Whole...In Spite of Our Holes...

Holes!  When I close my eyes, as I am doing right now, I picture a variety of holes that I am acquainted with!  I picture that great hole in the street, called a "sink hole," where a bus just fell into.  Honest...it was on the news a few days ago!  Those holes are to be avoided!  I think of holes in the desert which I have been told are homes to various desert inhabitants...even snakes.  I do not examine these holes, because I do not like snakes.

There are teeny-tiny holes in the sand on our beach made by the little sand crabs that evade us by escaping into their holes.  There are holes in Swiss Cheese that I am told are supposed to be there due to the process of aging.  I have seen holes in my mother's bread which occurred either in the raising process or the baking process...I forget which.

Though I have never seen a "black hole" (see the above photo), I have enough faith in Science and the process of discovery that I believe they are there.  A few years ago, I had to have brain surgery to remove a rather large head bleed and now I have 2 extra holes in my head.  One is about the size of a  quarter and the other one about the size of a pencil's circumference.  Apparently, I did need "another hole in my head!"  I am also sporting a few more holes in my skin as the result of Skin Cancer surgeries.  That is the result of my love of the sun in good old Sunny Southern Californiaa where I grew up.

Throughout my life, through the process of experience, I have acquired some holes in my very existence.  There are holes in my heart from the losses of some of the most important people in my life; and there are holes in my Spiritual Path because of some of my life's choices.

I remember two very vivid things that happened to me as a child.  One was the umpteenth time I tripped and fell, scraping my hands until they stung so bad, tearing a hole in my jeans and creating a huge cavern in my knee.  Like the many other times I had stumbled and fallen, I ran home to the comfort of the only person I knew who could calm me down and fix the hurts...my Mother.  I knew I could count on her to "fix things!"  She always did!  Like the time I stepped on a nail which was still attached to a board.  It went clear through my foot!  I pulled my foot off the nail and the board, limped home, sporting a hole clean through my foot and there was my mother ready to soak my foot in Epsom Salts and bandage the wound.  She was there for my knee, as well.  She washed my hands and scrubbed my knee (I objected loudly!)  Mom always dressed our wounds with something called "Oil 'O Sol," which I swear smelled much like the Melaleuca Oik that I use today!  Hmmm.

I had to tell about my mother's role in healing my wounds, because I think it is a metaphor for how I have managed to heal the other holes in my life.  Those that injure the heart, soul, spirit and psyche, need a higher power to help heal them.  I was having a conversation with my daughter, Heather, the other day and she made a comment that started my wheels turning and thus the inspiration for this writing.  I had said to her: "I have a couple of holes in my life that I wish had never happened..."  Her reply to me (and I have her permission to quote her) was this: "We all have holes mama!...I think it's what we do in spite of those holes, that makes us whole."  Wow!  Whole, in spite of our holes.

My relationship with my mother was important.  My faith in her led to my healthy relationship with my Heavenly Father and Huis Son, Jesus Christ.  Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we are promised wholeness...our holes will disappear...when we display Godly sorrow and repent.  I am so grateful for that cleansing process in my life.

Life is Learning the Art of Balance...

We all have days when we feel like we are balancing on a tightrope.  I know I do.  Everything exists within that narrow margin of balance.  When you were a tiny baby, you had to learn to balance your head...else it would "fall off your shoulders!"  All through babyhood, there were many skills you would learn that revolved around balance.  Walking, climbing, learning to keep your peas on your spoon were some of the hardest ones to learn.  Oh my, no...I take that back...learning to ride a bike, stand up on ice skates, ski downhill, or turn that flawless pirouette were my hardest!

Lately, I have been confronted with some very interesting balancing acts.  When I first got married, oh so many years ago, I learned to balance a checkbook, balance my chores so that at the end of the day, every single one would be completed, and balance my time between my husband and myself.  As the children kept on coming, (I have 6), my time-balancing-act got crowded.  Some days I was successful, and some days I was not.

