Dose of Hope 2

My mom is inspired. A few months ago she decided she would send a verse of scripture each month for us to memorize with our boys. I thought it was a good idea, and I thought it was mostly for the kids. But the third month she sent

"Wherefore be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great." (Doctrine and Covenants 64:33)

One day as we were reading it together and various members of my family were reciting this (some with help), I began to weep because suddenly the words were for me. I hope you've had this happen to you because while it can be extremely humbling, it also brings hope and this feeling that you are not not not alone. And I realized/remembered that this thing I'm doing right now, this growing a baby thing, is important to Heavenly Father. This sickness day after day after day is laying the foundation, somehow, for this new person's mortal life. My body and even sometimes my mind are being taken over because for some reason it's necessary, not just to torment me or make me wonder if God wants me to be miserable.

But I think it was the "small things" part that really got me. I had been looking online at various pregnancy sites and seen places where it told me my baby was the size of a sesame seed, blueberry, kidney bean. Small thing. How difficult a pregnancy would I be cheerfully, unwearyingly enduring if I could see the great baby, child, person, lifetime that would come from the sesame seed I carry? Out of small things proceedeth that which is great. And I thought of the verse in a new way because suddenly I knew that God is not calling our efforts or sacrifices small. He knows how big they are to us. But anything truly great starts small. Sometimes very small.

I can't say I've never gotten weary since then. I can't say I'm cheerfully enduring the sickness here. I've never been good at cheerfully enduring anything, though I do still try. I can only say that those two sentences gave me a little hope that day.

So thanks, Mom, for sending it without knowing exactly why it needed to be this verse.

Daily Dose of Hope

Maybe it's just the part of my life I'm in, but I often find that songs written for children speak to me more than the stuff intended for more grown-up types. But I think it's partly because the kids' music I'm listening to isn't trying to be brilliant or edgy or wow the kids with its insight. It's just trying to be something that kids can get.
I don't know. It's just...realer.

That's my preface to saying that I get a lot of hope and comfort from this simple and very rhymey song written for the post-Raffi age group. You'd probably get more out of it if you could hear it, but I can't find a version of it on the internet to share. It's called Heartache to Happy by Tom Chapin.

Sometimes things go bad
and it makes me sad
but I've begun to learn
that dark clouds lift and planets shift 
and everything will turn.

Me oh me oh my
there are times I cry
but everything must change 
and what seems tragic will be magic
when we rearrange

from sadness to gladness, hurt to harmony,
despairing to caring, heartache to happy.
No sorrow tomorrow, gloom to gaiety,
from dark clouds to sunshine, heartache to happy

Up and down I go
and when I'm very low
I try and keep this straight:
never falter, life will alter, 
morph and modulate

from sadness to gladness, hurt to harmony
despairing to caring, heartache to happy.

When things go bad it makes me sad,
but I've begun to learn
that dark clouds lift and planets shift
and everything will turn


from sadness to gladness, hurt to harmony
despairing to caring, heartache to happy.
No sorrow tomorrow, gloom to gaiety,
from dark clouds to sunshine, heartache to happy.
Heartache to happy.

It's just rings true to me. And it makes me think of this scripture from Revelation 21:4.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Power Ponderables--I am free

2 Nephi 10:23

Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

John 8:32–36

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.          

Helaman 14:30 

And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.

Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–28

Verily I say, men should . . . do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:86

Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free.