As we leave the Thanksgiving holiday for another year and prepare and think of the Christmas season ahead it is quite natural to think of our many blessings....all the things we are grateful for. Both holidays are a time when we get together as family and enjoy each others company as we celebrate the reason for the season. For me, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the harvest of another year and to celebrate the beginning of this present great nation from the time of the pilgrims coming to America. We gather together to enjoy lifes bounties and pay tribute to our ancestors who labored before us to make our lives better. Christmas time we come together to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus Christ. There are not greater blessings in this life than to have a family to congregate with and enjoy these two very significant holidays. The love felt in family relationships is certainly one of lifes greatest blessings. Below are a few quotes that my daughter, Mindi, found and put in a book with pictures for Bob and I on our 50th wedding anniversary. They are special thoughts relating to family:
"A happy family is but an earlier heaven." George Bernard Shaw
"Call if a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." Jane Howard
"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." Thomas Jefferson
"Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights and our comfort when we occasionally falter. " Brad Henry
"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life...to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories." George Eliot
"You don't choose your family...They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." Desmond Tutu
"In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony." Eva Burrows
"A father's goodness is higher than the mountain, a mother's goodness deeper than the sea." Japanese Proverb
"No road is long with good company." Turkish Proverb
"Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end." Author unknown
"Families are like fudge...mostly sweet with a few nuts." Author unknown
I remember reading a story one time...I don't remember the title or the author, but I'm sure many of you have read it. It told of a family whose father and mother lived on a farm in the midwest. The children were grown adults and all living away from the family farm. This Christmas each one had already alerted the parents that because of work or other committments they wouldn't be able to come home for Christmas. Then as the day drew near each one felt badly that the parents would be home alone when it had always been such a great family get together. So each one unbeknown to the rest at the spur of the moment made arrangements to hurry home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to be with their parents. As Christmas Eve came...one by one the children showed up at the family farm. What joy was experienced and described as the family gathered to the surprise of the parents and each one that came.
Families are a work in progress. Each one has the responsibility to make the family ties stronger
...to show forth the love and concern over each other that help to draw the family together. This time of year is the perfect time to make our schedules include time for the family. To plan occasion for each one to come and be together and enjoy each others company. Usually it is the natural thing as is illustrated in the first story above...other times it takes an effort to draw the family together and make sure everyone is invited and feels the love of the other family members. I pray we will each have a joyous Christmas holiday with our families. With love, Maurine Winters
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
November...2009....Responsibility
The Relief Society message for the month of October in the Ensign was about nurturing the rising generation. As I read it, I felt a great responsibility to help in the effort of raising a righteous posterity and in helping in the community to do the same for the children that surround us. I remember what a profound influence some of my teachers and relatives had on me as I grew up. I'll always be grateful for the nurturing of those adults in my life when I was young. How necessary and how important it is that as adults we do all we can to help the children.....to love them and teach them right from wrong and be an example to them.
Lloyd D. Newell in one of his spoken word addresses said these words: "Almost instinctively we know that the children entrusted to us require even greater care...and are of far greater worth...than whatever else we may acquire. Taking the time to show love, to be kind, to listen thoughtfully may not always be easy or convenient, but, when we encircle our children with the best of ourselves, they will...as will we...be blessed."
Susan Revit, Bayville, NY wrote on this subject:
"I always wanted a white shag rug, I thought it would look nice.
Then I had my first child...that made me think twice.
I always wanted some Lenox pieces to put on the table and admire..
and then we had our first child and I opted for a clothes dryer.
I always wanted glass top tabletops and crystal like a bell..
and then I had our first child and thought plastic would do just as well.
I wanted so many things and always wished for them, but
when I saw my first child, I wanted children so much more."
Erma Bombeck wrote an article years ago telling the women who were housewives to stand up and be counted...that being a housewife and a mother is one of the most important jobs in the world. She wrote she is not a materialistic person. She never had a favorite dress, a lucky dinner ring, a classic car or anything she valued as a collector. If someone breaks into her house and finds money...let him have it. But don't touch her photo albums of her babies or as they grew. She says further that any intruder taking the pictures of her family will not make it to the door. I'd say she took the responsibility of being a mother to heart and loved it and wanted to perserve the memories.
As we search to be successful in our lives and as we ponder the things we can do to help influence the lives of those younger than we, we would do well to consider the great responsibility of being an example of righteous living and giving.
Words to live by:
More often than we ever expect, other lives our lives affect.
If it is to be....it is up to me!
The rules for success won't work, unless you do.
If you don't know where you're going, any road will do.
You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.
Service is love in work clothes.
FARMS - The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies had an article in their magazine a few years ago that I clipped out and kept. It said,"The premortal house of Israel was arranged into saving relationships. No one in our lives is there by accident. The family is central to the Creators plan for the eternal destiny of His children. All activities in life as in the church are designed by our Heavenly Father so we can have a saving influence on each other. Indeed, it sems that God has assigned a valiant spirit to break the chain of destructiveness in some families, likewise a rebellious spirit sometimes to a choice family that he might be saved." In view of what that paragraph says, we all need to labor diligently and take on the responsibility of working toward saving ourselves and then loving and extending our help to those in our realm of influence.
