September 2024, Week 4

 *Today at church we had our Primary Program!  Fun fact: no Roper children participated in the program, for the first time since Scott was a Sunbeam, but both Roper parents participated!  They can't get rid of us yet!

*I was surprised (but not really) that the songs that we've been singing week after week (and which I've been singing for year after year after year) are what particularly pricked my heart during the program.  When they sang, "I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands!" I just pictured all of these small children holding onto those words, armed with faith as they grow into the world that is continually changing its morals and idea of what is right and true.  We're giving them as many tools and as much armor as we can, but they have to pick it up and use it, and if they will "go and do," then they will be all right.  And, "Heavenly Father, are you really there?"  When we were learning that song, our chorister asked the children if they ever wondered that.  All of them shook their heads no, as if this was the most ridiculous question.  She asked them how He had heard and answered their prayers, and there were so many sweet examples that they shared.  But will they remember this truth?  Will they remember this song when they are lonely, confused teenagers?  When they have trials that seem too great to bear?  Will I?

*One of the classes shared short scripture verses, all of which were truths taught by Nephi.  It was awesome to hear Nephi's teachings this way.  I wish I had a list of the verses they used, but I'm sure I could curate my own list.  I'm grateful for Nephi and his wisdom.

It was a delight!

September 2024, Week 3

 *Today at church, a youth gave a wonderful talk about repentance.  He's a year older than Benson, and knowing how much Benson required my involvement in the talk he gave, I was extra impressed--since this boy has one older active brother, but no other active family members to assist him in writing his talk.  He has a bright future ahead of him.

*A sister with three young boys talked about how she was starting to feel like the victim in her life--everything was happening to her to push her down into negativity.  She learned that she could create positivity in her life through her thoughts, which lead to her feelings, which lead to her actions.  She reminded us of the power of prayer, meditation, and focusing on blessings--and repentance.

*In Primary Singing Time, I sit behind a class with a boy with autism.  He is SO smart, and SO loud!  He makes me smile every week as he observes the world and people around him and comments on how they all work.  I can see the adults in the room are sometimes frustrated with the noise level coming from that row, but I'm grateful that none of the kids around him seem bothered by his volume and energy, because he definitely should feel inclusion and love, especially in the Primary room.

It was a delight!

September 2024, Week 2

 *Today at church all the talks were about repentance and forgiveness.  The youth speaker gave great scriptures and quotes.  The second speaker gave good advice about forgiving others (and repenting for harboring bad feelings).  He told of his neighbor that shares his back fence, who they call "Angry Lady."  She called the police while our friends had their children in swimming lessons in their back yard, with a professional teacher, and their mom there too, because their son was screaming.  There were other difficult instances with this neighbor.  He shared their journey to learn to forgive.  The third speaker spoke about how to forgive yourself after repenting, and shared his own story of growth.  I was reminded of an article I read which asked what the most important thing was to teach your youth before they serve a mission, and the author said it was how to repent.  I think teaching how to repent gives a person the knowledge that making mistakes is not the end of the world--it's actually part of the plan--and there's a way already provided for us to overcome our sins, by turning to and trusting in Jesus.  This gives me so much relief, and freedom from perfectionism.  And having missionaries who know how to repent will help those they serve to be able to do it, too.  Faith, then repentance.  I'm pretty sure that the first two principles of the gospel are these for a very good reason.

*We sang the new hymn 1004, which is "I Will Walk with Jesus."  With the thought of the repentance talks in my mind, we sang, "I will trust in Jesus.  I will hear His call.  He will never leave me, even when I fall.  Jesus gives me power, lifts and comforts me, Helping me to live and grow eternally.  As I walk with Jesus to my home above, He will bless me with His Spirit, and fill me with His love, Change my heart forever and help me clearly see.  I will walk with Jesus, and He will walk with me."

*Today was my sweet Ben's birthday.  We had his sister and their family in town and it was so nice to celebrate with them.

It was a delight!

September 2024, Week 1

 *Today at church, our sweet friends bore their testimonies.  The brother does is every year on the anniversary of his baptism.  He reflects on who he was before his conversion, and who he is now, and he can see that it was worth it.  The sister rarely shares her testimony, but she is such a lovely, faithful lady.  I worked with her in the Relief Society Presidency way back, about 12-14 years ago.  I'm grateful for friends who are also examples.

It was a delight!

August 2024, Week 4

 *Today at church, a boy Benson's age gave his first talk.  He has always been shy in every social situation I've seen him in, so I was a little surprised that he agreed to give a talk.  His talk was about faith, and as he began, I could see that speaking in front of us was really, really hard for him.  He said that for faith to grow, you have to do something, and not just wait.  He said his parents actually gave him the choice to give the talk or not to, and he decided that he wanted to because it would help his faith to grow.  I was so touched and proud of him.

*A new sister spoke and told about the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and how they had their "but if not" moment.  She reminded us of Nephi, and how he didn't always have automatic trust in his father the prophet, but had to work at his belief by asking in prayer, and then his faith was confirmed.  She has a son that was born with many special needs, and she said their family has had "but if not" moments in regards to his life, and times when they've had to go to the Lord in prayer before their faith could be confirmed.  She believes that his trials have given her space to grow her faith.

*We sang (as a choir) the new song (for us) "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."  It is simple and beautiful and I love it.  "I sing because I'm happy-- I sing because I'm free-- For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

*Benny Nance gave his last talk before his mission.  He was vulnerable and funny and faithful, and I believe he will make a wonderful missionary.

It was a delight!