To Dare Mighty Things

Around Memorial Day, we found a blue robin egg shell on our sidewalk.

We also looked at pictures of Mount Rushmore and wondered about the life of Theodore Roosevelt. I wasn't quite sure why he was on Mount Rushmore, I'm ashamed to say. I remember astonishingly few facts from my schooling.

While at the library today, I quickly chose two books from the New Books display shelf. To my pleasant surprise, I ended up coming home with a book about Teddy Roosevelt and a book about nesting robins!

First, I read “Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?” by Rita Gray. Not only did it specifically answer the question about how the mommy bird removes the egg shells from the nest to protect her babies from predators, but it offered me a sweet message from the Holy Ghost as I read. All the birds are singing throughout the book except for the Nesting Bird, who is completely silent and stays at the nest. As I read about this little robin quietly performing her duties as a mother, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I realized that this is my place (and pace) right now: home, and close to my children. I worry sometimes over the many things I'd like to be doing, several of which include finding my “voice” – writing a chapter book series, furthering the work on my novel, completing my 7 Keys Certification for Leadership Education, reading the books for my Mentoring in the Classics class, reading for Relief Society Book Club, creating posts for my blog... the list could go on and on. And on. But as I related to this mother robin, priorities fell into their proper place and I felt my capacity for joy in my home increase. All things have their season.

Next, I read the inspiring story of Theodore Roosevelt in a book entitled, “To Dare Mighty Things” by Doreen Rappaport.

This story tells about the thorough education that Teddy gave himself growing up. He is an excellent example of the Leadership Education model I am following in my home school. He was curious about things, read about them, drew them, set up his own museum as a child, and wrote books about them. I could go on. He also took time to feed his soul when he needed it. His family and life's work were a joy to him. Then I read this quote from a speech he gave.

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

Again I felt a message of encouragement come from my Heavenly Father. Certainly I may not accomplish all that I am setting out to do, but it is so much better to be trying and failing than to never have tried to succeed at all. I feel as though I have found in Teddy Roosevelt a kindred spirit, one who sees the wrong and takes action to make it right. For this message to come to me alongside the message of the mother robin is in itself a third message to me from God: Have peace and take joy in the motherly pace of raising your children, but also keep trying to fulfill the other parts of the mission to which I have called you. Don't give up. I will prepare a way for you to accomplish the things you've been commanded to do.

I know the Lord placed these books in my hands today at the library. I feel assured that my Heavenly Father knows the challenges I face and He is there for me. He watches over my every step and patiently waits for me to come unto Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. When I do, He is ready to pour out His blessings upon me and help me, not only to succeed, but to have joy as I am working to do so. (Incidentally, as I was reading these books to James, he fell asleep! Voila! The way was prepared for me to write this! I feel so blessed!)