Responsibility: The definition is a duty, a charge or an obligation. We have the choice of what we feel responsible for, but certainly we have an obligation to all those around us to be the best we can be. After the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this past month I feel more the responsibility we have as members of His church to show forth more love and caring. It seemed every talk was based on showing a Christlike love for those around us. It is my hope that we can follow that counsel. With love, Maurine Winters
Lloyd D. Newell in one of his spoken word addresses said these words: "Almost instinctively we know that the children entrusted to us require even greater care...and are of far greater worth...than whatever else we may acquire. Taking the time to show love, to be kind, to listen thoughtfully may not always be easy or convenient, but, when we encircle our children with the best of ourselves, they will...as will we...be blessed."
Susan Revit, Bayville, NY wrote on this subject:
"I always wanted a white shag rug, I thought it would look nice.
Then I had my first child...that made me think twice.
I always wanted some Lenox pieces to put on the table and admire..
and then we had our first child and I opted for a clothes dryer.
I always wanted glass top tabletops and crystal like a bell..
and then I had our first child and thought plastic would do just as well.
I wanted so many things and always wished for them, but
when I saw my first child, I wanted children so much more."
Erma Bombeck wrote an article years ago telling the women who were housewives to stand up and be counted...that being a housewife and a mother is one of the most important jobs in the world. She wrote she is not a materialistic person. She never had a favorite dress, a lucky dinner ring, a classic car or anything she valued as a collector. If someone breaks into her house and finds money...let him have it. But don't touch her photo albums of her babies or as they grew. She says further that any intruder taking the pictures of her family will not make it to the door. I'd say she took the responsibility of being a mother to heart and loved it and wanted to perserve the memories.
As we search to be successful in our lives and as we ponder the things we can do to help influence the lives of those younger than we, we would do well to consider the great responsibility of being an example of righteous living and giving.
Words to live by:
More often than we ever expect, other lives our lives affect.
If it is to be....it is up to me!
The rules for success won't work, unless you do.
If you don't know where you're going, any road will do.
You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.
Service is love in work clothes.
FARMS - The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies had an article in their magazine a few years ago that I clipped out and kept. It said,"The premortal house of Israel was arranged into saving relationships. No one in our lives is there by accident. The family is central to the Creators plan for the eternal destiny of His children. All activities in life as in the church are designed by our Heavenly Father so we can have a saving influence on each other. Indeed, it sems that God has assigned a valiant spirit to break the chain of destructiveness in some families, likewise a rebellious spirit sometimes to a choice family that he might be saved." In view of what that paragraph says, we all need to labor diligently and take on the responsibility of working toward saving ourselves and then loving and extending our help to those in our realm of influence.
Responsibility: The definition is a duty, a charge or an obligation. We have the choice of what we feel responsible for, but certainly we have an obligation to all those around us to be the best we can be. After the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this past month I feel more the responsibility we have as members of His church to show forth more love and caring. It seemed every talk was based on showing a Christlike love for those around us. It is my hope that we can follow that counsel. With love, Maurine Winters
October 2009....Evidence
It has been said that when one enters a room, even if they just walk through, that they take something to that room and they leave something there...a thought or a feeling. Something tangible is left in that room. Think of it...when someone walks through a room if there is anyone there, they will see them and have a recollection of them being there. They may even have some thoughts as I have hade at times..."Oh, it's good to see them." or "I need to talk to them before I leave today." "How good to see them well again and here." The person walking through will have a recollection of being there and who and what they saw and their feelings of the occasion. How amazing that such a simple act can leave such profound evidence of the occasion.
Yes, when you go into a room or when you leave it there is almost always evidence that you were there. Criminal courts count on that and search for that critical forensic evidence that will convict perpertrators of their crime.
A teacher once said, "You must be so careful what you do and say around children because you never know which moment will be the moment they will choose to remember and how it will affect them." There is much evidence that a good teacher has so much influence on those they spend that critical time with as children learn and grow. How we hope that every teacher is aware of the great responsibility to influence children for good. They must leave no question about their integrity and virtue. When they walk in the room there should be confidence that all is well. The same certainly applies for parents. What an awesome responsibility to know that those moments you spend with your children are so vital.
When we go to pray, read the scriptures or go to church meetings aren't we supplying evidence to Heavenly Father that we want to do what is right, that we intend to follow Him and Jesus Christ our Savior? On the other hand if we ignore these important things in our lives aren't we telling Heavenly Father that He and His desires don't really matter to us? We know that when we do something for our fellowmen that we are in reality serving our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. In light of the way evidence frees or convicts us...we need to work at having it speak good for us. What evidence will speak out for us at the end of our lives? Will we leave enough evidence of the good we did that it will speak well for us? That evidence will determine our eternal life.
