Charity

I got this in an email the otherday its pretty cool.

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?'
Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two be ings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck.

The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'
Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter ... , we must become as little children.'
If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.



'It is better to be liked for the true you, than to be loved for who people think you are......'

It's offical

Hey everybody,

Something awesome happened to me today. And it officially proves that God loves me. So last Tuesday some idiot left his i-pod in his pants pocket and sent it through the wash. I have been working for days to try to get it to work again. And through Gods tender mercies he has granted unto me a working i-pod. Think about it, God must love me because if he didn't that would have been a perfect time to stick it to me. Though my Ipod does have a few battle wounds, the screen is barely visible, but you can still see the name of the song and all your menu's. I am happy. I hope your sabbath has been as happy as mine.

The Second Half of that Story

Okay,

My last post was a little less then cheery, especially if you read the article. But the best part of this is that is not the end of that story. After Christ suffered unimaginable pain both before and after the cross, he was placed inside a tomb. And on the third day or today he rose from the dead and the stone was removed from the tomb. I can't remember who said it but one of the general authorities said that one of the greatest phrases in all the world is "He is risen!!!!"

Everbody that is the good news "He is risen!!!!" and a because He is risen, we will be too. Life will and does go on after death. I wish you guys could hear my voice inflections because I am so excited. I am totally not doing this justice, but I just want every know that I am grateful that Christ broke the bands of death. One of my favorite scriptures is in 1 Corinthians 15:55 it says "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Paul is taunting death because of Christ, death is just step that must be taken to go home to our Father in Heaven. Happy Easter Everybody.

P.S. Elder Holland does a great job at describing what the last two posts have been about in the new video on the church website.

Its Good Friday Everbody

Hey Guys long time no see,

Its Good Friday!!!!!!! Good Friday traditionally celebrates the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have been thinking a lot about this event and the effect that it has had in my life. I have an article about the crucifixion, it is found on http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/crucifix.htm . Anyone who thinks they can handle the gruesome details of crucifixion I think it could be wise to do so it gives a new understanding of what Christ went through in your stead.

With the way this physician describes it hard not tear up that a man who has done nothing but good to the world would be treated so terribly. And what is even more amazing to me is that an all powerful being would be willing to go through such unbelievable torture.

I am extremely grateful that he did though, for if he had not I know that there would be no hope for me in this life. I know that through this one act performed by Redeemer I can be saved and be happy in this life and the eternities to come. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I have to repent, I can't accurately describe to you all how grateful I am for this gift. But anyone who has had a personal experience with the atonement of Christ knows what it is I am talking about. And anyone who hasn't I am sure has things to repent of and needs to take advantage of the joy that can come from it.

The Power of Music

Everyone,

I have a great testimony on the power of music and hymns. I had the privilege of hearing my good friend, play the piano. I want to bear testimony on the very real power of music. The last song she played for us before we left her home was "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief." As she did an abundance of the spirit filled the room. It is truly amazing how when one is feeling the spirit their desires, their actions are drastically changed.

I know that one of the fastest ways to get the spirit is through the power of the Hymns and music. I know that the Lord and his spirit delights in good wholesome uplifting music, and will pour out a blessing upon the heads of those who joyfully make music to worship him (and the really cool thing is, he looks at the desires and intentions of our hearts, so those of us who were not so blessed in the music category still can be given the same blessings). I remember a time that I was at a dance had a great time, except I was upset at the DJ for his pick in songs. I had a friend who told me to go listen good, wholesome, gospel based music, and you feel better. I know that my friend was inspired in his counsel. Like I said early when one feels the spirit, there desires and actions change. I know mine did in that situation.

We are truly blessed to have music in our lives. It is probably one greatest blessing we have in our lives.

Don't worry Bro, Joseph screwed up too.

In Sunday school this year they are study the life and teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith. And we were studying one of my favorite scriptures today, it is found in Joseph Smith History 1:28 It says:

...... I was left to all kinds of ^btemptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish ^cerrors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of ^dlevity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was ^ecalled of God as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native ^fcheery temperament.

And in Doctrine and Covenants 3:10:

But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art ^aagain called to the work.


I love these scripture, because I get great comfort in knowing that Joseph Smith on 0ccasion screwed up and sinned, but despite all of his sins he was still called of God and was saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I get comfort from these scriptures, when I have screwed up and fail to do that which is right I know I can still repent, and become as Joseph, called again to the work.

Happiness amid our trials

Hey everyone,

I want to share one of my favorite scriptures, it is in Alma 50:23. This is right in the middle of the war chapters, when they are having great battles in which thousands die. But it still says, "But behold there never was a ^ahappier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges." How can it be that amid all the death destruction and other trials that they had to face, they still were happy?

Well today I found a quote from President Packer, he said "If you understand the great plan of happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness." This quote has helped understand that just like unto to Nephites of old, we can be happy amid the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the crumbling economy, and the continuing spread of evil through out the world. We need to continuously seek understanding on the Plan of Salvation and the atonement of Jesus Christ, and live by it, and then no matter what happens to us in this life we can have happiness and joy in this life and eternal life in the life yet to come.