Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: Blessings

Monday, September 14, 2009

Blessings

Today I came home from teaching at the gym to find raspberries, little tomatoes, and corn on the cob on my porch... one of my produce fairies struck again. (Thanks, Marilynn!) I can't believe how generous people have been with their delicious abundance! I also got green beans and squash from the Birds yesterday, and you all should've tasted the tomatoes I got from the Shewells and the watermelon from the Hemstreets... yes, I am blessed. I didn't even plant a garden, and we haven't wanted for anything. I have shared a lot of my fruit... which brings me to a funny and embarrassing story:

The day Brother Shewell brought me a big box of tomatoes, my darling 8 year old son decided to pick plums to sell. I found out later that day that not even half an hour after we were GIVEN tomatoes, Cooper sold a bag of plums to Brother Shewell. Oh boy, was I embarrassed. I guess I should know my boys are capable of things like this... they actually made about $5 selling ROCKS to our Rigby neighborhood. Now, if you know anything about Rigby, you know that rocks are the last thing anyone needs there. If you dig a hole, you'll have a pile of rocks with no dirt... hopefully this ability to make money continues with them later in life. ;)

One of my Silver Sneakers class members passed away this morning. (No... NOT in class, thank goodness!) She had cancer. Sweet little Edna will really be missed. I did get to visit her at her house a little while ago, and she still had that smile... it's hard to lose my friends... the hazards of teaching a fitness class for the aged, I guess. I love them all. I really hope this funeral thing slows down soon...

My kids are sweet, my husband is amazing... yup. It's true.

p.s. Read the "to do" list on the side. Thanks, Shannon... it was an excellent talk!

3 comments:

Amy said...: Love that fruit story. Classic; 5:54 PM
Marci said...: those kids have some bright futures ahead of them.
that isn't quite fair that you get veggies from my mom and i don't!;D

2 weeks until we get to have a sleepover! yay!; 7:08 PM
Shannon said...: I'm glad you liked it Mindy! If you haven't seen it already, you should check out the youtube video of that portion of his talk (youtube: Enzio Busche). I listen to it most mornings - especially those mornings I'm having a hard time.

And I LOVE the fresh produce season too. A lady at work has been sharing her abundance and it makes my heart happy!; 9:05 PM

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To Do Today

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

from "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit by F. Enzio Busche