Thje evidence keeps mounting that proves Joseph Smith to indeed be a prophet of God. Elder Russell M. Nelson in a recent talk said that in the church today we have people who are translating the Book of Mormon into other languages. Generally speaking they can translate a page a day from a known language to another known language. When Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon from an unknown language to a known language he did it in less that 90 days all 531 pages. During that time he had to move from New York to Pennsylvania because of the persecution . None of the intended interruptions to his work caused him to detour from the task. When you think of his resolve and his statement about not being able to deny his testimony, it becomes more apparent that he was chosen to restore the gospel to the earth in this dispensation. He knew he had seen the vision of the Father and the Son and he knew that God knew it and he dared not deny it. Joseph Smith was between 22 and 24 years of age. He only had three years of formal education. He included in the writings the history of two distinct and separate nations as he described the religious, economic, social and political cultures and institutions of those two nations. He wove into the history the religion of Jesus Christ and the pattern of Christian living. The first edition has stood with no changes in the text except for spelling of words. He announced to the world that this narrative was not fiction, but true, sacred history. Millions of great people, intellectual scholars, have subscribed discipleship to this record and its church..."The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Many other conditions are set forth in honoring Joseph Smith for being loyal and true to his beliefs, for bringing forth the restoration of the pure and simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the same time of the translation he was writing information that would fill the Doctrine and Covenants of the inspiration and revelations he was receiving from Heavenly Father. Finally, after suffering persecution and revilement for nearly two decades after he finished the book he gave his life for his testimony that it was a true record from God, our Eternal Father. Just as the prophets of old he was unwavering in his calling as a prophet and fulfilled it in a glorious way. We worship Jesus Christ, as we honor our prophets for leading the way and providing us with great evidence to "follow Him".
As we look forward to hearing our prophet and apostles speak this weekend at general conference we pray that we will be in tune with them and have a desire to increase the evidence of our discipleship in the coming days. With love, Maurine Winters
Yes, when you go into a room or when you leave it there is almost always evidence that you were there. Criminal courts count on that and search for that critical forensic evidence that will convict perpertrators of their crime.
A teacher once said, "You must be so careful what you do and say around children because you never know which moment will be the moment they will choose to remember and how it will affect them." There is much evidence that a good teacher has so much influence on those they spend that critical time with as children learn and grow. How we hope that every teacher is aware of the great responsibility to influence children for good. They must leave no question about their integrity and virtue. When they walk in the room there should be confidence that all is well. The same certainly applies for parents. What an awesome responsibility to know that those moments you spend with your children are so vital.
When we go to pray, read the scriptures or go to church meetings aren't we supplying evidence to Heavenly Father that we want to do what is right, that we intend to follow Him and Jesus Christ our Savior? On the other hand if we ignore these important things in our lives aren't we telling Heavenly Father that He and His desires don't really matter to us? We know that when we do something for our fellowmen that we are in reality serving our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. In light of the way evidence frees or convicts us...we need to work at having it speak good for us. What evidence will speak out for us at the end of our lives? Will we leave enough evidence of the good we did that it will speak well for us? That evidence will determine our eternal life.
Thje evidence keeps mounting that proves Joseph Smith to indeed be a prophet of God. Elder Russell M. Nelson in a recent talk said that in the church today we have people who are translating the Book of Mormon into other languages. Generally speaking they can translate a page a day from a known language to another known language. When Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon from an unknown language to a known language he did it in less that 90 days all 531 pages. During that time he had to move from New York to Pennsylvania because of the persecution . None of the intended interruptions to his work caused him to detour from the task. When you think of his resolve and his statement about not being able to deny his testimony, it becomes more apparent that he was chosen to restore the gospel to the earth in this dispensation. He knew he had seen the vision of the Father and the Son and he knew that God knew it and he dared not deny it. Joseph Smith was between 22 and 24 years of age. He only had three years of formal education. He included in the writings the history of two distinct and separate nations as he described the religious, economic, social and political cultures and institutions of those two nations. He wove into the history the religion of Jesus Christ and the pattern of Christian living. The first edition has stood with no changes in the text except for spelling of words. He announced to the world that this narrative was not fiction, but true, sacred history. Millions of great people, intellectual scholars, have subscribed discipleship to this record and its church..."The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Many other conditions are set forth in honoring Joseph Smith for being loyal and true to his beliefs, for bringing forth the restoration of the pure and simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the same time of the translation he was writing information that would fill the Doctrine and Covenants of the inspiration and revelations he was receiving from Heavenly Father. Finally, after suffering persecution and revilement for nearly two decades after he finished the book he gave his life for his testimony that it was a true record from God, our Eternal Father. Just as the prophets of old he was unwavering in his calling as a prophet and fulfilled it in a glorious way. We worship Jesus Christ, as we honor our prophets for leading the way and providing us with great evidence to "follow Him".
As we look forward to hearing our prophet and apostles speak this weekend at general conference we pray that we will be in tune with them and have a desire to increase the evidence of our discipleship in the coming days. With love, Maurine Winters
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