, truly, this Mother's heart was comforted.
And now, 1 day later, the skies over Europe are darkened with volcanic ash and many airports are closed.

What a Blessing to KNOW she is there!!

Mercy two; is really number one, as these happened.

Sunday April 11th, we had the BEST DAY! Our Draper kids blessed their 1st child, a daughter, Adaliah Joy, who came especially here on Feb. 18th.

I was lucky and got to have and host the dinner here! For her lovely family of Armstrong's, and ours and some loved friends.

Earlier that week, as I had expected the Cache Valley arrivals, I picked up some extra things that turned out to be 'just right'.

When arriving at the church P&B discovered they had left the key inside their new apt. along with most of their family's food assignments!

Telling us their very humble confession after we arrived at home, suddenly, with not much trouble, Son's-in-law, daughter's, Son's, and Daughter's-in-law jumped to the tasks, and from the 'inspired' purchases, ALL was WELL.
A salad, drinks, and dessert appeared, and the cruse never failed, there was enough and to spare!

It was a Miracle!

Even the ensuing 'Sleep-over', made us think; this should be a traditional event! "The new couple stays over the night of the blessing"! Get's lots of down time to relax, share hearts, and hold baby, after everyone else has gone!

This unplanned circumstance topped off the day better for me than any event of record I remember. And confirmed to me was; 'these miracles were for them', not me, but I got to help-- and was it ever filled with Joy!

"She's Gone, Oh Yeh, I'll Pay the Devil...."

No, Noone can replace Our girl, the miracle gift from God for my Old Age! Yes she is gone but still manifesting herself in expected and unexpected ways.
I'll enumerate a few:
*Email from the MTC!
*Shame for not writing more...I've sent 2 packages and 2 emails and A postcard, but am being out-done by others.
*Lists of requests: much of which I take satisfaction in. (I will not say the dreaded I.T.Y.S).

The house is quieter, more empty than ever, her reminders abound. We never got enough done in a day to please me. And now she's getting so much done in her day I'm jealous.

Just A Year and a Half........
It will be Spiritual. Tearful. And full of growing experiences for us both. We, Jim and I, are now attached to email like an invisible ambilical cord still exists. She holds our hearts in a strange and not so healthy way, or so several boy's told her.

Are all our eggs in her basket? Most definitely NOT. We have done this casting forth before. But we are feeling rather like expectant parents, hanging on every pain, sigh, complaint, or elation, and doing our share of reading between the lines.

We wait, and take joy in this process we have come to know. It has a pattern of wonder that evolves in God's good time, and teaches us to 'wait upon the Lord' and do our best to do Our part. And check our mailboxes.