Active Duty

Active Duty    

I wrote this February 13, 2003 

                                          It seems appropriate for the state of the country now

      

Recently, I heard about a local doctor being called up for active duty. Silently, I wondered “hasn’t he already been in active duty”? Yes, he has been in active duty on a daily basis as he helped heal the sick and wounded. I am thankful for him and all who serve in this active duty...of war. 

     Suppose each day, as you get ready for your many activities, you take the time to search inside the mirror and decide just who you are, what your purpose is...then, consider this question, “just what is my active duty?”

     Perhaps singing to babies, visiting grandparents, reading to children, going to lunch with friends. Writing your history, watering your plants, attending school, picking up litter, fighting a fire or saving a life. 

     Creating a spreadsheet, painting a sunrise, giving a dose of medicine, or worshiping the Lord. Donating some coats, making a quilt, teaching a class, even smiling at strangers. 

     Are you not all engaged in active duty? From day to day as you perform each small, medium and even large task of blessing lives, protecting lives, and encouraging the lives of those around us, you are doing just that. Men,women and children, as unsung heroes, you show you care each day as you live just as you have been taught, to do your duty. 

     Whatever your active duty is….hats off to you and you and you~! You are the best of the best, you, who take the time and energy to use your gifts and talents to enrich others. Let us keep the home fires burning, a light in the window, and a place in our hearts for each other, the heroes of our cities and of our nation. You are great. You are many and come in all shapes and colors, yet wear the same uniform, the uniform of loyalty and love.

 


                                                                    ACTIVE DUTY 

                  written February 13, 2003 

             by Kathy Stevens 

Recently I heard about a local Doctor being called up for "active duty". I wondered, silently, hasn't he already been in active duty? Yes, he has been in active duty on a daily basis as he helped heal the sick and wounded. I am thankful for him and all who serve in this "active duty" of war. 

Suppose each day as you get ready for our many activities, you take the time to search inside the mirror and decide just who you are, what is your purpose. Then consider this question....Just what is my active duty?

Singing to babies, visiting Grandparents, reading to children, lunching with friends, Perhaps writing your history, watering your plants, attending school, picking up liter, fighting a fire, saving a life. 

Creating a spreadsheet, painting the sunrise, giving a dose of medicine, or worshiping the Lord. Donating coats, making a quilt, teaching a class, even smiling at strangers. 

Are we not all engaged in active duty? From day to day as you perform each small, each medium, each large task of blessing lives, protecting and encouraging the lives of those around us, you are doing just that. Men, women and children, as unsung heroes, you show you care each day as you live just as you have been taught, to do you duty. 

Whatever your "active duty" is....Hats off to You. 

You are the best of the best, you who take time and energy using your gifts and talents to enrich others lives. Let us keep the home fires burning, a light in the window, and a place in our hearts for each other, the heroes of our cities and of our nation. You are great. You are many and come in all shapes and colors, but wear the same uniform, the uniform of loyalty and love. 

Left Behind

Mom, with Alzheimer's, changes

before your eyes.
She leaves you behind as she looks out from a glass with no reflection.

Another, walks out, unexpectedly changes the rules of the relationship, with little warning.
Leaving you crying out for answers to the questions you will never get to ask.

Ben attempts to fix all the hurts,
 understand all the pain.
Then enters heaven, in an instant, no hesitation, but leaving is still leaving.

When the final curtain comes down we hope to find all who have "left us behind".
To see they were in the wings all the time, cheering, keeping vigil as we take a few more bows.

In the meantime if I can help it just one little bit.... I will leave no one behind to grieve alone.
Grief is hard enough when there are answers, pain is hard enough when you know the cure.

It is the constant agony of not knowing, wondering and wishing for a glimpse into reason.
This is what churns in the weakening heart of the one who knows the meaning of being left behind.

The er's of this life

These.... er   words show up so often>> Prettier, stronger, taller, shorter, thinner, wiser, tougher, healthier, nicer, happier, sillier, sweeter, faster, slower, better .... and on it goes. 

