Well said Marjorie...
“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car,
wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and
with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”
―
Marjorie Pay Hinckley
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
An Angel Named Rosemary
"They said this would cover a pie for delivery but they don't fit well. You have to tape it together" said the little frail women in the Walmart checkout line just in front of me. But that would not be all that she would share with me. As I stood in line thinking about my trials and tribulation and the hurt I had in my life I didn't know a little angel stood in front of me.
As I responded to this lady, she began to cry. She said, "I am having a bad day. I have 2 kinds of cancer, bone and lymph node cancer that is in stage 4." I tried to comfort her the best I could as we stood there in line. As she loaded her shopping cart items on the counter to be scanned she told me that she had to go to treatment and lay still for 4 hours and how hard it was for her to do that. As it became time for her to pay, the lady at the checkout counter asked her how she was doing. She politely said, "I'm Fine." I said. "She is not fine. She is having a very hard day." The compassionate worker expressed her concerned and at that point my new friend shared her cancer story.
"What is your name", I asked. "Rosemary, Rosemary Haddock, like the fish", she said with a giggle. "Rosemary, I would love to be your friend, can I have your phone number?" I inquired. "I would love that," she said. So we exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye with a promise to keep in touch.
The sweet lady at the checkout was so sweet. She thank me for including her. She said that Rosemary comes through her line several times a week and always says she is fine. She said, "Now I can say Hi to Rosemary and let her know I care".
I finished up my shopping and drove home. I couldn't get my mind off of my new friend. It seemed that she was an angel. As I began to listen to her, I began to forget myself and feel great compassion for this sweet little lady that stood crying in line as she told me a piece of her story.
As I finished putting away my stuff at home, I pulled out Rosemary's number wrote it down and put it in a safe place. This sweet lady had touched my heart and I felt a great love for her. "I'm going to call her right now" was my thought so I picked up the phone and called her.
"Rosemary, this is Donna, the lady you just met at Walmart". "Yes Donna, I am so glad I met you today. You are one of my angels", she said.
So for the next hour and some, Rosemary and I visited on the phone. Rosemary is 83 years old. Her husband passed away 7 years ago and she misses him dearly. They had been married 59 years when he passed. She said they never had a vacation but they went dancing every Saturday night. They had 3 children and one son comes by to check on her every day.
She continued to tell me about her husband, and how he loved to sing and made a record for her and the other day she was finally able to listen to it. She told me of her puppy, Peppy, that she takes almost everywhere she goes and how he helps her make it through the day. She told me of how she loves Jesus and how He has been good to her. She told me of some trials with her children and grandchildren. But she says, "I try to always be happy." She cooks and serves others everyday in someway and though it takes her a very long time, she walks 2 miles everyday. The cancer treatments have caused her to loose 79 lbs and she is down from a size 20 to a 4 so walking helps her keep going. She says no matter what, she doesn't miss a day.
Many more things she shared with me. That lady can talk, but it is like an excited child that wants to tell you everything that excites them. I am suppose to go to Rosemary's home this week. She wants me to see her home and listen to the record of her husband singing. She says she loves to bake and she wants to make me some of her famous rolls.
I felt such great love for Rosemary the moment she looked at me and told me that the pie doesn't really fit in the little plastic container.
I am grateful that for whatever reason Rosemary broke for a moment to cry to a stranger in the Walmart check out line. I think Rosemary is an angel and I look forward to being her friend. I know God sends angels to minister to his children, sometime the angels are already here and he brought one to me that day.
As I responded to this lady, she began to cry. She said, "I am having a bad day. I have 2 kinds of cancer, bone and lymph node cancer that is in stage 4." I tried to comfort her the best I could as we stood there in line. As she loaded her shopping cart items on the counter to be scanned she told me that she had to go to treatment and lay still for 4 hours and how hard it was for her to do that. As it became time for her to pay, the lady at the checkout counter asked her how she was doing. She politely said, "I'm Fine." I said. "She is not fine. She is having a very hard day." The compassionate worker expressed her concerned and at that point my new friend shared her cancer story.
