Turning Hearts

I love the scripture that speaks of the prophet Elijah turning the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.  I get it.  I feel it.  I believe it.  Family connections should be foremost in our lives and should be our greatest source of happiness and strength.

Mine are.  I am overwhelmed with the gratitude I feel toward my family.  My parents have given me a legacy of love and faith, and I am trying to pass that along to the next generations.  It's my job.  And I take it seriously.

My energies are spent in bringing this bunch together as often as I can.  We have a lot of fun and look forward to our little circle expanding exponentially.

Thanks for the joy.

That We Might Have Joy

After all these years, I think I am finally beginning to understand.  Sure, we came to this earth to get a body.  Sure, we came to be tested and tried.  But how often do we forget that the greatest gift of a loving Father in Heaven is the opportunity to have joy.  Not just happiness, but pure joy.

I am also beginning to understand the source for that joy.  It doesn't lie in worldly things, in possessions, in the accumulation of "stuff". It doesn't lie in prestige nor accolades nor credit.  Rather, joy comes from humility; in taking responsibility for our own situations, in not placing blame, nor giving anyone the control of how we feel. It comes when we recognize that we are not the authority on anything, but that true light and knowledge comes from Christ if we are humble enough to seek after it.

Joy comes from the sacrifice of things that we thought would bring us joy.  It comes from feeling the love of our Savior as prayers are answered and comfort is given; in learning that we are stronger than we thought we were.

Photo Credit:  Brock.alli.Photography