I would ask if all is done?

Today I taught a class of 12-13 year olds. The lesson was about pressing forward in the steadfastness of Christ. I tried to remember what I was like at that age and the truth is I can't remember a thing about what I learnt at that age. I can tell you who liked who, what clothes I wore, and even songs from that time - but not too much else..... so while the children in my class were participating, and no one fell asleep, I quickly realised while preparing, while I was deliverying, and now some hours later - this lesson was for me. In particular a question that a man called Nephi asked of his people "if all is done?"

This question probably resonates a little more this week than it would at some other time, because this week my family and I have been involved in a tangi for a woman that was most loved and tresaured not only by her family, but also her friends and the commmunity. Her life long service to many was acknowledged when she was awarded a QSM (Queen's Service Medal) award - so you can tell she was very special.... During the week, people have talked about how busy she was, and the work that she would do for so many people, and for her selflessness.  The answer to the question "if all is done" can only be a resounding yes!

My friend has recently lost a nephew who was born into a body that did not work properly. He was not quite one yet, but in the months that he lived he had been through more operations, procedures, helicopter and ambulance rides, and needles than most of us do in a life time. The question - if all is done - can be asked here. The answer again - has to be yes. For whatever reason, this little boy was born into this life - he gained a body, he bore his trials and is now free.

Nephi knew his people very well, and once he asked the question if all was done? He answered no, it is not.

A good example of this I take from my sons who were asked to do the dishes. One washes and the other dries. I am grateful that at 16 years old, they listen and do the dishes without question. If I was to ask them - if all is done? They would happily report - yes and for them they have discharged their duty, EXCEPT for the fact that as we look and see there on the bench are lovely washed and dried dishes, granted not the normal - the tupperware, ice tray etc, but still dishes! So in fact, is all done?  - the answer - NO!

So what does Nephi teach the people? He goes on to teach his people that although the work is not completed - we all need to press forward in the steadfastness of Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men."

Today, a friend of mine shared with a group of us ladies a story about a man that ran in the 1968 Mexico Olympics marathon - John Stephen Ahkwari from Tanzania. After suffering a bad fall and dislocating a joint in the process this amazing man continued running to the end (he press forwarded :-)) and completed the race an hour after the winner crossed the finish line. In fact, the winner had already had the medal ceremony, it was nightfall, and the stadium was almost empty - but this man kept going and going. When asked why he didn't quit - he replied according to the documentary "my country did not send me 5000 miles to start a race, they sent me 5000 miles to finish the race." The question asked of this man "if all was done?" - the answer would be yes & eventually! He kept going when it was easier to stop.... He showed us what it will take for us to press forward with the steadfastness in Christ. His example also demonstrates what it is like to have a brightness of hope. As long as we keep going, one foot in front another - moving all the time, we will get to where we are going.

So today I learnt heaps about the question that I should ask of myself if all is done? For me, there is much more to do. I am inspired by the people around me to keep moving - to press forward in the steadfastness in Christ, to have a brightness of hope and to love those around me and my God..... Now I just have to get cracking!!

Have a lovely week and see you next time.

Yours in friendship,

Mxo

Pray, Think and Living with Faith

Two weeks ago I was reminded about the importance of faith in my life.  I was at a Time Out For Women and listening to Laurel Christensen and  heard about how she had prayed, thought and lived with faith and I was touched.

I have always had faith, but I became lost in a world where it was encouraged to do things for yourself and to in some ways rely on your own ability to get you through. This happens to the point where you can actually start to believe that you don't need anything else, and even in the smallest chance you did - someone was going to be able to read your mind or heart or both and provide the help you so desperately needed....

Well, did I get a HUGE wake up call when my body told me that it had other plans for me and it actually spoke so loud that this intellectual smart woman took notice and pressed the great big imaginary button that was on her forehead that said 'Pause' and when I did - I knew immediately that I had a lot of work to do.....

Then came the reminder about 'faith' and here I am. I am heading into week three of praying, thinking and living with Faith and this is what I have found so far.

1) Happiness
I don't know what it is and can't really explain it but there has been an absence of happiness in my life for sometime. Don't get me wrong, I have laughed and had some wonderful experiences - but I wake up in the morning and I am happy.

2) Fear
I am scared of the future in terms of I really have no idea where I am going to go - but it is a fear that I can overcome because I am in control of where I go next. It is the kind of fear that you know something is going to happen, its big, its good for you, and you have never done it before but still alittle nervous... especially when you know that that the next thing to do is to jump. So here I am all 40+ of me at the precipice of what I believe is something spectacular and just for me.

3) Joy
When talking to someone during the last five or six weeks, I mentioned the word joy and how I had no joy anymore.... I am not sure why I picked those words but the word joy was used as a desciption of the place inside that lights you up... anyway, I am experiencing joy for the first time in a long time. The joy comes when I am in the car with my boys and they are rattling on about their rugby game, and joy resonates with me when I have dropped the boys off and the bell has not gone for their first class ;-) Joy has come to me through being a mother ;-) Instead of doing my motherly duties like a checklist that spanned pages and pages - I am being a mother.....

4) Excitement
I am scared but I am excited. I have literally put my life into someone else's hands and I am being guided. I have prayed about my future, after thinking and pondering my options which has lead me to be totally excited to be living with faith.

5) To be
Last week I taught a lesson based on a talk called What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be given by Lynn Robbins and this is what he teaches: "Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. [I can drop my children off to school everyday, which is a to do. But being a good mother is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am.]...Because be begets do and is the motive behind do, teaching be will improve behavior more effectively than focusing on do will improve behavior.

So out goes my 'to do' list and in comes my 'to be' list and I think I am on my way...

How are you doing or rather being? Try praying, thinking and living with faith.

Yours in friendship,

Mxox