Spiritual Thought - Dec 25

December 26
I loved living in cold climates and planting tulips.  It was the best to see those first signs of spring when the tulips would bloom.  I also remember the first year I cut all the ugly yellow leaves off not knowing that I was killing the bulbs and my future tulips.  At the close of this year, a talk from Virginia Hinckley Pearce comes to mind.   Below is an excerpt from her article, “Allowing Time For Change” where she shares a valuable lesson she learned from her tulips.

"I stepped out into the backyard last night just as evening began to settle.  Here they were en masse, stems pointing naked stamens into the air without their beautiful petal dresses.  And next thing you know, they will have all of those yellowing leaves!  What to do!

I was just considering this tedious solution to my in-between garden, when I was overwhelmed with nature’s metaphor.  Nature doesn’t work with on-off switches, or at continuously high RPMs.  Nature is organic.  It cycles, it flows. There is an ebb for every tide, a time or retreat and gathering of strength for every time of flowering.  This continuous ebb and flow is vital in order to renew the energy required for a continuing cycle of life.  And when it is interrupted, when leaves are cut before they can become unsightly, the process is short-circuited.  The bulb weakens and cannot produce the next season. 
I sat down on the grass. Here was something for me.  I have trouble with accepting the need  for downtime.  I want to be a continuous switch, a peak producer with no valleys.  I want relationships that get better continuously; I want to make continuous improvement myself with no temporary backsliding.  I want to be able to jump up the minute after I am kicked in the stomach.  I just don’t want to allow time to recover and take in strength.  I want to be a non-stop flowering wonder.

I looked at the tulips.  And then I looked at myself and this world.  It doesn’t make any sense.  What are we thinking?  Instant and relentless isn’t the way of eternity.  I’ve always wondered about the phrase “long-suffering.”  At first glance it seems to indicate that being miserable for a long period of time is some kind of virtue to seek after.  I don’t think so! Then what could it mean? Perhaps “suffering” in this phrase could be interpreted to mean “allowing,” as in “suffer the little children.”  Perhaps the Lord sees “allowing time, and allowing a long time” as a sorely needed virtue.
Could we allow ourselves time to recover from periods of difficulty – time to grieve, time to heal, time to gather strength?

I looked at the tulip leaves again, beginning to yellow and wilt, and saw them differently.  I can respectfully allow them some time.  In fact, I can celebrate while I wait with them.  My garden will gently call to those who walk by, “Pardon us, but good things are happening.  We are gathering nourishment and preparing quietly for more glory.”

At the close of this year, we should allow ourselves some time to renew, recharge and recover.  Great things are ahead of us; take some time to gather nourishment and prepare for more glory in the coming year.

Spiritual Thought - Dec 19

The Wise men/Magi

From the Bible Dictionary we learn that they were righteous men sent on an errand to witness the presence of the Son of God on the earth.  Their spiritual capacity is evident:  They were able to see the star when others could not; they knew its meaning, and brought gifts to the young child; and they were warned in a dream to return home by a safe route.  They journey home by another way to protect Christ from potential harm.

They were not ordinary men.  They were privileged to search out the Son of God and give him gifts.  They were spiritually sensitive and knowledgeable.  I love the quote, “wise men still seek Him.”  Like the wise men, in our own lives it is so important to be spiritually sensitive and knowledgeable.   Sometimes it is necessary for us to “journey another way” – a way that will protect our belief in Jesus Christ.  Like the Wise Men, the journey may not be what we had originally planned; rather it is what we feel inspired to do.

Read Matthew 2: 1 -12, the Bible Dictionary under Wise men of the east and Magi.  This week before Christmas study the wise men and the lesson they teach each of about being spiritually sensitive and what it means to journey another way.
By taking a different way home, they protected Christ.  What paths in our lives could we journey another way to protect our beliefs in Christ?  The Wise Men exemplify the journey each of us takes as we seek the Lord.  They help to remind us that we need to listen to the spirit to guide us in our lives so we can draw closer to Him.

