To the Rescue

I would like to share some learning from my New Testament class with all of you and weave in some family history stories as well.

   This week we studied in Luke chapter 15.  This is the chapter that has the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. The first, like the sheep where one leaves the ninety and nine, they just wander off, maybe get out of the habit of activity. Who do we know who has just wandered off?  When a person wanders off, it may be no one’s fault.  They may become lax, like a sheep that isn’t watching where the rest of the herd is.  I remember when we lived in Bedford when the girls were little and we had chicken pox for about 6 weeks straight.  One girl would get chicken pox and then just about the time she was getting better, the next girl would get it and so on.  Because Dad had a calling at church, I think he was in the Elder's Quorum presidency, and felt he couldn't miss, he went to church and I stayed home with the sick ones.  I have been active in the church all my life, but when everyone was better and I could actually go to church after missing for six weeks, I struggled to go back.  I had to force myself to go.  It was a good lesson for me how easily it is to get out of the habit of church attendance.  I also learned that I should never judge another's situation about missing church, but just extend love.

 The next parable the woman loses the coin. This is caused by lack of attention, or maybe by being careless.  Someone may have given offense which causes a member to become less active.  Do we know anyone who may be lost from this type of situation?  She lights a candle.  A lighted candle is often a symbol of being a good example.  She searches diligently. Recently the Biondi's, Paul and Bobbi,  from Post Falls came to visit.  Dad was their home teacher for at least 7 years.  When he first went to their home, they wouldn't let him in, just crack the door open barely enough to say "thanks but we're busy".  Over time they began to open the door wider and then eventually invite him in.  I don't know if Joshua was ever a companion to Dad for the Biondis but John and Jared were.They really appreciated both John and Jared.  We shared some of Jared's mission emails and they so enjoyed those.  Paul's not a member, and Bobbi, or her actual name is Roberta, is less active.  Sometimes Bobbi would come to church with her sister, Barbara, when Barb was in town.  About a year before we moved, Paul needed knee surgery.  Dad offered a blessing and Paul was open and gladly accepted the offer.  His recovery went much more smoothly than the previous knee surgery he had had.  Anyway, Dad was always the lighted candle and diligent home teacher.  A couple of months ago Dad called them to see how they were doing and to invite them to the Star Valley Temple Open House.  They said they might be in the area at the time and would let us know.  Well they came!  Barbara was with them too. Paul said, "You had to move before we would finally come visit you."  They enjoyed the Open House very much.  They lingered and studied the art and the stained glass.  They expressed their admiration and appreciation.  We served them dinner.  It was a marvelous time.  I think Dad and I know how the woman who found the coin felt. Even though they may not all of a sudden come to church, they will never forget the temple.




 




Then there's the story of the prodigal son.  This was a situation where the son willfully chooses to leave the light and truth of his father's home.  Do we know anyone like that?


 I can't think of an example from our family of someone willfully rebelling, but I do know that Dad has taught me much about how to welcome those who have strayed.  The older son in the parable is begrudging his brother's return or as Elder Holland teaches,

Surely, for this father, the pain over a wayward child who had run from home and wallowed with swine is now compounded with the realization that this older, wiser brother, the younger boy’s childhood hero as older brothers always are, is angry that his brother has come home.

No, I correct myself. This son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it. Feeling unappreciated and perhaps more than a little self-pity, this dutiful son—and he is wonderfully dutiful—forgets for a moment that he has never had to know filth or despair, fear or self-loathing. He forgets for a moment that every calf on the ranch is already his and so are all the robes in the closet and every ring in the drawer. He forgets for a moment that his faithfulness has been and always will be rewarded.

No, he who has virtually everything, and who has in his hardworking, wonderful way earned it, lacks the one thing that might make him the complete man of the Lord he nearly is. He has yet to come to the compassion and mercy, the charitable breadth of vision to see that this is not a rival returning. It is his brother. 

