The Virtue of Kindness

I spent last Saturday at a parent conference that my professional organization sponsored. After that I attended a board meeting and then had dinner with the board members and others from the conference. I engaged in many delightful conversations of how to teach and parent better. We discussed books and there was even a bit of brainstorming. How I enjoy these acquaintances!

Sunday morning I woke up and listened to Elder Wirthlin's talk titled "The Virtue of Kindness" on BYUTV... "Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends....We are all children of our Heavenly Father. And we are here with the same purpose: to learn to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves....My brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ transcends mortality. Our work here is but a shadow of greater and unimaginable things to come."

A friend of many years from out of state is coming to visit tonight. Her kindness is remarkable. It touches so many lives. She is a good example of Elder Wirthlin's words.

(The views written in this post are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Raising Children

Another topic of conversation at that same picnic (see the July 19th post) dealt with the challenges of raising children. One mother commented that as a baby her boy was so easy but then as a child he had become so difficult. Another said to just wait until they were teens and that they would switch again. I am not a parent, but most of my career has involved working with teens and pre-teens. It is a scary time for parents. This is an idea that might help them influence the direction of the switching.

"In uncertain and difficult times, faith is truly a spiritual gift worthy of our utmost efforts. We can give our children education, lessons, athletics, the arts, and material possessions, but if we do not give them faith in Christ, we have given little....When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God’s commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things." Elder Pearson

Please don't misunderstand. I don't consider myself at all perfect in this. But we do need to hold on to and keep striving for the ideal.

(The views written in this post are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Asking for Help

At a picnic yesterday I heard some people talking about the new Harry Potter movie. The conversation moved to discussing which of his shows they liked the least. I told them that the Goblet of Fire was too dark for me and that in it the adults were not trustworthy. The students had no where to turn.

I also remembered an activity a couple of years ago where my students posed problems and asked each other what they would do in those difficult situations. It was interesting, but sad, that none of them said they would go to an adult. They may have thought it was against the imaginary rules, but I wondered how often these kids would go to adults with real problems.

This morning it occurred to me that as adults we often act the same way. When we come up against insurmountable odds, how many of us turn to our Heavenly Father for help. How many of us with sincerely troubling questions chant Laman and Lemuel's mantra of "...the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us?"

In my life I have had sweet seasons when help from Him came easily and others when it was slower. Perhaps if I kept closer the formulas to improve that situation, those times would be fewer.

"President Kimball said, 'I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.'" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 135.)

In a Conference talk Elder Pearson quoted Elder Bruce R. McConkie ...“Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater will be the endowment of faith.” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 264). Elder Pearson also said "Faith is a gift from God, and one possessed of it can receive enormous spiritual power."

Independence is sometimes required. However, we should not go it alone when help is there for the asking.

(The views written in this post are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)