Another Illuminating Insight

After reading "The Peacegiver" by James L. Ferrell I began looking at my own life and where I had placed my own stumbling blocks to other's healing and happiness. My mind was quick to forget such ponderings as I realised that the afternoon was drawing to a close and yet again the lady requiring my freecycled moses basket had not come to collect it. It had been now 3 days since she first requested it.

I thought how I would let someone else have it if she was so unwilling to put the effort forward and pick up this FREE "gift", afterall how generous was I being in offering an almost new moses basket without asking for anything in return...other than it being picked up of course! My unkind thoughts soon turned as I started to see the parable held within this frustrating situation.

Let's swap around the roles here. I became the lady seemingly unwilling to pick up a gift that I had sought...on more than one occasion and more often than not with pleading on my part for it! I became unwilling, besides the pleading to "put the effort forward" and receive it into my life and letting it bless me as it would undoubtedly do. Yes you are right, that the Saviour is the one offering us the gifts we seek daily to help us...even if we don't go in prayer to him. The gifts are there, waiting for us. The scriptures tell us that "if we do as the Lord commands , he will immediately bless [us]." (Mosiah 2:24) Immediately!

It got me to thinking back to the lady I was waiting on, and what might have held up her arrival. Perhaps a family emergency, perhaps traffic on the roads, perhaps she wasn't actually coming at all. What things are holding me up? What things are preventing me reaching out and taking the gift that I have sought? Pride? Expectations? Self justification that I need not "do as the Lord commands" because I've done enough already? Anger and impatience that I should have help in this not have to go seeking for it? A lot of things perhaps, even right down to not seeking "from the good books" where that knowledge and gift may be found!

Then I thought on to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's roles. How impatient I have been in waiting for this lady to pick up this "gift". Yet their impatience may only be a manifestation of their love and eagerness for my happiness. However many times I have sought these gifts without a pickup, they are still there waiting to be collected if I but put my trust, and my own "effort forward" into receiving it.

So then, how is this looking for other's happiness and healing? Well, simply, that I have a part to play in the happiness of my own family, for the friends in my life and for those whom I do not yet know. Sometimes things are sought from us whether verbally, in action or through an observation, that we need to act upon. Sometimes gifts cannot wait for the person to pick up themselves. Sometimes we have to put that "effort forward" to greatly bless those seeking, those who are "poor in spirit" as well as "poor in body". I know for my part I have wished so many times for someone to come in and ease my burdens for a while that I might have rest...literally...just until I am able to do so for myself. That help did come, many times, and still continue to come even though they may not be the way I originally thought they should.

But...eventually the moses basket was picked up. Turns out she got lost on the way...and don't we all? Thank goodness for our loving Heavenly Father and for the atoning sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ! The beautiful, free gift given to us all...if only we would put our "effort forward" and accept it.

Today While Wrestling With My Printer...

...came to me a profound, yet simple spiritual message.

All morning I have been arguing with my printer to conform to my way of thinking...all I wanted was one simple document printed. Was that too much to ask of a machine that is designed for such a task? Every time I pressed print, the little window would come up saying that there was a communication error!

I tried to reboot my computer to see if that would open the communication pathway, but nope, still no discussion between the two. I tried to disconnect and reconnect every wire I could see, but still no joyous sound of printing. I'd all but given up.

I went over to the printer (as the last resort for my sanity to be saved), to check the wireless settings...and lo and behold the wireless radio had been switched off! I had to switch it back on before any communication could commence! Happy days, my document printed without any further hitch!

The spiritual message? Well, it hit me that sometimes I am like the uncommunicative printer. Heavenly Father is trying to send through spiritual messages to me, but I have my spiritual radio turned off and so they do not get through. He's trying so hard, but unlike me, He would never give up on me, never be frustrated, just lovingly patient in waiting for me to turn my radio on!

