Month: December 2017

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad.” (Matthew 5:12)

I’m not going to lie, this December is feeling rough. The overwhelm is real and finding reasons to rejoice as I face the daily battles feels impossible sometimes. So today I am going to try to find the little things to rejoice in. The cream in my herbal tea, kisses from my sweet toddler, and the heater in my car. Maybe if I can find enough little things to rejoice in it will make the big, rough stuff seem a little smaller.

Meditation/Journaling Prompt: What are you rejoicing in today? Please share so I can lean on your rejoicing today while I try to find my own.

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Forgive men their trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14)

Forgiveness is freeing. For both the forgiven and the forgiver. Forgiving others frees our hearts and minds up for bigger and better things. Holding onto hurt and being wounded just takes so much energy. And don’t we all hope for forgiveness to be given freely to us–here on earth and in heaven?

Meditation/Journaling Prompt: What are you holding on to? Where could that energy better be spent?

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Blessed are the merciful.” (Matthew 5:7)

The first thought I had when I read today’s Light the World focus was, “I really need to give my kids a break.” It can be really hard to let things slide with my kids sometimes. I know what they are capable of and I see their potential and when they aren’t living up to it I can get easily frustrated. I know I hold them to a high standard, and while that is not something I want to change too much, I need to give them some room to make mistakes and find different ways to teach them how to live up to their potential. So today, I am going to try to focus on the positive, encourage instead of reprimand, teach and play and love a little more… and maybe let them off the hook when I would normally tow the line. I mean… it’s Christmas after all.

I’m so grateful that my Father in Heaven loves perfectly and is so eager to extend us mercy and give us every benefit of the doubt.

Meditation/Jouraling Prompt: How can you show an increased amount of mercy to your family today?

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

When I think treasure, I think pirates. Willing to do anything, travel anywhere, sacrifice anything they can for the chance at a great reward. It is where they put all of their focus and energy.

Today our time is our currency. Where we spend it and what we do with it tells us what we truly treasure most.

What are we seeking? What are we willing to sacrifice for and what are we not? Entertainment? Family? Money? God? What are you treasuring and is it really where you want your heart to be?

Meditation/Journaling Prompt: Where are you putting your time? Does your behavior match with what you really want your treasure to be? If there is a disconnect, how can you reconcile it?

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Blessed are they that mourn.” (Matthew 5:4)

There is so much tragedy around us. It feels like lately every time I get on Facebook there is another family who has been struck by unspeakable tragedy–children, parents of young children, fathers, friends. Accidents, mental illness, cancer, illness… it can happen to anyone at any time. It is hard to comprehend and can be terrifying to think about as a mother. And then it is nearly impossible to know what to say and how to comfort someone who is going through the depths of such heartbreak and devastation. I am so grateful to know that when i can’t think of the words, there is one who knows perfectly how to succor those who are suffering. I think sometimes all we can do is just say “I’m sorry” and pray–to take a little of their pain and mourn with them, weep beside them and pray for them. Prayer is powerful and those who are suffering can feel the support it brings. Then we must listen and be ready to act when the spirit prompts us to say or do something more. I think the best thing we can do is to be aware of those around us and notice with our eyes and our spirits when someone is in need. The Spirit will guide us to those who need us.

Meditation/Journaling Prompt: Do you know someone who is mourning? How can you shoulder a bit of the burden for them, or simply show them that they are not alone in their mourning?

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“I was a stranger, and ye took me in.” (Matthew 25:35)

I am a pretty social person, but I still don’t always enjoy putting myself out there. I can get stuck in my little comfort zone and so busy with the chaos of life with 3 little boys and all that entails and it can be hard to reach out of my bubble. I love to meet new people, but I am much more comfortable being approached than I am approaching others. There have been a few times, however, when I have stretched myself and made that reach. Last year some new neighbors moved in next door. Typically I would wait until a chance encounter brought us together, or until they approached me, but this time I felt like I should be the one to reach out. It was not easy for me, but I went over, introduced myself, offered up my husband for moving heavy things and invited the new family over for dinner. Doing so has been a great blessing in my life. I made a dear friend and we have the kind of neighbor relationship you dream of – borrowing eggs and butter, watching each others houses when we are out of town, checking to be sure I closed my garage door when I have an attack of anxiety and mommy brain and leave the house in a frantic whirlwind, and just generally watching out for each other. I am so grateful I followed the nudge to stretch out of my comfort zone and make a new friend.