I learned that you balance your emotions through the "better or worse" experiences.  I learned that life can be just as happy during the "poorer" times as it is during the "richer" times.  I learned that there is a beautiful spiritual balance between those "sickness and health" challenges in our life.  Grateful am I for these experiences, because without them life would be shallow and empty.

Of late, I have been devastated with an emotional battle between depression and panic/anxiety attacks; and I am learning to balance not only my life and my actions, I am learning to balance my thoughts, as well.  Mental health is vital to learn how to battle the deep caverns we find ourselves stuck in sometimes...and when someone throws you a life-saving rope, do not hesitate to grab on as if your life depended upon it...because it does!

Life is the tightrope.  The pole you hold on to for dear life that gives you balance is the Word of God.  Gravity would pull you down off of the rope if you let it...don't let it.  It is that awful adversary who tells you, "You don't need balance in your life...no one does!  Just let it all go and 'fall!'"  I have heard his voice.  But the voice that tells me to hold on, take a deep breath, let God hold you steady is a stronger voice and the one I choose to listen to.  As long as I have breath in my body, I choose to hold on to the rod, stay balanced and reap whatever rewards are in store for me at the end of my journey.  I prat you will do the same.

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Only For Now...

This is the story of two paths which for a lifetime have traveled in the same direction, side-by-side, seemingly to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and each other's company.  One path, though the way was not always straight or without bumps, was reaching very near to its end and spent its days enjoying the lovely trees, flowers, streams, ocean shores and mountains along the way.  The other path found only playful fields and waves to splash in and enjoyed a very different world view.


One day, the two paths came to a seemingly high mountain to either clime or go around.  The one path, seeing the peril that awaited a climb over the mountain, chose to go around it in a much safer direction.  The other path chose to go over the mountain.  The two paths stated their views, but still the decision was made and they parted.


This is the way life is.  We think we know a better way, when we throw everything we have been taught in our early journey over the cliff and take the perilous road over the mountain.  Those of us who cling tightly to our values and the teachings of our youth choose to travel the better way, skirting around those perilous cliffs which can lead to our undoing.


Why am I writing this?  Because I see in these "end of times" days, many relationships ending in this manner.  I see our nation being torn apart by conflicting views...by those who want to ignore the values of the past and travel the hard road!  I see this in marriages that are torn apart by selfishness as one partner sees a better adventure over the mountain.  And I see families in distress, one pitted against the other with conflicting views.


I hold fast to my path.  I hold fast to the teachings of my fathers...both those of our nation and my own family.  This is what I believe:
     (1)  I believe in God, the Eternal Father, who is Sovereign and reigns supreme over His children.  He is my guide and holds not only the Keys to His entire Kingdom, but he holds my welfare in His hands.
     (2)  I believe in God's Son, Jesus Christ, who came to earth as a Sacrificial Lamb to teach us the truths of His Father's Gospel, and then to Atone for the sins of all the world.  And, not only the sins, but also all if the illnesses, distress, anguish, heartaches, whatever ails mankind...He took these upon Himself and in doing so, He bled from every pore as He poured out His heart to His Father in the Garden.  He asked for the "Cup to be removed from Him," but He knew He must go forward and do the Father's will.
     (3)  I believe that God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to a 14=year-old boy in a grove of trees in upstate New York in answers to the boy's fervent prayer for answers to his questions concerning religion.  And from that first vision of the boy, Joseph Smith, sprang up a gospel that would spread throughout the whole earth.  A Gospel restored, even by Jesus Christ himself.
     (4)  I believe in the sacred covenant of Baptism by emersion by those having the authority to do so.  I believe that repentance is necessary to receive forgiveness of sins.  I believe in the Gift of the Holy Ghost, conferred upon a baptized person, by one having the authority to do so by the laying on of hands.
     (5)  I believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led today by Prophets who love us and lead us by the inspiration and gift of prophecy.  I believe that they walk and talk with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and that they are given instructions pertaining to the governing of the Saints in these latter-days!