"What is your name", I asked. "Rosemary, Rosemary Haddock, like the fish", she said with a giggle. "Rosemary, I would love to be your friend, can I have your phone number?" I inquired. "I would love that," she said. So we exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye with a promise to keep in touch.
The sweet lady at the checkout was so sweet. She thank me for including her. She said that Rosemary comes through her line several times a week and always says she is fine. She said, "Now I can say Hi to Rosemary and let her know I care".
I finished up my shopping and drove home. I couldn't get my mind off of my new friend. It seemed that she was an angel. As I began to listen to her, I began to forget myself and feel great compassion for this sweet little lady that stood crying in line as she told me a piece of her story.
As I finished putting away my stuff at home, I pulled out Rosemary's number wrote it down and put it in a safe place. This sweet lady had touched my heart and I felt a great love for her. "I'm going to call her right now" was my thought so I picked up the phone and called her.
"Rosemary, this is Donna, the lady you just met at Walmart". "Yes Donna, I am so glad I met you today. You are one of my angels", she said.
So for the next hour and some, Rosemary and I visited on the phone. Rosemary is 83 years old. Her husband passed away 7 years ago and she misses him dearly. They had been married 59 years when he passed. She said they never had a vacation but they went dancing every Saturday night. They had 3 children and one son comes by to check on her every day.
She continued to tell me about her husband, and how he loved to sing and made a record for her and the other day she was finally able to listen to it. She told me of her puppy, Peppy, that she takes almost everywhere she goes and how he helps her make it through the day. She told me of how she loves Jesus and how He has been good to her. She told me of some trials with her children and grandchildren. But she says, "I try to always be happy." She cooks and serves others everyday in someway and though it takes her a very long time, she walks 2 miles everyday. The cancer treatments have caused her to loose 79 lbs and she is down from a size 20 to a 4 so walking helps her keep going. She says no matter what, she doesn't miss a day.
Many more things she shared with me. That lady can talk, but it is like an excited child that wants to tell you everything that excites them. I am suppose to go to Rosemary's home this week. She wants me to see her home and listen to the record of her husband singing. She says she loves to bake and she wants to make me some of her famous rolls.
I felt such great love for Rosemary the moment she looked at me and told me that the pie doesn't really fit in the little plastic container.
I am grateful that for whatever reason Rosemary broke for a moment to cry to a stranger in the Walmart check out line. I think Rosemary is an angel and I look forward to being her friend. I know God sends angels to minister to his children, sometime the angels are already here and he brought one to me that day.
Monday, December 05, 2011
The Heart
I've been thinking a lot in these last few days about the heart. Our heart is an organ that supplies blood and oxygen to all parts of our body. But the heart can't do it's part without the brain giving it direction, but again, no amount of direction from the brain can make a heart do it's job when it is broken. Without the heart working properly, the rest of the body will suffer and even cause death.
Today medicine has evolved so much that many broken hearts can be repaired and even restored back to good health. Sometimes in order to help the heart beat correctly, changes may have to be made in the lifestyle of the individual. We try to do things everyday to keep our hearts healthy, but when it breaks, it sometimes wakes us up to be more tender and careful with this priceless organ in our body.
These thought came to my mind because my heart has been hurting. The difference is that it has not been my physical heart but my emotional heart. When we talk about emotions we refer to the heart as the center for those feelings.We love, we hurt, we cry, we get mad, we hate, we seek and we search all with our emotional "heart".
Just as we seek help for our physically ailing heart, we too must seek help for our emotional damaged heart. Trials and tribulation take a toll on the emotional heart (I am sure the physical one too). It is this pain that causes you to dig deep into your soul or spirit to find ways to heal the damage. It causes you to look and see what emotional food hurt the heart and what changes can be made to help heal the heart.
At first, my heart cried in pain, then it fought back with anger. The more time I spent on my knees, I learned that I needed to spend more time on my knees. My damaged heart was hurting. As time began to pass my emotions went all over the place. When I became a little more stable, I could then begin to feel and think more clearly. The question was, am I feeling with a healing heart or with a damaged heart. Maybe both, I don't know. I just know that the core person of who I am began to rise to the surface. I began to be filled with love, hope and charity. It didn't seem to matter how I was treated or what pain I felt, I just couldn't be less of a person than I am. I love deeply, I care so much, I forgive and I hope. I am not a quitter. I have fight in me. I can't run away from what I believe in and what I hope for. I don't know the answers. I know I may even look foolish to some, but though the pain that I have over and over is horrible, it is helping the cream to rise to the top. I can't always see that or feel it, but I have glimpses of it, I see my character.
