Dedicated To My Beautiful Daughter

Eternity

Kneeling together

To never part;

Clasping hands,

Binding hearts.

Across the altar

I get a view,

A tiny glimpse of

Forever with you.

The experience behind this poem is too personal and sacred for me to share. However, it causes me to reflect often on the beautiful summer morning when, in the LDS Seattle Temple, I knelt across the altar from my “very soon to be” husband to be married for time and all eternity. Behind each of us was a large mirror which, when we faced each other, created reflections within reflections of the two of us together. It seemed to have no end and symbolized the eternal union of the two of us on that day…and forever. What incredible blessings await us in Heaven; how wonderful to know I will share them with him, who I learn to love and cherish more and more with each passing day.

No Greater Love

Because I Love You

Roman soldiers stood spitting…

Right in my face no less―

 And yet I understood, this was

The beginning of the test.

While laughing loudly and mocking,

They tore my clothes away;

Then harshly placed a crown of thorns

Upon my head to stay.

Carelessly, they chained and beat me;

It seemed a contest now…

Who could inflict the greatest pain,

Take courage from my brow.

Now tired and weak they placed me

On the cross still on the ground;

The mallet used to drive the nails

Made a horribly deafening sound.

Then struggling to raise me,

They shoved the towering tree

Into a hole deep in the earth,

And they kept mocking me!

“If thou art Christ, the chosen God,

Thy power let us view!”

But I prayed “Father, forgive them

They know not what they do.”

Then searching, I found my mother,

Tears spilling down her cheek.

I gave her to John to care for;

No words of regret did I speak.

Then humbly I spoke “it is finished;”

I died on the cross that day.

But knowing you needed a Savior,

I knew there was no other way.

“I love you,” He quietly told me;

Then calling me by name

He held out His hands to show me…

Now I’ll never be the same.

Peace That Only He Can Give

Compassion

I see your tears; I feel your pain;

Your suffering is my own.

How well I know Gethsemane;

Thou dost not weep alone.

-Karla Claybrook

This just stirs my soul…to know that in my deepest darkest hours, He whom I love and reverence weeps with me and does not leave me alone.

Truth Be Told...

Logic

The fire of negative emotion

Burns hot, intensely bright

Until the flood of love puts out

The flame and makes things right.

This was inspired by an experience I had with my eldest son. He and I got into an argument on the way to my dropping him off at the bus stop one morning. As he got out of the car, he slammed the door and I breathed a sigh of relief that he was going to be gone for a few of hours. On my way back to the house, I had an impression that I should bake him a batch of cookies and leave them on his bed with a love note. I quickly decided that he was not deserving of such treatment and dismissed the impression. However, it came to me again…this time a little more firmly. Needless to say, I did end up baking the cookies and making him a card and as I did so, my heart was softened and filled with compassion toward him. When he returned home several hours later, he came inside, slammed the door and went straight to his bedroom. Only a few minutes passed before he came out and exclaimed “You sure do make it hard to be angry at you”. He hugged me and thanked me for the cookies and card and we had peaceful interaction between us for the rest of the day.

As It Should Be

To Be Loved

In the quiet corner of my heart

Where few are called to enter,

I feel your influence in my life;

You see, you are the center.

In all my dreams while growing up

I imagined who you'd be.

I ached to know how it would feel

For you to rescue me.

I wondered what you looked like;

Would I recognize your face?

But when I tried to imagine

The thought would be erased.

I wondered if you'd love me.

Would I really matter to you?

Who would I have to be like?

What would I have to do?

I wondered, would you be gentle?

Would your words to me be kind?

If I could look inside your heart

What intentions would I find?

Would we ba happy together,

Be sad if we were apart?

If I went away for a little while

Would there be a hole in your heart?

Now I don't have to wonder;

You're all I imagined you'd be.

And I know with all my heart

That you will always love me.

I don't know if I deserve you

But Heaven has blessed me so.

As long as I know you love me

That's all that I need to know.

Realignment

Priorities

While looking for my cape

So as to meet my expectations

I’ve gone out of control

With mounting frustration.

Then I see my toddler resting

In a warm patch of sun

And I’m given a reminder–

Heaven’s work is never done.

Life as a mom is all about priorities; all too soon the years fly by and the children leave home with memories of years past. As mothers, we have the power to determine what kind of memories those will be…and then live with happiness or regret stamped in their hearts, and our hearts, forever.

