A Scripture For Me

"For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody."

2 Nephi 8:3

Sometimes when I am reading scriptures, I feel that a particular scripture is for me that day, and I can see how to put myself in it.  While reading this one, it struck me that I could put my name in the place of Zion.  Zion has more than one definition, and one is "the pure in heart".  While I am not saying that I am perfectly pure in heart, I do believe in Christ, and that He is helping me to become pure in heart through His grace, and His atonement.  So here's how I read it, and it felt hopeful, and comforting.

"For the Lord shall comfort [me], he will comfort all [my] waste places; and he will make [my] wilderness like Eden, and [my] desert like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness shall be found [in me], thanksgiving and the voice of melody."

Reading it now it brings the same hope and comfort.  I sin, and let myself down often, and it creates "waste places" in my mind, and in my life.  Christ comforts me.  He doesn't condemn me, but is there to heal me.  Life often feels like a tangled wilderness that I can't see my way through, and yet, the Lord can make that wilderness like Eden.  When I lack knowledge, or direction, or I feel alone or worn out, it is as if I am lost in a desert.  But the Lord is the Living Water and can turn deserts into gardens. 

With the Lord in my life I have more joy and gladness, and more gratitude. I feel "the voice of melody" in my life when I turn to Christ, and it is not a discordant melody, but a harmonious, joyful one.

*Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Take Time To Be Silly

Ok.  So most people don't ever want to be thought of as silly, maybe because one definition from the Oxford Living Dictionary is "Having or showing a lack of common sense or judgement; absurd and foolish."  I doubt any of us want to be defined like that!  But another definition, this one from the Cambridge Dictionary, says silly is "not important, serious, or practical".  I think that occasionally it is good for us to do things that are not considered "important, serious, or practical."  It is important to enjoy something.  To have fun.  To laugh.  To let go of worries and just be.

I write about this because I am not always good at letting go of trying so that I can just enjoy being.  I think a LOT.  I am always trying to find ways to be better, to do better, and to accomplish good things -- but being silly can be a good thing.

A few years ago I asked for a puppet for my birthday, and I got one.  Her name is Princess.  I did not imagine what asking for a puppet would start.  I now have a whole puppet tree full of puppets, and a bag full that don't fit on the tree, and puppets on all of our bed posts.  My family, the occasional friend and I have done puppet shows in Primary on Sundays (Can Princess choose the right?).  We have done puppet shows at Cub Scout pack meetings, at home, at reunions and at family parties.

No matter how many puppets I have, or how many shows that I do, I always seem to enjoy being Princess the most.  She is the silly, vain, funny part of me that I allow to show a lot easier with Princess doing the talking (in her best high pitched squeaky voice).  I have some really good memories associated with these chances that I have had to be just a little bit silly!

Life is important, and can be very challenging, and hard.  Life is also good, and happy. Taking time to be silly, to let go of trying for a while and just enjoy being, can bring joy to our days.

A Field Trip to Spring

I am sure that most of us have heard that we are supposed to live in the moment.  To be present now, in whatever we are doing.  But just occasionally, on a gray day, I like to take a field trip to Spring.  How?  Well, there are a few ways.

Sometimes I am at Walmart, and I just look at the tulips and the clothing that is sporting Spring colors.  These things remind me of the sunny, green days that are ahead.

Other times I think of my garden.  What needs to be done to prepare the garden for planting?  What will I choose to plant this year?  Will the birds be singing while I'm at work outside?

And then there is my philosophy that I can have a "Spring attitude".  An attitude of renewal, of the chance to begin again, and of hope of good things to come.  I can smile, and bring that lift to others that Spring flowers bring to me.  I can remember that rain brings growth, and clouds don't block the sun forever.

So, on days when winter feels long and gloomy, try to take a field trip to Spring, and for a few minutes you may feel the sun shining just for you.