So just as we seek medical help for our broken physical hearts, I am seeking medical help for my emotionally broken heart. I feel that it will be a painful treatment. When we are allowing factors in life to damage our physical hearts we have to make changes if we want a healthier heart. I need to make changes. I would not have to if other factors would change, but I don't have control over those factors, I only have control over myself.
My heart is broken. I need medical help. I am searching for the correct "procedure" that can help my heart be healthy again. I am not liking the options I see, but it appears that if I will stay in contact with the greatest physician of all, I will be led to at least have some peace.
My wish is that not only my heart, but the heart of my family could all be healed so that this pain can be left behind with a hope of a brighter future.
Today medicine has evolved so much that many broken hearts can be repaired and even restored back to good health. Sometimes in order to help the heart beat correctly, changes may have to be made in the lifestyle of the individual. We try to do things everyday to keep our hearts healthy, but when it breaks, it sometimes wakes us up to be more tender and careful with this priceless organ in our body.
These thought came to my mind because my heart has been hurting. The difference is that it has not been my physical heart but my emotional heart. When we talk about emotions we refer to the heart as the center for those feelings.We love, we hurt, we cry, we get mad, we hate, we seek and we search all with our emotional "heart".
Just as we seek help for our physically ailing heart, we too must seek help for our emotional damaged heart. Trials and tribulation take a toll on the emotional heart (I am sure the physical one too). It is this pain that causes you to dig deep into your soul or spirit to find ways to heal the damage. It causes you to look and see what emotional food hurt the heart and what changes can be made to help heal the heart.
At first, my heart cried in pain, then it fought back with anger. The more time I spent on my knees, I learned that I needed to spend more time on my knees. My damaged heart was hurting. As time began to pass my emotions went all over the place. When I became a little more stable, I could then begin to feel and think more clearly. The question was, am I feeling with a healing heart or with a damaged heart. Maybe both, I don't know. I just know that the core person of who I am began to rise to the surface. I began to be filled with love, hope and charity. It didn't seem to matter how I was treated or what pain I felt, I just couldn't be less of a person than I am. I love deeply, I care so much, I forgive and I hope. I am not a quitter. I have fight in me. I can't run away from what I believe in and what I hope for. I don't know the answers. I know I may even look foolish to some, but though the pain that I have over and over is horrible, it is helping the cream to rise to the top. I can't always see that or feel it, but I have glimpses of it, I see my character.
So just as we seek medical help for our broken physical hearts, I am seeking medical help for my emotionally broken heart. I feel that it will be a painful treatment. When we are allowing factors in life to damage our physical hearts we have to make changes if we want a healthier heart. I need to make changes. I would not have to if other factors would change, but I don't have control over those factors, I only have control over myself.
My heart is broken. I need medical help. I am searching for the correct "procedure" that can help my heart be healthy again. I am not liking the options I see, but it appears that if I will stay in contact with the greatest physician of all, I will be led to at least have some peace.
My wish is that not only my heart, but the heart of my family could all be healed so that this pain can be left behind with a hope of a brighter future.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Dreams
I have been interested in dreams for a long time. I had a dream last night that touched me is why I am writing about this, but I will get to that in a moment.
Many years ago I did a paper on Dreams for a class I was taking. Though I learned a lot about "dreaming" it was all from a scientific understanding and perspective about dreams.
From an early age in life I have had dreams that have impacted me. These dreams could have just been dreams but they were dreams that helped me see things differently. I can't say I always could interpret or understand the meaning of the dream or if they were anything more than just a dream, but to me they were more.
The first dream that I can recall happened when I was a young child. I remember it clearly. I was sitting in the backseat of a car with my mother and father in the front seat. I was constantly being poked and bothered by something behind me. No matter what I did I could not get that figure of a person to leave me alone. They would continue despite my efforts to be rid of them to poke and prod me. I remember thinking about the dream after having it and my very young, inexperienced mind interpreted that person to be what I then only knew as the devil. I can see this dream clearly in my mind as I did right after I had it.
