Word of the day

FORBEARANCE

for-bear verb,to hold back, to wait, to refrain from

for-bear-ance adjective,the act of refraining from anything, self-restraint

Anyone out there ever find themselves in the whirlpool of

strife and contention? Sibling-rivalry, unruly neighbors, natural-born enemies...I know we all have them. Ooooh..I hate that!

Offense.

Defense.

Darn it all. Can't we all just get along?

Why is it so difficult to always be kind and unfailingly follow the great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself, and love one another, love your enemies, no matter what?!

Where's the default button that reads, "Love"?

(Should be as easy as that after all the opportunities I've had to exercise this concept!)

How overpowering is your urge to strike out and go with

FIRST REACTIONS?

WELL-

Forbearance is NOT a sign of weakness...

...it IS something I need to work on more.

So, for today's meditation:

D&C 98:23-27

Today's "Red Bull"

Isaiah 40:28-31

Contemplating this will get me through the day today.

And Joe will be HOME at 3am Friday.

AAAHHH...

Perspective 101

I just got home from the library...and I thought I was having a hard time this afternoon.

You probably don't really need or want to hear it, but the demands of motherhood seemed to be pulling me in four directions this afternoon. The toddler was a nap-deprived wreck. The three older children had been home from school today, changing the typical routine. We had already been to the library a little earlier; I had stopped by and let my oldest go in and gather a stash of entertainment for the weekend. While he perused the library, I thought it would be a good opportunity for the crabby toddler to nod off as we waited in the quiet van. Oh no. After a long 20 minute wait...no such luck. Upon returning home, one of my daughters immediately began asking (nagging) me to make and deliver an important time-sensitive something-or-other for her friend. So you can imagine I was less-than-thrilled when the oldest son informed me that one of his DVD's of choice was not working and would need to be exchanged before the (early) Friday closing of the library. Then the other daughter began to let her negative opinion on the subject be known to all...Oh, yes. I snapped fiercely. And then felt rotten.

So, there I moped, saddened by my inadequacies and shortcomings...in the libray parking lot, waiting again (only this time, our little man decided he'd finally take some time out for a <5pm> snooze. Just great.) I began wondering just how late he'd be up tonight, and at what magical hour I would get to sleep. Poor me.

It was then I noticed a short, balding man coming out of the library. He wore a T-shirt that read, "I'm not dead yet."

He had NO ARMS.

As he marched in front of me at the cross walk, I heard the jingling of keys with every step. Odd, I thought, he had keys on a cord around his ankle. In awe, I watched him continue to march toward a sweet, slick and shiny midnight blue Camry. Would you believe it? He took the keys off his ankle, put them in the keyhole, unlocked his car door, got in, shut the door, and drove off...using ONLY his FEET.

I teared up...

Lesson learned.