Today, we were supposed to bake tons of chocolate chip cookies to give away at church. We were supposed to thoroughly clean the house and make ham rolls and chocolate cake for the family Christmas Party that was to be in our home. We were supposed to bake more sugar cookies and decorate them to give away to my daughters' friends at church. We were supposed to get everything else ready for tomorrow. We were supposed to have a busy, busy day.
But it snowed more than a foot.
We are buried in beautiful blissful escape.
Instead, I kept my Pajamas on all day. I took video and pictures of my family playing in the snow. I huffed and puffed my pregnant self through the knee deep snow and played in it. I laughed when I fell backwards and my husband had to pull me up out of it. I enjoyed some hot chocolate with marshmallows (Warm chocolate soymilk is not so bad!). I still made cookies, but they were the healthy oatmeal walnut chocolate chip lactose free kind, not the mix I had been planning on using for convenience. I still ate too many chocolate chips. My daughter and I colored lots of pictures with a brand new box of crayons. I watched my husband play with my daughter outside and fell more in love with him. He let her try to play his trumpet after filling the house with Christmas and spiritual music for a while.
After dinner, she snuggled with daddy in the recliner while he read the scriptures and we said family prayer. Then we turned out all the lights and looked at the lighted manger scene and tree. We sang Christmas carols together. It was peaceful and filled with joy. It was what Christmas is all about. I love the Savior. I love my family. I love that I can be with them most of the days of my life. I love Christmas. I love snow.
I love it when Heavenly Father sends a blizzard to quiet the storm of our lives.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives us the above statement. After a mostly pleasant morning became colored by my frustrations and annoyances, I read this and wondered, now what do you mean, Paul? When I am Weak, Then am I Strong? How exactly?
The matter required further delving into the scriptures to understand. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 is given after Paul tells us he prayed three times for the Lord to remove his “thorn in the flesh” from him. The scripture says, “And he (the Lord) said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I (Paul) rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (I added the quotes and names for clarification).
Okay, Paul, so what you are saying is that because you have weaknesses, there are qualities in your character which need the power of Christ to change. When the power of Christ is there with you, helping you, you are strong because of His presence.
But what about how I was frustrated this morning? I didn't feel strong. I didn't feel Christ working in me. Of course, I realized, that's because I wasn't letting Him. I mean, I was giving into my weakness instead of asking for His help with it. Without His help, when I am weak, I'm just weak.
I studied further. One of the footnotes led me to this scripture: “And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27).
Ah. So the next time in the same situation, if I am humble and aware of my weakness, and if I slow down and take the time to petition the Lord for His help, then He will help me to change my direction and choose actions that are more reflective of a Christlike nature. Sometimes the petition may just be a 10 second prayer and a few deep breaths. Other times, a weakness or distress may feel so strong that it overcomes our whole souls for a time. When this happens, we must fall to our knees as well, and humbly petition the Lord for His help in whatever capacity we need. We can faithfully offer prayer to Him for as long as it takes until His healing peace and comfort, even His strength and grace overwhelms our souls and changes us from someone who feels out of control into someone who can handle anything.
The matter required further delving into the scriptures to understand. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 is given after Paul tells us he prayed three times for the Lord to remove his “thorn in the flesh” from him. The scripture says, “And he (the Lord) said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I (Paul) rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (I added the quotes and names for clarification).
Okay, Paul, so what you are saying is that because you have weaknesses, there are qualities in your character which need the power of Christ to change. When the power of Christ is there with you, helping you, you are strong because of His presence.
But what about how I was frustrated this morning? I didn't feel strong. I didn't feel Christ working in me. Of course, I realized, that's because I wasn't letting Him. I mean, I was giving into my weakness instead of asking for His help with it. Without His help, when I am weak, I'm just weak.
I studied further. One of the footnotes led me to this scripture: “And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27).
Ah. So the next time in the same situation, if I am humble and aware of my weakness, and if I slow down and take the time to petition the Lord for His help, then He will help me to change my direction and choose actions that are more reflective of a Christlike nature. Sometimes the petition may just be a 10 second prayer and a few deep breaths. Other times, a weakness or distress may feel so strong that it overcomes our whole souls for a time. When this happens, we must fall to our knees as well, and humbly petition the Lord for His help in whatever capacity we need. We can faithfully offer prayer to Him for as long as it takes until His healing peace and comfort, even His strength and grace overwhelms our souls and changes us from someone who feels out of control into someone who can handle anything.
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