Another dream I had in my teenage years involved a car and lots of snakes. I am not sure there is or was a message about this dream, but the situation was I had gotten out of a car only to find the ground surrounded by snakes. I would have to learn when, where and how to walk to my destination without letting those snakes bite me.
I have had a handful more dreams since then that have taught me to beware of something or dreams that showed me how to do something or how important something was. These dreams are in real life form, not strange, not weird, but if you were to see the dream as a story on television they would just be a story line, but when measured up against what was going on in my life at that time, there was a clear meaning to those dreams that I was able to understand.
Now the question I do have, is what about the snake that someone else is battling? Can I crush that snakes head? Seems like we all have our own snakes that only we can destroy. I just hope that the snake in my dream that was causing problems to the whole family is the snake head that I crushed and can crush in real life. After all, the snake was not just causing problems to just me, it was effecting the WHOLE family. I was just the one that had the power and means to stop it.
So, whether or not anyone else believes in the power or visions that can come in dreams, I do. Experience with dreams from a very early age in my life have helped me see something I may have not seen or understood in any other way. I believe I have still need to understand how to apply this in my life, but I am getting there. I just know it gave me hope but that HOPE lies in my Savior Jesus Christ. For He has the power and have given me power through his atoning sacrifice.
This dream reminded me of Genesis 3:15.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
In Hebrew, the word bruise means “to crush or grind.” Therefore, the very heel that was bruised will crush Satan and will help us overcome the world and return to our Father. As we use our agency to choose good over evil, the atonement of Christ prepares the way for us to return to our Father in Heaven.
The promise concerning the bruising of the heel and head means that while Satan (as the serpent) will bruise the heel of the Savior by leading men to crucify Him and seemingly destroy Him, in actuality that very act of Atonement will give Christ the power to overcome the power that Satan has over men and undo the effects of the Fall. Thus, the seed of the woman (Christ) shall crush the head of the serpent (Satan and his kingdom) with the very heel that was bruised (the atoning sacrifice).
I am ever so grateful for the understanding I have of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the blessing that I have because of my desire to be obedient, always striving to learn and then walk in righteousness. If I need to be the protector of my family right now, then I need to stand and take charge of my life, however, I can't do it alone and I must remember not to try and do it alone. There are some things that only I can do, but the help of others is needful. As I discussed with my father just this morning, even Christ had someone help carry his cross.
A More Determined Discipleship
By Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
I am grateful for those who have helped me carry my cross.
Carry Your Cross
Many years ago I did a paper on Dreams for a class I was taking. Though I learned a lot about "dreaming" it was all from a scientific understanding and perspective about dreams.
From an early age in life I have had dreams that have impacted me. These dreams could have just been dreams but they were dreams that helped me see things differently. I can't say I always could interpret or understand the meaning of the dream or if they were anything more than just a dream, but to me they were more.
The first dream that I can recall happened when I was a young child. I remember it clearly. I was sitting in the backseat of a car with my mother and father in the front seat. I was constantly being poked and bothered by something behind me. No matter what I did I could not get that figure of a person to leave me alone. They would continue despite my efforts to be rid of them to poke and prod me. I remember thinking about the dream after having it and my very young, inexperienced mind interpreted that person to be what I then only knew as the devil. I can see this dream clearly in my mind as I did right after I had it.
Another dream I had in my teenage years involved a car and lots of snakes. I am not sure there is or was a message about this dream, but the situation was I had gotten out of a car only to find the ground surrounded by snakes. I would have to learn when, where and how to walk to my destination without letting those snakes bite me.
I have had a handful more dreams since then that have taught me to beware of something or dreams that showed me how to do something or how important something was. These dreams are in real life form, not strange, not weird, but if you were to see the dream as a story on television they would just be a story line, but when measured up against what was going on in my life at that time, there was a clear meaning to those dreams that I was able to understand.
Last night, I dreamed that outside of my home was a snake with a piranha like head.