There are many, both inside and outside of the Church, who would question most, if not all of my beliefs.  Be that as it may, I have lived through enough of life's difficult challenges to KNOW that what I profess is true.  I have had visions of my own and I have felt my Savior's loving arms around me on more than one occasion.  I have knelt in fervent prayer to ask to know these things and to ask forgiveness for my sins...both of commission and omission.  It was then that I felt His loving arms around me and He said, "Peace.  All is well." I have felt my dearly departed husband's hand upon my forehead when I prayed for forgiveness and to know he had forgiven me.  And I heard these words, "I do forgive."


And so, my path continues around the mountain, enjoying the beautiful vistas before me.  I don't know whether I shall meet the path that traveled over the mountain again, but I shall say my prayers for the other path, and perhaps on the other side, we shall meet again.

"A Sentimental Journey..."

Once in a great while, I like to take a little journey backward, reflecting on experiences of the past. I took such a journey the other day, back to my childhood and curiosity led me to search for pictures of the two houses I grew up in in Santa Monica, California.  I suspected there would be changes, but was taken aback at just how many changes there were.


The first house I remember we lived in was at 2205 Ashland Avenue.  Dad bought this house shortly before he ventured into the restaurant business.  I can't be sure, but I believe they paid all of $6,000 for it.  It was a cozy little 2-bedroom, 1-bath home with a single car garage and a  huge backyard.  I spent my formative years there, enjoying friendships with just about every kid on the whole block!  I can still remember some of their names: Joan Tommasino, Ivan Anderson, Suzie Klein and a couple of boys who lived on the farthest corner house.  Most of the other houses were occupied by only adults.


I learned to roller skate, ride a bike, grasped a little taste of independence by earning an allowance by cleaning the bathroom and my bedroom and later, the living room and doing dishes.  Oh, and practicing my piano every day.  My dad was a great teacher and led me to know the value of a dollar.  I could spend it foolishly and pay the consequences later, or spend wisely and save a little here and there.  Mostly, I spent my dollar foolishly for things like candy and ice cream!


My early childhood was full of fun and friends and laughter and sometimes, tears.  I skinned my knees innumerable times, stubbed my toes relentlessly, and stepped on uncountable nails because I refused to wear shoes!  Our huge backyard was a little girls dreamland.  Mom and dad had a "Victory Garden," planted after the end of WWII.  There were all sorts of vegetables that I could pick and eat.  And farthest from the house were two avocado trees.  One didn't bear any fruit, but the one that did was always loaded with avocadoes--my favorite!  The branches of this tree hung down to the ground and was a perfect hiding place whenever I wanted to get away from my brother.  Later, it would serve as my "girls only" meeting place.


I don't have a picture of what it looked like when I lived there, but here is a picture of what it looks like today.

They have converted the garage into a Master Suite and added a second bathroom.  They have bricked in the driveway...a feature that I love.  That big lawn in the front was there in my childhood and I remember practicing cartwheels and back-bends endlessly,  And when my brother was finished mowing the lawn, I would scoop up the grass cuttings and form my own little house for my little tiny babies to live in.  (Yes, I was a crazy kid!)  I don't have any pictures of the backyard or the inside, but I was able to take a virtual tour of the whole house.  My, my what beautiful changes have taken placer here!  All of the floors are wood.  I don't know whether they are the original wood floors or not, but they are beautiful.  They have opened up the kitchen with a pass-through bar into the dining room and extended the kitchen into where mom's washer and cleaning sink was.  It is truly an improvement.


There have also added a  family room behind the second bedroom with open vaulted ceilings.  The back yard now has a covered patio next to the house, a concrete area and a new 2-car garage which is accessed from the alley.  All of the landscaping is California coastal and they have done a very nice job.  But, the avocado trees are gone!  This house holds many happy childhood memories.  It was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me. 


The second house I lived in in Santa Monica, from 1950 to 1957 (when I graduated from High School and went off to College), was located just one block from my dad's restaurant, Pickle Bill's.  This is the house that has undergone an interesting transition from a lovely, quaint 1940's Spanish Style home with arches on the front porch and over the driveway.  It was a flat roof design with the red Spanish tile showing only on the outline of the roof.  I loved this house.