Announcements - 12/19/11

Lesson Manuals:
Today we are handing out the lesson manuals for 2012, Teachings of the Presidents of the
Church, George Albert Smith. Books are being brought to the Primary, Nursery and Young
Women rooms as well the Relief Society Room, so look or ask for them. Your book is
labeled with your name on the back.

December 25 meeting schedule:
We will meet at the same time as usual, but there will only be sacrament meeting.





 
2012 Church Schedule
We will be starting our meetings at 8 a.m. starting January 1, 2012. Fast Sunday will be on January 8.

Visiting Teaching
Please remember to report to your supervisor. Hopefully you can share a spiritual message
each month, but whatever contact you have been able to make, report. Thank you for your
efforts.

Temple Groups
If you are interested in going to the temple with other sisters or want to trade babysitting
with sisters in order to go to the temple – or both, please sign up in the Relief Society
notebook.

Friday in the Park
Come to the park next to the McEuens at 11 a.m. on Fridays. We will be setting up service
projects to do while in the park from time to time. Whether you have children to bring or not,
there will be activities and fellowshipping. Invite your neighbors, too.

Gilbert Temple Picture
If you haven’t yet received a picture of the Gilbert Temple, ask Milena or one of the presidency.

Spiritual Thought For the Blog - Dec. 13

Our new Literacy Specialist, Kristen L. will be creating Spirit Thoughts for the Blog (on a recurrring basis).  Check back for updates.

Spiritual Thought

An excerpt from A Christ Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman.

“As the season approaches there are so many meaningful details that must be taken care of and arrangements to be made.  Part of the holiday preparation includes pondering moments-every mother/woman wants every part of Christmas to be just right.  We agonize over the perfect gifts; we contemplate how to create lasting memories; and we long for meaningful celebrations.  These reflective moments are a familiar part of Christmas…..

At the very end of the account of the first Christmas night found in Luke 2 there is one scripture that tugs on my heartstrings.   After the events of the evening died down and the parade of visitors had left the stable “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).  Mary spent the first Christmas doing what every mother/woman does – she pondered.

I imagine Mary’s heart was full to almost bursting on that night.  Thoughts of wonder, contentment, and gratitude must have warmed her heart-celebration for the moment, anticipation for what lay ahead.  The blessing. The burden. The responsibility. The gift.”

This next week with Christmas approaching take a moment to read Luke 1:26-56 and Luke 2:5-7, 19.  Read about Mary.  Considered what she might have been pondering.  Learn about her character and what was important to her.  I know as I have done this, I have begun to pay closer attention to what I am thinking/pondering in my quiet moments.  Spending a little more time watching and listening and just taking things in.  Mary is an amazing figure of the Christmas season and a wonderful example of a righteous daughter of our Heavenly Father. This Christmas season Mary reminds us that we need to find a moment to ponder the events of that sacred night in Bethlehem and the place it hold in our hearts and lives.

 

Announcements - 12/9/11

Relief Society Dinner
Thanks to all who helped and participated in our Relief Society Dinner. We especially appreciate the efforts of our chef, Chris Decker (http://www.dinners-by-me.com/).

December 25 meeting schedule:
We will meet at the same time as usual, but there will only be sacrament meeting.

Visiting Teaching
Visiting teachers are the hands of Relief Society and our Heavenly Father. Please visit and
look after the sisters you have been chosen to care for. Please remember to report to your
supervisor. Hopefully you can share a spiritual message each month, but whatever contact
you have been able to make, report. Thank you for your efforts. You never know when these
efforts will make the difference your sister needs in her life.

Temple Groups
If you are interested in going to the temple with other sisters or want to trade babysitting
with sisters in order to go to the temple – or both, please sign up in the Relief Society
notebook.

Friday in the Park
Come to the park next to the McEuens at 11 a.m. on Fridays. We will be setting up service
projects to do while in the park from time to time. Whether you have children to bring or not,
there will be activities and fellowshipping. Invite your neighbors, too.

Gilbert Temple Picture
If you haven’t yet received a picture of the Gilbert Temple, ask Milena or one of the presidency.