Behold, My Joy is Full

"The cavity which suffering carves into our souls will one day also be the receptacle of joy."

Neil A. Maxwell, BYU Fireside, 1 September 1974.

It's Between You & God

Mother Teresa reportedly kept the following statement hanging on her wall:

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of
selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may
cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone
could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will
forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It never was between you and them anyway.

Sister Kinghorn in Ukraine

Okay, are you ready to sob - because this is what it's all about. The Kinghorns are Humanitarian Service Missionaries in Ukraine. She sent me an email today and I'm going to post a number of her things at the Humanitarian Service Project Blog (Link on the right). I'll include here some of the links to specific posts as well. I can't help but cry as I read about the work they do, and I am so grateful to be able to help in some small way the children and families of the world.

This is what she wrote as an introduction to the blog:

My husband Bruce and I are Missionaries with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We are serving a Humanitarian Mission in Ukraine. The focus of the Church's Humanitarian work is to relieve the suffering of the poor and needy. Every week we visit charitable organizations such as orphanages, shelters, boarding schools for the handicapped, special hospice homes, and hospitals. We have met some incredible people who dedicate their lives to helping others. We hope to share with you a glimpse of what those experiences are like for us and the wonderful blessings we have enjoyed while being on the Lord's errand.

Kinghorn's Called to Serve

Humanitarian Work (Containers)

He is listening. He loves you. He will answer you.

I didn't want to post anything new, because that photo and poem are so beautiful, but somewhere out there is someone who desperately needs to know that their prayers are being heard and will be answered. I have always believed this, but in my hours of greatest need, He has been so attentive to me - I have such a need to testify. He Hears You. He will Answer You.

The answers I have received have not been "what I planned," and have in fact shocked me. I have passed through my nightmare, . . . and survived. I didn't think that was possible. The Lord has strengthened me daily as I have turned to Him and allowed Him to guide me. The road has been rough, rocky and winding. All these things have given me experience, however. They have made me softer and more willing to listen to Him. They have made it impossible for me to imagine that I "came up with any of it on my own." His plan for my life wasn't my plan, but as I have accepted His will and His way I have found the greatest peace and happiness I've ever known. That is His promise. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

He is listening. He loves you. He will answer you.

Song For A Fifth Child

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep...

by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, in Lady's Home Journal. 1958.

Precious Children

"My dear brothers and sisters, may the laughter of children gladden our hearts. May the faith of children soothe our souls. May the love of children prompt our deeds. 'Children are an heritage of the Lord' (Ps. 127:3)."

Thomas S. Monson
"Precious Children--A Gift from God,"
Ensign, Nov. 1991

Our Priceless Heritage

Today we live in a choice land above all other lands. We live amid unbounded prosperity ~ this because of the heritage bequeathed to us by our forebears, a heritage of self-reliance, initiative, personal industry, and faith in God, all in an atmosphere of freedom.
Were these Founding Fathers and pioneer forefathers to counsel us today in their fundamental beliefs~so manifest by their acts~ what would they say to us?
FIRST they would counsel us to have faith in God.
SECOND they would counsel us to strengthen our home and family ties.
THIRD they would counsel us on the dignity of work, to practice thrift, and to be self-sustaining.
FINALLY these noble Founders and pioneers~ our benefactors~ would counsel us to preserve the freedoms granted to us by God. They knew that the foundation of this nation was spiritual, that the source of all our blessings was God. They knew that this nation could only prosper in an atmosphere of freedom.
As one with you, charged with the responsibility of protecting and perpetuating this noble heritage, I stand today with bowed head and heart overflowing with gratitude. May we begin to repay this debt by preserving and strengthening this heritage in our own lives, in the lives of our children, their children and generations yet unborn.
Nov. 1976 Ensign
by President Ezra Taft Benson