I grew up here, from childhood to my teen years.  I went through an ugly puberty, turning into a selfish, self-willed teen that my mom and dad had to suffer through.  I was lonely here.  There were no children that I knew on the block...and all of my friends went to a different school.  I was shy and unsure of myself as I approached my teen years.  The only three things I had that brought me joy, were my dancing lessons, my piano lessons (yes, I loved piano!), and tending my baby sister, "Teenie!"  It wasn't until I got to Jr High School that I finally made friends.  I was impressionable and at times, my choices of friends was not what my parents approved of.  So, I suffered through either rejection by my parents or acceptance from my new friends.  Unfortunately, I chose the latter.


The only thing that saved me during my tumultuous  teen years, was my activity in my Church.  Here, I found new friends who pointed me in the right direction...though I still felt like the middle of the rope in a "tug o' war" contest.  Which side would win?  I found my Savior in that activity in church.  And even though there was a war going on inside of me, I always managed to choose the right side of the issue.  I chose Christ.


I "grew up" in this house!  I learned that my parents were the greatest gift I could ever ask for.  And, in the end, are the very best friends a girl can have here on earth.  Oh, my selfish nature still creeps its ugly head into my behavior from time to time, but deep in my heart I knew which path I want to follow...I want the one where Jesus will sometimes carry me and sometimes let me fall.  But it always was and has been a comfort to know that He is always there.


The house on 26th Street was transformed recently, and I found a picture of its transformation.]

To say I like the change would be a lie.  I like the old architecture!  There was no virtual tour for this house, so I have no idea what that new two-story addition looks like on the inside.  They have changed the entry from a side door off of a porch, to a front door off of a new walkway.  A few years ago, before they did these changes, I visited the property and there was a really intriguing Japanese style garden on the entire front lawn.  All of that is gone now.  I don't have the picture I took on this computer, but the house was still the old one!


Like the two houses I grew up in, both have undertaken many changes and so have I.  In some respects, my life has blossomed into something beautiful, like the first house, and I have evolved into a modern world, learning new directions, new ways to give and get love, new respect for my family and friends and even those I have never mer.  I have grown to love history and both of these homes represent a vital part of my history.  I am grateful for the memories I have and the experiences that brought me to where I am today...all through the living and loving in these two homes.  I pray their current owners will also experience such love while they occupy their respective homes.


Thank you Santa Monica for giving my parents two homes that, if their walls could speak, would testify to the world, that "here lived a good, happy family."  Thank you 2205 Ashland Avenue for giving me laughter, tears, love and the beginning of my journey to find Jesus.  My friend, Joan, taught me the verse in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son."  I memorized that part and kept it in my hart.  Thank you, 2318-26th Street for giving me growth, both in finding and accepting Christ into my lifer and creating in me a thirst to know more; and the growth in physical and emotional stature, as well.  I am so very grateful for my journey so far and for the formative and growing years that taught me to be strong, have faith, and to know love--both the giving and the getting of it.  I am grateful for these and so many more memories that encircle my life every day.

Ramblings on a Sunday..."FATHER'S DAY!"

I love to go to Church on Father's Day and heat all of the wonderful tributes paid to any number of Father's in the Speaker's life.  It opens the windows of my memory and helps me to keep the Fathers who have touched my life close.  I was grateful this particular Sunday for one talk that touched my deepest memories.  MY HEAVENLY FATHER, MY OWN EARTHLY FATHER, THE FATHERS OF MY CHILDREN, AND FINALLY MY CHILDREN AS FATHERS.

When I think of my HEAVENLY FATHER, my mind's eye cannot picture His face...but I can picture all of His creations and I marvel at His work's.  I am a Spirit Child of my Heavenly Father.  I love Him and I know that He loves me.  He is and has always has been there for me.  He hears and answers my every prayer and leads me upon the right path. 


My life has been a very long journey and it has taken me decades to understand the complexity of a "Father's" love for me.  Whenever I pray selfishly, my answers do not come in the form that I would desire, but I understand the wisdom of His answers.  He has allowed me to have those selfish desires of my heart from time to time, and I have learned that "my will" is not the better path to follow.,  And only God knows the wisdom of keeping me off that path and directing me to a better one.


