Spiritual Sunday and a few other uplifting thoughts

Sissy and I were late for church today and so that meant that we ended up taking the sacrament in the foyer.  I hate having to do that, because it's more difficult to make it meaningful, while I am also asking her to climb off the sofa, please don't run down the hall and put the pass along cards back.  I was starting to feel like maybe I should have just passed on church.

You KNOW what happens when you have those thoughts, usually the best lesson happens or you hear just the right thing to give you that little extra oomph needed.  No disappointment today.

In Sunday School, the discussion was on being a true disciple of Christ.  Not the kind that profess in public but then leads a different life in private, but one that is true, as true as they can be despite their human weaknesses, at all time.

The teacher shared an email that I had read a really long time ago as it made the rounds, but I had totally forgotten it.  It struck a strong chord with me today:

Author Unknown
"I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made.

I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure.

I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.

I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded.

I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven.

My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary.

I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus!
I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!"


As I mentioned, I had read this before, but today it resonated.  Maybe it's been all the opposition we have faced the past 2 months or so, or maybe I was in just the right frame of mind, or maybe it was a strong reminder to make sure that my motives and intentions are pure.  At any rate, I came away with a renewed sense of commitment to the belief's that I own.  And when I say own, I mean own.  Not the ones I tinker with, dabble in, or think about - but that I OWN.  They are a part of my very self. 
Does that mean I live perfectly and above reproach?  Nope.  I'm human and subject to mistakes just as much as the next cat.  But when it comes to what I KNOW, I know it, I can't deny it, and I will do my best to live by it.

I thought of my many friends of different beliefs and religions.  The above creed is speaking of Christianity, but I don't see how it can't apply to others, regardless of their preferred belief system.  A higher power, science, Allah, God in whatever form he/she takes for them.  It comes down to sticking by what you believe no matter what.  Being a disciple for good.  Serving others and spreading a message of love, peace and acceptance.

I was glad I didn't ditch Sunday School.  I was glad I listened, I was glad that my heart happened to be open to the lessons that I needed to learn.

My other thoughts?
We attended the sealing of a sweet family in our ward Friday night.  Sealing families in the temple is one of the ultimate goals in my church.  We believe that families can be together  forever using proper priesthood authority in the temple of the Lord.  We believe that those family relationships extend after death.   I remembered back to when my own sweet family had the opportunity.  I sobbed as I watched the sweet faces of their children all dressed in white and thought of seeing my own boys (much younger than now) in the same situation.  It's a tender thing.  I was glad for chance to be there and to feel the Spirit of love and happiness for that cute family.  My tears were also for my own children and the strong desire that they would one day find themselves there, in the Temple, as well.

And finally, my cute son got some liberty this weekend and his even cuter girlfriend has gone to Cali to be there for his MCT graduation and to spend the 24 hours over the weekend that he had with him.  We skyped last night, but it was all about catching him up to date about the legal crap with Sissy and the other grandparents.  It wasn't a great call.  I could see that I caused him some stress.  And while the law clearly states what is correct, and we are in the right, the other side continues to harass with random motions and filings.  At least now, with the attorney filing the paperwork identifying himself as our counsel, all the certified letters that seem to come twice a week now have to go to him and the stress is off us.  After filling him in and passing along some information we got from a child grief center on clarifying for Sissy, her mothers death, we ended the call a little sadly.
I was determined this morning that instead of unhappiness, our call would be the opposite.

It was good that his sweet KM was there too because much of what I felt like I needed to say involved her.  We love her.  We love that she is "over the moon" about our son.  He has never had anyone in his life love him the way she loves him.  I am so happy for them.  He loves her and loves that she loves his daughter so deeply and completely.  We talked about their future plans, how they would affect not just themselves but Sissy too.  All of us are committed to making sure that her needs are met and that the best for her is priority.
You have no idea how refreshing that is!  It was a skype session full of love, understanding and a few tears of happiness.  I couldn't have asked for more.

So as I end this Sunday, I am expressing gratitude for the peace that has been mine today.  Not sure what tomorrow will bring since it seems our life is a constant roller coaster these days, and I am certainly not getting my hopes up that the ridiculous litigation problem staring us in the face right now will suddenly be over, but for now, I am grateful for a day of peace, love and rest from those concerns.  Even if just for the day.