Aloha!

The Hawaiian word aloha is an enthusiastic greeting, but it is also a warm farewell. It is interesting that the same word means both “hello” and “goodbye.” But then again, maybe it isn’t so strange. The older I get the more I realize that every “goodbye” is also a “hello.” When we pass through the door of any stage of life, another door opens. We just have to be willing to go through the door, into the new room, and not look back with so much longing that we fail to see the opportunities that are now ours.

I’m at one of those points in my life right now. Grizelda has changed almost everything in my life from my career path to my daily routine. I can hear a door closing (no make that slamming!) behind me and the light isn’t on in the room I’m entering so that I can see what is in there yet. But while I wait for the light, I’m going to shout, “Aloha! Aloha!” with all the enthusiasm I can muster and let it warm me with the thought that the best is yet to come. “Hello!” to whatever that is!

What I Learned Today

Today I was studying in the New Testament and noticed a change Joseph Smith had made in John 3:16 that puzzled me. In the King James Bible the verse reads, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In the Inspired Version, Joseph changed the preposition in to on. I always hear the phrase “believe in” and wasn’t sure why “believe on” was better or why it would have been important enough to make the change. So I went to my trusty dictionary.

The word in has four definitions. In is used as a function word to indicate (1) inclusion, location, or position, (2) means, medium, or instrumentality, (3) limitation, qualification, or circumstance, and (4) purpose. I suppose the first definition is the one the King James translators meant in that all those whose belief is located in Jesus Christ will not perish. That makes sense and is instructive, but it seemed a little awkward.

When I read the first definition of on it explained that the word meant “supported by the surface of.” That didn’t fit at all, and I was really baffled. But the second definition lit a fire in me. On means “a source of attachment or support.”

That sent all kinds of thoughts swimming through my head. Belief is the “conviction of the truth of something.” When we use the preposition in to refer to that something, in this case Jesus Christ, belief is simply a mental thought—our thoughts about truth include or are located in Christ. That is true and instructive, but when the preposition is changed to on, we are taught that our belief is more than thought; belief is a conviction that causes us to attach ourselves to Jesus Christ, to put ourselves in a position where we are supported by Him.

Changing the preposition seemed a tiny, inconsequential change at first. How wrong I was.

Sunshine in My Soul

Today I got to go do my Visiting Teaching! It felt so good to get out and visit! The sun even came out to cheer me on my way. What more can a person ask for !!

A wonderful friend sent me this link today and it was so good, I thought I’d share it with all of you. It is a panel discussion on religions at Harvard University. A young woman named Rachel Esplin, a junior at Harvard, represents the LDS Church and does a beautiful job of answering the questions.

Let me know how you enjoy it.

Symptoms of an Ungrateful Heart

I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude lately. In the past I’ve found myself in that state more often than I care to admit. But the last few years I’ve made it a goal to be more grateful. The difference in life is astonishing. So today I came up with nine symptoms of an ungrateful heart so I can recognize if I start slipping back into a state of ingratitude.

(1) Every day seems like the last one—there is never anything new.
(2) God seems far away and unconcerned with you—recognizing you would be like recognizing one grain of sand on a beach front.
(3) You are apathetic towards other people—after all they don’t care about you so why should you care about them.
(4) Your prayers are shallow and routine—you really don’t have much to pray about.
(5) Your environment is boring—you can’t see anything in it.
(6) Problems seem bigger than they really are—you don’t remember the last time anyone helped you.
(7) You feel alone and uncared for—love is something that only exists in a chic-flick.
(8) You never have enough—no matter how hard you work or try.
(9) You are constantly plagued by a feeling of impending doom—what else could the future hold?

If you can think of more, leave a comment and let us all know. To preserve our spiritual health, we need to be aware of the symptoms! It is also good to know that at the first sign of any of these symptoms all we need to do to be healthy again is give thanks.

The People In My Life

Another one of the interesting things that happened during this experience with Grizelda taught me about how God places people in our lives. When the word first began to get out that I had a tumor in my head, some people called to tell me of a specialist or doctor who was the very best in the field. I appreciated those suggestions; they told me people cared. But each time someone gave me a name, I’d pray about it and every time received a firm conviction that I should just stay with the care I was receiving. As a matter of fact, I was surprised how strong the answers to those prayers were. I had no doubt that I was to remain with the doctors I had.

It was interesting to me that at this time of need I was in just the right place to receive the help I needed. The people who I needed were right here so that I didn’t need to fly off to Texas or California. This has made me think a lot about all the other people that are in my life.

I firmly believe that the people in our lives—those we just call on occasionally like my doctors, or those we live with every day—are there to help us and to teach us, and not always in just positive ways! The very things that annoy us most about a spouse or a child may be the very things that will teach us overcome some defect in our own character. The very problems our family members have may be the very thing we need to help us build faith and spiritual strength as we help them through the problem.

And of course, there are the positive experiences when someone comes along at just the right time to help us with a problem or to teach us what we need to be happier or more faithful. Nothing happens by coincidence. As I look around and ask why this person is in my life, I usually realize that they are teaching me something important.

Little Things Make a Difference!

My grandson, Aaron.




Since 25 of my 29 grandchildren live far away, I don’t get to see them very often. I’m lucky if I see them once a year, but I get to talk to them on the telephone once in awhile. It isn’t quite the same as a personal visit, and I find myself wondering if it even makes a difference in their lives. Does it help establish relationships or any kind of bonding? The younger ones don’t have the attention span to carry on much of a conversation. The grade schoolers don’t seem to like or know how to talk on the phone, and the teenagers don’t want to be bothered.

Then last week I found my answer. I decided these short conversations might have more value to them than I imagined—even to the younger children. I was talking to three-year-old Aaron from California. We chatted for a few moments about what he was doing and then he abruptly said, “Goodbye.” So I said, “Goodbye. I love you.”

As he handed the phone to his mother, I heard him exclaim in a very excited voice, “She loves me!” My heart jumped right out of my chest with joy. I think that means our phone visits might be making a difference in his life, and I know they are making a big difference in mine!

Winter Warmth

For the past few hours, the sky has opened and dropped big fluffy flakes of snow over the earth. Outside my window everything is white except the fence and the side of the neighbor’s house. Snow has its way of equalizing everything. No seam divides the sky from the rooftops. The leafless fruit trees have turned to white lace, the tool shed is cozily blanketed under a six inch white comforter, and the white pine tree boughs bend in reverence. Watching this white-on-white world almost seems unreal—like watching a snow globe one never has to shake.

I know from experience that it is cold out there, but in here I am warm. I love this season when fireplaces blaze, hugs and cuddling bring warmth to the body as well as the heart, a cup of hot chocolate is more than just drink, and everyone wants to stay indoors chatting together. In its strange way, winter has a wonderfully warm feel to it.

But there is more. Watching the snow also reminds me that the Lord “hast made summer and winter” (Psalm 74:17), and that Nephi (1 Nephi 11:8) and Joseph Smith (D&C 110:3) reported that when He appeared to them, the Savior was like the “pure snow.” I think most people equate the Savior with everything warm—the sun, brightness, heat, but as Alma teaches us “all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it” (Alma 30:44). Winter is on the face of the earth right now. So as I watch this beautiful, pure white scene, I think of the Savior and how at some point He will make all things pure and bright.