Oh, that I could have learned these things by another path and at a much younger age, I could have avoided a great deal of heartache.  But...would I have learned the lesson?  That I cannot answer.  Even at my age, I struggle with the lessons of my past and pray that my children and grandchildren...and now, even my great-grandchildren...will do better than I have done.


Through all of life's ups and downs, difficult6 crossroads, times of good health and times when the body fails us, I do not run away from any opportunity to fold my arms, bow my head, and visit with my HEAVENLY FATHER!

If you read carefully, The Proclamation on The Family, "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.  Husbands and wives--mothers and fathers--will be held accountable before for the discharge of these obligations."

This is the Divine Role of a Father (and Mother).  As I conjure up the memories of my FATHER, .I can honestly say that he fulfilled his obligation.  He was a loving and a righteous Father!  He definitely provided for our every need.  He worked tirelessly--even to the last day of his life--for his wife and family.  Did he teach his children to love and serve one another?  I can without hesitation say that he did.  Even though there are years separating all four of his children,  (22 years from oldest to youngest), one of us or another was there to help, support, lift up, and love each other.

My dad was the most honest man I ever have known.  He lived the Commandments...He loved his God, he attended and magnified his callings in his church; He loved his wife and family and never broke those sacred covenants made at the Alter of God;  and He obeyed not only God's laws, but also the laws of his country. 

My FATHER fulfilled his Divine Role.  He taught me the way I should go in order to attain Eternal Life.  He truly taught me whether it was through the scriptures or through the lessons I needed to learn, that life sometimes introduced bumps in the road for us...and we don't always choose the right path.  He was there for me to help place my feet upon the proper path.  His love for me (and for all of his children) was unconditional.

I love you, Daddy, and I miss you terribly.  I still need you to lead me.

How sad I don't have a picture of Gerry, my first Husband, the FATHER OF MY FIVE CHILDREN on this computer.  I shall have to correct that one day in the future.  (Oops...I found one!)

Gerald Vernon Henderson was an awesome husband and father.  The five children that we brought into this world together are proof of his righteous "discharge of (the) obligations" listed in The Proclamation.  My only regret to this day is that I did not recognize his greatness until after he was gone.  He provided some of the most memorable family vacations with the children.  Each one has their own special memories of those trips...whether it was our annual water-skiing trips to Lake Powell or our skiing trips to Utah, or our special togetherness times in the mountains of Northern California. 

His "Fatherhood" was  cut way too short, but the legacy he left behind pays honor and tribute to him as a father through his children,   Kimberlee, Mark, Debra, JerriAnne and Heather have all magnified the teachings of their father in their lives. 

He left us February 7, 1981.  Funny, though, he still leads this family and several of us have felt his spirit near in times of happiness or sorrow.  He was there holding me up when my father died; he was there doing the same when I lost my mother; he was there in the operating rooms of my many eye and brain surgeries; he has been in attendance at every marriage of his children; he was there to comfort me when I lost my little sister, Patti recently; and he was there at Patti's "Celebration of Life" in St. George, Utah when Dean picked up Gerry's trumpet and played "Journey Home" beautifully.

Dean and I were married (1) April 25, 1982, and (2) August 8, 1999.  We both had issues that we had to iron out of our lives and it took nearly 12 years to do that.  Our first marriage brought forth a son, William (Billy) Jens Mickelson; Dean's second marriage (to Laurie Phelps) brought Eliot Dean Mickelson into his family.  I have had an opportunity to watch Dean develop his FATHER'S role.  He loves his two sons, and he loved his little step-daughter, Heather.  He felt and feels a great deal of responsibility for being able to teach them all correct principles and how to govern their own lives.  In these areas, he has succeeded.  Heather, Billy and Eliot have all grown up to be  the possessors or amazing minds!  Billy and Eliot in music and Heather in the loving, caring aptitude of the Nurse's heart!