We are constantly presented with opportunities to “take in” a stranger, but we often let the opportunity pass by because it is uncomfortable or we assume someone else will take care of it. May we face our fears and act on those impulses to reach out to our fellow man. Be brave, my friend. It will be worth it. And people aren’t as scary as we make them out to be in our heads.

Meditation/Journaling Prompt: How is your family taking in the stranger today?

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Matthew 5:44)

I recently had a discussion on the Golden Rule with one of my sons. We were talking about how to be a friend, and keep a friend. You see, there is a key difference between “Do unto others as they do unto you,” and “do unto others as you WANT them to do unto you,” and he was getting a little hung up on that subtle yet significant distinction.

When we treat others better than they treat us, when we take the high road and refuse to hold a grudge, we feel better. It is that simple. The commandment for us to forgive others is for OUR benefit. When we refuse to hold on to the negative our lives can be filled with positive. There isn’t room for the light when we are gripping so tightly to even our justified hurt and anger. In turning it over to God and letting our hearts fill with love and kindness we are better and happier people. So if nothing else, forgive selfishly, do good selfishly, bless them selfishly–and reap the rewards.

Meditation/Journaling Prompt:  What are you holding on to today that you could let go of? Who can you pray for. Remember, if it is hard then it means its the right person to pray for!

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Suffer the little children to come unto me.” (Mark 10:14)

I think it is hard at Christmas time to NOT think about children. Christmas with kids is so fun. Their eyes sparkle with excitement. There is nothing quite like making a kids Christmas wish come true. They seem smaller and more innocent at Christmas time.

A few Christmases ago, we were going through a particularly tight financial period as we made a job transition. My husband and I decided that we wouldn’t get each other gifts that year so the excitement of Christmas was all focused on the kids. They had saved their money up to buy presents for each other for the first time. It was one of my favorite Christmas mornings ever as I savored the looks on their faces as they excitedly opened their gifts from us, from Santa and from their grandparents who love to spoil them rotten. And then when they presented their carefully chosen gifts for each other my heart grew two sizes. They were more excited to give to each other than they were to receive anything from us. And they beamed with joy in the giving. It was a year focused on giving and it was a Christmas I will never forget.

I learn so much from my children and their giving hearts.

Meditation/Journaling Prompt:  What are you doing to Light the World today?

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1)

President Thomas S. Monson shared the following anecdote in General Conference in October, 2010:

“A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”

John looked on but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.

A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”

John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”

Tonight I’d like to share with you a few thoughts concerning how we view each other. Are we looking through a window which needs cleaning? Are we making judgments when we don’t have all the facts? What do we see when we look at others? What judgments do we make about them?

Said the Savior, “Judge not.”¹ He continued, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”² Or, to paraphrase, why beholdest thou what you think is dirty laundry at your neighbor’s house but considerest not the soiled window in your own house?

None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.

There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”

May we go a little easier on those around us. May we have a little more patience with our children. May we give our imperfect selves a break this holiday season and find joy in letting go of judgement.

Meditation/Journaling Prompt:  Today I am trying to have an increased measure of patience with my kids, who I know are trying to do their best even though sometimes it feels like they are out to get me. My 6 year old is working on not tattling on his big brother. My 9 year old is working on being easier on himself after a few hard days at school. What is your family doing today?

Until Christmas Day, the daily devotionals will follow the church’s “Light The World” campaign. I would love to hear how you and your family are lighting the world each day!

“Honour thy father and mother.” (Matthew 15:4)

Being a parent has, of course, helped me to appreciate my own parents more. It is hard to comprehend how much your parents love you until you have a child of your own. It makes you appreciate your parents and the sleepless nights they suffered at your expense–as a newborn and a teenager! The sacrifice increases your love for them, which in turn makes you more willing to sacrifice for them.

Being a parent has also helped me understand and appreciate the love my Heavenly Father has for me. With as fiercely as I love my child, and want to protect them and give them everything, I am imperfect. How much love our Father in Heaven must have for us in his perfection. The hardest thing to do as a parent is let your child step out into the world where you cannot protect them, and let them falter and fail and learn from their mistakes, and yet that is the entire basis of His plan for us. He loves us enough to give us that agency so that we can stretch and grow and then He sits back and pleads for us to use that agency to seek Him and come back home.

Meditation/Journaling Prompt: How can you honour your earthly and heavenly parents today?