Dad reached out to our neighbor Steve, when I was keeping my distance because of the stories of drugs and alcohol that I had heard.  Dad saw beyond that.  Our relationship with Steve and his brother Fitz, was a blessing to our family.  They shared their garden spot with us.  Fitz knew lots about car repairs.  Steve helped with home repairs.  They both enjoyed working and had generous hearts.  Yes they couldn't overcome their addictions, and poor Fitz died because of it, but we did bring light.  They did work to minimize their use of substances when we were around.  They did listen to the missionaries a few times, and Fitz read the Book of Mormon a couple of times when he was in jail.  Unfortunately after he got out, his girlfriend, ironically a very less active member of the church, encouraged drinking.  He moved from next door and he and Lynette bought a home.  She still loved to drink and he would for her, but it killed him.  Dad spoke at his services, in fact Dad was asked to direct his service.  It's been a little over a year now and I've been in touch with Fitz and Steve's sister, Kim, who herself is a less active member, but trying to come back, about doing temple work for Fitz. The lesson for me is to be like the father, watching a great way off and rejoice when they return, no matter where they've been or what they've done, because we all are sisters and brothers.  Dad already practices this.  I am learning to do so.  Thanks for letting me share with all of you.  I love you!

 

The Path to Charity

This week in my New Testament class we studied the account of the woman taken in adultery. Another instance that connects somewhat is when James and John want to call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus.  Both of these times the message is that Christ came not to condemn but to save.  He is our Loving Savior.  He wants us to give us every opportunity to repent, change and choose Him, and choose love, like He always does.

Last week in Relief Society the lesson was from President Hunter about following the Savior's path to charity.  If you read that lesson then you know the story at the end about the young man who was running his father's salvage yard.  A thief came one night to steal some car parts and the son was determined to exact vengeance.

That story reminded me of an experience about your amazing father.  Some of you may already be familiar with it.  We were shopping in Spokane.  We had a fender bender.  Now I can't remember who was at fault, or the exact nature of the damage.  We pulled into a parking area to talk with the other driver.  It was a young mother.  She got out of her car, very upset ans started swearing up a blue streak.  I was immediately defensive and said something like "Okay you might be mad, but stop swearing!"  Dad turned to me and calmly but firmly said, "Get in the car."  

He continued the conversation with the mother and after a while got back in the car and we went home.  As we talked on the way home, I learned that Dad had offered to fix her car and set up a time to get her car for a couple of days.

When I mentioned her swearing, Dad said, "She was scared.  That's why."  He had instantly put himself in her place and had compassion even with her swearing.  As he quietly listened to her and then talked further, he learned that she was a single mother, feeling tight with money and very dependent on her car.  Dad did fix it.  He put in the extra mile to match the paint and get everything just right.  The night we returned it to her, we gave her some church DVD's.  It was Christmas time.  The most current church Christmas DVD was one of the ones we gave her. She was very grateful and sweet. We didn't keep in contact with her or anything, so we don't know what kind of feeling she had about the church invitations.  The best lesson for me was Dad's very charitable example.  

Today Janet told me about the Primary program practice last week where she observed Dad's compassion.  One of the girls in his class was saying her part, but made a mistake.  She was corrected and felt bad.  She started to cry and rushed straight to Dad's arms.  He hugged and comforted her, just waiting until she was calm enough to try again.  Janet thought it was such a powerful example of compassion.  He's the most compassionate and Christ-like man I know.  I am a better woman because of him.

Fair, Food & Ribbons

Our neighbor, Camille Hunting, is the Bedford rep for the Lincoln County Fair.  There seems to be an emphasis of supporting her with entries. Years ago, when the four girls were little, I entered a rhubarb pie and got a red ribbon, 2nd place on it.  So I thought I would try again to qualify for, as Esther says, "bragging rights".

 I entered orange rolls, which got a red, raisin filled cookies which got a blue and a pink, runner-up best of show, carrot cookies which also got a blue and a pink

 100% Whole wheat bread which got a red ribbon.

Mock apple cake with walnuts and caramel cream cheese frosting.  The "mock" is sauerkraut. Got a blue on this one.

 Another cake with sauerkraut, a chocolate layer cake - very moist - got a red but also a comment that said, "Very nice flavor."

 Cinnamon rolls, that also got a blue.

James entered some projects he made last year - a carry bag, a vase and a cool candy dish.

One of the most fun times about the fair for me was spending some time with Esther one night.  We walked around the usual food booths and such.  We shared a taco meal from a Mexican family taco trailer.  Then we walked through the animal booths.  Esther so enjoyed seeing all the animals, and I enjoyed watching her.  She really has a gift with animals.

So here I am, a couple of months after the fair, finally getting this post up.  We went to the rodeo as a family one night and that was certainly a highlight of fair week.  One of the best things for me was the night Esther and I walked around the animal booths.    Enjoy the post!  Love, Mom