I am so grateful for the fathers in my lifer and hope and pray that I have and will live up to their teachings and examples.  It is an amazement to me that my grandchildren are having children!  I was just getting used to getting to know and love the grandchildren (now numbering 19...and holding).  My two sons, Mark and Billy are both developing into loving and responsible fathers.  God bless their efforts..

Mark with his Guard Dog!





 
             Billy with Rania and Maya!






My Grandchildren have given this growing family 12 great-grandchildren (number 13 is on the way).  All FATHERS are doing their job splendidly!

To all FATHERS in and out of the church--old and young--wise and foolish--beware my watching eye (because I am a people watcher)--allows me to smile when I observe the love exchanged between FATHER and child; or frown when I observe those exchanges of "misguided love."  I am praying for all of you.  Learn from these words and reflect on the words of The Proclamation.

From the great play (which I loved) "The King and I," and as quoted by President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his article "Happiness...The Universal Quest," let me end with this: "The king of Siam lay dying.  Anna's son asks her this question, 'Was he as good...as he could have been?'  Anna answers wistfully, 'I don't think any man has ever been as good...as he could have been...but he tried.'"  I would say this of all Fathers on this day.  You may not be "as good as you could be," but never stop trying.  I love you all.  I thank my HEAVENLY FATHER for continuing to love and support me; my EARTHLY FATHER for all that he taught me and for the example he was for me and his family; the  FATHERS OF MY CHILDREN for carrying on what their own fathers taught them and giving our sons a clear example of what a father should be; and I thank my sons, who are now FATHERS for giving back to your fathers the gift of responsible family oriented love and admiration.

And to my Grandsons, who are now FATHERS, God bless you on your journey...never give up hope for the future.  Your children have a great destiny and what you teach them now will help them plow through whatever is in store for them and their posterity.  A FATHER'S job is not an easy one, but is a job that follows in God, THE FATHER'S footsteps.  He laid down the foundation. 

Counting My Blessings...

This is why I love Oregon!  We manage to swim through the fall and winter rains, and then comes April!  Rhododendrons are the most beautiful flowers and they are popping out everywhere!  They are Oregon's flowers and we lovingly call them "Rhodies!"  It's like the earth comes to life...a fitting reminder of the Resurrection.  We muddle through the winters of our lives and at the end, we are promised a new day...a new life...and I imagine beautiful flowers everywhere.

For the past few weeks, the topics and lessons chosen for our Church meetings seem to have been directed just at me.  The Atonement has been spoken and taught in so many interesting ways and the message has driven home to my heart with a new understanding and gratitude for the burden our Savior took upon His shoulders for "me!"

This past Sunday, the messages included some very important points about families and the role of Fathers in our lives.  I didn't realize I had so many "Fathers!"  The first Father I knew was my earthly Father, who watched over me, provided for my needs and taught me the survival skills I would need to get through this earthly life.  The second Father I knew, was my Heavenly Father.  Like my earthly Father, I learned that He also watched over me, provided for my needs and I learned from His Holy Scriptures the survival skills that I would need to return to Him and live in His Kingdom one day.

The third Father I learned about was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Father of this earth, because He created it.  Like my own Father and my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ also watches over me and loves me, provides answers to my prayers if I will but ask.  "Seek and ye shall find, Knock and it shall be opened up to you." ()  And His loving words set my feet upon the path "home!"

I learned that our Bishop, the Father of our Ward, is also on his watchtower watching over his flock.  And, likewise, our Prophet as the Father of the Church, sending out his messengers to make sure that his flock is secure.  The very word "Father" has such a deeply profound meaning and because I have been given this food for thought, I find that I am ever more grateful for all of the Fathers in my life.

Like the Calililies that bloom every year faithfully around the Easter Season, (and I apologize for the poor picture, but I promise there are some very pretty ones on the other side of the bush), I am reminded once again of my Savior...the Father of my earthly tabernacle.  In California, when I was a kid, we called these lilies "Easter Lilies" because they bloom at this time of the year,  There are other lilies that do the same thing, but these are the lilies of my childhood.