Grateful

Every now and then I get a day where I am absolutely bursting with gratitude that I have to write it all down for fear of exploding!!! So here it is, all that I am grateful for...or as many as I can possibly list right now:

1. Spring time! I just love how it blows the blues right away! There's just something magical about it that makes my heart soar!
2. The sunshine. I'm not a massive fan of the heat it can generate, but to open the curtains and be greeted with a cheery light does set the day on the right sort of path!
3. Anthony. He amazes me daily with everything! He's creative, inquisitive, grateful, and very polite, neat and loving! I particularly joy in his progress on the toilet! :D
4. Pips. My heart goes "squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" everytime I think about him! He's so squishy and gorgeous! He's so cheerful and talkative and so very funny! Right now I'm enjoying watching him persevering with his rolling and reaching for things that are a little out of his way! He never gives up!
5. John. How much this man means to me cannot be calculated with all the numbers on earth!!! He makes me laugh constantly (mostly at myself) and is always there to listen to my worries and complaints. I'd be lost without my MoMoJohn!
6. Light along the tunnel! I cannot see the end...I'm just happy for the light along the way. It keeps me going and sustains me even though I feel I cannot go on another step! (cryptic I know...hah!)
7. DRIVING! WOOOO!!! I haven't started yet, but I'm so excited! I can see freedom within my grasp! It's going to bless us in so many ways!!!
8. Inspiration and guidence. Lately I've read a few articles that have really changed my gloomy outlook. One of which being about smiling and how it can affect you and those around you. I tried a bit of an experiment with it and it REALLY works! Smile...even if you don't mean or feel it, do it anyway, and as the day goes along you will get to being happy and meaning it! :)
9. Counselling. It's been brought to my attention that I hadn't been taking time out for myself. Everything I'd been doing I'd been doing for the family or others. It seems so logical that to refresh ones self, one needs to have quality self time. I wasn't allowing myself that time. Daft. But since I've been having an hour I feel more lifted and feel better able to be with the boys! So happiness all round! :)
10. The gospel. Without which my life would have no direction. Eternally grateful for the choice I made in returning to the fold! For marrying in the temple to a "choice companion", for tithing, for the scriptures which guide my life, for the wonderful members who are examples to me, for PRIMARY!!! For it all! :)
11. For my saviour, Jesus Christ. It humbles me truly, to know that He has taken upon himself ALL my failings, griefs and pains. That I am able, through him, to return to him one day, if I follow him. My family can be together forever through Heavenly Father's divine plan of salvation. Humbled, everyday, and so, so grateful.

:)

A Very Good Week

This is a good week! Ok, so getting backdated on our Child tax credits really helps to make one happy, but a few other things have helped to lift my mood also!

• I FINALLY submitted my form for a provisional license and have gotten it! Wooo!!! Now I can learn how to drive!!! 
• I've been to the doctors and now that I'm no longer pregnant or breastfeeding I can have the skin treatment I need to clear my horrid acne up! Wooooo!!!! Hopefully it will work and my self consciousness will go!!!
• Anthony and I have had great fun playing shops and making dens with the curtains. He's just adorable when he goes "dingalingaling" (the shop's door bell).
• Pips has screamed less this week and has given my ears a bit of a break. :) He's a squidgett! He can roll all over the place now and is eating puree like a crazy man! "MMMMMMMMMMMMMHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" He says between mouthfuls and I'm inclined to believe it!

Ah...this has been a very good week.

A Poem For Anthony

This is a poem I wrote for Anthony when he was just 6 months old...so the age Pips is now. Ahhh, time flies!!!
   

 Within Your Eyes


Within your eyes I see the wonder'd awe
Where eddyed questions effervesce and stream;
The whats and hows, the why's and wherefores gnaw
And endless possibilities there gleam.
So silent, still, you sit in mused daydream,
While myriads of reasonings fleet by;
And though more oft' conclusions found crossbeam,
You ne'er do tire of asking after why.
Though small your frame may be it does belie
The greatness of the mind behind your eyes.