This snake was a threat to my family constantly causing much despair. I had finally had enough of the taunting and fear this snake was bringing to me and my family. So, I went directly up to the snake, put out my hand, being perfectly aware that he would bite me, but I didn't care, I had a greater purpose in mind. The snake, with all his sharp teeth did indeed clasp down on my hand. At that point I could carry out my plan. I used that hand to apply as much force upon the snakes head as I could. My hand pressing on the snakes head against the concrete ground, I was able to "CRUSH" the head of this snake. Perhaps to some that dream is merely a dream, to me it is hope. The dream did continue. I went to the dr. afterwards because after all, I had just been bitten by a snake. The amazing results were the only damage was the ones the bite made to the flesh. No poison had gotten into my body...none! Now the part I don't like about this dream is just a few days after this happen, I was walking in that same area and the snake I had crush was up and walking. He was severely damaged and not doing well so at that time, I was able to step on his head and finish crushing his head to nothing. I would have liked the first crushing to have been the end of that dream, but I can't forget that it took more than one try to completely crush his head. Of course, there can and will be more snakes to fight off, but if I could "CRUSH" the head of the snake that is in my life at this time, how happy I would be.
Now the question I do have, is what about the snake that someone else is battling? Can I crush that snakes head? Seems like we all have our own snakes that only we can destroy. I just hope that the snake in my dream that was causing problems to the whole family is the snake head that I crushed and can crush in real life. After all, the snake was not just causing problems to just me, it was effecting the WHOLE family. I was just the one that had the power and means to stop it.
So, whether or not anyone else believes in the power or visions that can come in dreams, I do. Experience with dreams from a very early age in my life have helped me see something I may have not seen or understood in any other way. I believe I have still need to understand how to apply this in my life, but I am getting there. I just know it gave me hope but that HOPE lies in my Savior Jesus Christ. For He has the power and have given me power through his atoning sacrifice.
This dream reminded me of Genesis 3:15.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
In Hebrew, the word bruise means “to crush or grind.” Therefore, the very heel that was bruised will crush Satan and will help us overcome the world and return to our Father. As we use our agency to choose good over evil, the atonement of Christ prepares the way for us to return to our Father in Heaven.
Since Satan has no body and therefore can have no literal children, his seed are those who follow him, both the one-third he led away in the premortal existence and those who follow his enticements in mortality until they come under his power. The seed of the woman refers to Jesus Christ, who was the only mortal born of an earthly mother and a Heavenly Father.
The promise concerning the bruising of the heel and head means that while Satan (as the serpent) will bruise the heel of the Savior by leading men to crucify Him and seemingly destroy Him, in actuality that very act of Atonement will give Christ the power to overcome the power that Satan has over men and undo the effects of the Fall. Thus, the seed of the woman (Christ) shall crush the head of the serpent (Satan and his kingdom) with the very heel that was bruised (the atoning sacrifice).
I am ever so grateful for the understanding I have of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the blessing that I have because of my desire to be obedient, always striving to learn and then walk in righteousness. If I need to be the protector of my family right now, then I need to stand and take charge of my life, however, I can't do it alone and I must remember not to try and do it alone. There are some things that only I can do, but the help of others is needful. As I discussed with my father just this morning, even Christ had someone help carry his cross.
Matthew 27:31–38
31.
And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him,
and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
A More Determined Discipleship
By Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
Life’s episodes may thus take on new meaning. For instance, Simon, the Cyrenian, wandered into Jerusalem on the very day of Christ’s crucifixion and was pressed into service by Roman soldiers to help carry the Savior’s cross. Simon’s son, Rufus, joined the Church and was so well thought of by the Apostle Paul that the latter mentioned Rufus in his epistle to the Romans, describing him as “chosen in the Lord” (Rom. 16:13). Was it, therefore, a mere accident that Simon “who passed by, coming out of the country,” was asked to bear the cross of Jesus? (Mark 15:21).
I am grateful for those who have helped me carry my cross.
Carry Your Cross
By Elder Marvin J. Ashton
Of the Quorum of the Twelve
I desire to have the strength I need to put my life in order that through the atonement of Jesus Christ the head of "this serpent" that is so prevalent in my life can be CRUSHED.
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