"Because I have been given much" is a favorite Hymn of mine...every day I give thanks for the bounties that bless my life.  And today I am grateful for the beautiful flowers that grace this amazing Northwest state of Oregon that I live in.  Thanks to my earthly father who taught me to see and appreciate these beauties; thanks to my Heavenly Father for giving me this life and the eyes to behold the beauty all around me; thanks to my Savior for giving me the hope of a new life and for His abundant creations; thanks to all of the Bishops in my life who have guided my steps on paths that lead me in the right direction; and thanks to our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson and all of Prophets of the past, who watches over all of us and sens their messages to us so we can grow.

Oh, what a wonderful world we live in!

Faith...Hope...Love...

Several years ago I got a necklace that I adore.  It has three round charms that hang from a golden chain.  On each charm is written a word, accompanied by a gemstone.  One charm is a Rosy color, another is silver and the third is gold.  On the Gold charm is written "Believe."  That is the equivalent of Faith.

When I was a very small girl living in California, I shared a room with my older brother.  In spite of the comfort that he was there with me, there were many nights when I was afraid.  I did not like the dark and my bed was positioned directly under a window that my mother liked to keep open a crack to let in fresh air.  I remember on more than one occasion calling out to my "mommy" to come comfort me because I was afraid.  She would come into my room and teach me about Jesus and tell me that if I would pray to him whenever I was afraid, He would send His angels to protect me.  And so, I would crawl out from under my covers, kneel beside my bed and with my head in my mother's lap, I would pray.  It was miraculous to me how every time it worked!  My fears departed and I was no longer afraid.  The dark "monsters" under my bed, or lurking outside of my window, would leave me and a peace prevailed in my room.  I never saw the Angels, but I knew they were there!

As I have traveled through this, my life's journey, I have had so many, many times when I had to call upon my faith to get me through situations that I could not get through alone.  I learned that by closing my eyes, saying a heartfelt prayer and taking that leap of faith that Angels lifted me.  I am so grateful for my mother for teaching me early to have the faith I have today.

The second charm, the Rose colored one bears the word "Trust."  Like Faith, if we Trust in the Lord or have Hope in the Lord, we can accomplish all things.  When I was a young mother of five beautiful children, I took upon my shoulders the daunting task of going back to school to study to become a Nurse.  I was 35 years old and hadn't been in college in a very long time.  But, I squared my shoulders, took all of the necessary entrance exams and Trusted with the Hope that I possessed that Heavenly Father would see me through this.  Never once did I leave Him out of the equation.  I prayed before I studied, I prayed before I took a test, and I prayed during every facet of the learning process.  If I can do it, you can do it, too.  The trust I have in my Heavenly Father has given me Hope every day that I live.

The third charm, the Silver one, says "Love."

In scripture, Jesus' answer to "Which is the greatest Commandment" was:  "The first and greatest commandment is this: Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God with all thy might, mind and strength...and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Jesus said, "Love everyone."  By following His example, we can.  He loved little children and they flocked to him.  They could feel His love.  He loved the sinner and comforted them and said to them, "Go, and sin no more."  He loved His enemies and prayed for them.  I picture Him in Gethsemane praying for EVERYONE!  As He Atoned for our sins, our imperfections, our trials, our hurts, our illnesses...He experienced each and every one of them...the pain was so excruciating that He bled from every pore of His body.  In my Nursing Career, I have had many experiences and some that I have wished I could have born some of the pains that I saw.  I watched a man die after ingesting a whole bottle of Aspirin and then not being discovered until the next morning.  He bled from every orifice and his pain was excruciating.  Death was a gentle release for this man.

Even on the Cross, as our Savior hung and suffered, He showed His love for others.  He told the robber He would be with Him in Paradise, and He asked His Father to "...forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."

Such great love "hath no man, than this...that He lay down His life for a friend."  He laid down His life for us.  All of us.  I pray that I can have and give such great love.

I believe that my Savior's love is sufficient and that one day I will live again and walk and talk with Him and that I will be able to thank Him for all that He has done and continues to do for me.  He calms my fears, He gives me Hope for a brighter tomorrow, and He confirms my Belief in Him with His Love for me.

This has been a remarkable Sunday!