For As Long As It Takes

Waiting Patiently

Head down in bitter anguish

You’ve fallen to your knees;

There is deep despair

So apparent in your pleas.

All hope has not been lost…

I’ll help you understand;

Please, child, just look up–

And take hold of my hand.

It is never God that walks away, closes the door or chooses to ignore. In my darkest hours, He is always there to love and comfort me; to offer guidance and heal my broken heart if only I will allow Him the privilege.

Just Keep Going

Choices

The road is long;

I’m tired and slow.

I must continue;

I have so far to go.

I travel on,

And frequently I see

Another fork

Just up ahead of me.

I must decide.

It’s hard and I complain.

The narrow way,

It has such rough terrain.

The wider path,

Worn down, less of a chore

Is so inviting.

And there are many more

Who seem content

To take the easy way.

But I resist;

I choose the narrow way.

Reality

Pride

I celebrate my progress

While here on my plateau;

Then patiently, God shows me

How far I have to go.

Strength

Matthew 11:28-29

How can I help you?
Impatience, anger and attitudes

Boiling in your heart and mind

Are clouding up your view.

How can I help you?
Distractions, haughtiness and pride

Build up a wall of stubbornness

To silence desperate cries.

How can I help you?
Discouragement, uncertainty and fear

Are choking out your will to thrive;

My voice you cannot hear.

I cannot help you…

Until I hear your desperate knock;

For I would never force a mule

To yoke up with an ox.

Matthew 11:28-29

Yoke…makes me think of oxen…did some research and this is what I found:
In the days of pioneers, oxen were the first choice for work animals

Oxen
  Quiet
  Unassuming
  Give more than they take
  Willing to work long hours
  Low maintenance
  Humble
  Gentle
  Persevering
  Great strength
  Plod…walk very slowly (about 2 mph), but steady
  Dependable
  Patient
  Durable
  Don’t run off…never have to be chased down
  Plunge through mud, swim over streams, dive into thickets, eat almost anything
  Able to endure exposure to the elements of nature

The other option was mules:

Mules
  Hard to work with
  Don’t always like people
  Hard to catch
  Spoiled habits
  Moody
  Bad attitude
  Impatient
  Has to get used to new surroundings
  Would love to stand around and eat/drink all day
  Very curious. Needs blinders to avoid getting distracted
  Squirmy
  Inattentive
  Bothered by touch
  Easily upset, angered, startled…which results in them being uncontrollable…can lead to danger
  Has to be properly trained and conditioned to be willing to go where you want them to go, do what
     you want them to do, to lead and be led
  If they aren’t willing…you don’t stand a chance


Question: Would you yoke a mule with an ox?

Matthew 11:28

Come…approach me, make yourself available, reach out for me, need me, extend your hand to reach for mine, confess your sins, humble yourself, repent!

All ye that are heavy laden…loaded with physical, emotional, mental or spiritual burden

And I will give you rest…I will give you…not make you earn…rest… trust me…just lean all your weight on me and I will support you.

Question: Ask yourself…Am I a mule or an ox?
Question: I ask again…would you yoke a mule to an ox?

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you....Humble yourself…I’m reaching out to you…be willing to accept me, my strength, my power, my help, my love
Learn of me…read and study about me…follow me…stay with me, I’ll show you, I’ll help you
I am meek and lowly of heart…I am gentle and humble, kind and loving, accepting, friendly
And ye shall find rest…comfort…peace…calm and quiet…strength and hope…freedom from trouble,
anxiety, troubled thoughts or emotions

* If you feel you have been wronged by anyone:
   A family member
   A friend
   A Church leader
   A business associate

Or by anything:
   The death of a loved one
   Health problems
   A financial reversal
   Abuse
   Addictions

Deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have. “Hold on thy way”. Giving up is not an option. And without delay, turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load.

* Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually.

* No matter the size of the issue, how we respond can reset the course of our life.

* Don’t just endure…endure righteously

* Continually turn to the Lord

* The Savior’s most exemplary (setting a pattern for us to follow) act, the Atonement, required him to descend below all things. Thus we understand the Atonement has broader purpose than providing a means to overcome sin. This greatest of all earthly accomplishments gives the Savior the power to fulfill this promise: “If ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence…if ye do this, he will…deliver you out of bondage”.