On occasion I have been able to see myself as wiser, smarter, slower, thinner, as well as many other er's. The er's never have an end. When is the sought after er enough? 

So I realize the er's for me are going to stop. Choosing to live more fully in the moment, strive to be grateful for exactly where I am and let it be, as the Beatles so nicely sang. I love the idea of embracing the agony and sorrows as openly as the blissful joys. 

God wants a people who are committed to coming unto him, but the completion of our journey is only upon his final say, His making up the difference in qualifying us for Eternal life. 

Going towards the goodness in life to the best of my ability, growing line upon line and precept on precept is the path offered to every soul. 

When my son died, yes, died, I knew he had done all that was required of him. He suffered, planned, sought for understanding, to the very best of his God given ability. He was taken in an instant from his life of pain, regrets and sorrow. In the end he gave himself to God, with no er's attached. I watched as he climbed to a holy place within God's love and the Savior of all mankind bridged this gap and brought him home, into his loving arms....freed from worldly er's. 

As Ben prepared to go home to Heavenly Father, he marked some scriptures that made a difference to him.
 (found in the Book of Mormon) Ether 12: 5-6  "And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not.  And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, disput not because ye see not for ye receive not witness until after the trial of your faith."

In reading another passage found in Moroni 7:44-45 we find these simple words....

"he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing..... and charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and its not puffed up, seeketh not her own, not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things .... (continuing in v 47) Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso is found possessed of it in the last day, it shall be well with him." 

   I do not see any er's in this scripture. In fact I am not sure there are ANY er's within scripture. 

It is clear in my mind the er's that often we place as mandates in our lives are really stumbling blocks and boulders blocking our view to who we really are right now!
Perhaps really seeing with seeking eyes can we recognize the enoughness in others and not participate in judgement, instead only find the common goal of each child of God.....to love and be loved. 

"If we could read the secret history of others we should find in each mans life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 Training a Child

As mothers and fathers we look forward to the day we can get our toddler out of diapers and into underwear. 

I know we even celebrate those moments when the wee ones brush their teeth and do a good job at it, alone. 

I remember well, the thrill of watching them take a step with NO assistance, then soon running all over the place. 

When children make a sandwich, sweep the floor or make their bed....celebrations occur, if even in our minds. 

However, there are no cheers, no celebrations or family members called to share the moments when our "failing nicely" parents begin the journey of wearing pull-ups, not brushing their teeth without assistance and walking only with assistance. 

Once they forget how to make a sandwich or that there IS actually  food in the house no one gets the call saying that day has come. 

Long time friends, family, home, even scripture become foreign and most unsettling, but we throw no parties for such events. 

Of course we don't, that would be rather disgusting, as if to poke fun. 

This path of retuning home to Father is a path of Dignity and great respect. One where we honor their decline with kindness, graciousness and understanding.

When walking home alone in the dark we look for the lights, the way, a reminder of where we are headed. 

We must now provide the light, the way and the reminder of where they are headed, with joy....

I know someday, it will be MY turn to walk the journey home.

 The days are changing as well as the nights. 

Just as with our children, no two are the same. 

There is no reason to worry, fret or despair really, because it is just a journey, one of many, different from all the rest. 

And yet just the same. 

 

 

Pray like you mean it~! 

     At times I get lazy when it comes to talking to my Heavenly Father. I close my eyes, bow my head and assume my heart knows what it wants to say and will take over. Often I find myself waking up half our later, rather twisted into a contortion I could most likely not do when fully awake and very disappointed. 

     To combat this righteous fatigue,  I now take on a rather unique style which promise's NO sleeping. No need to go into huge detail, let's just say, it works, and I know my prayers are more full and complete as well as received.

     How do I know this you ask...? Because I feel Father's warmth and caring. The spiritual time during my day extends beyond my meditation time.

     Trial and error is what life is all about, right. Full of fancy words and abilities as well as disabilities.  Time and more time to get things right, to put into practice HIS will and HIS LOVE. 

     Using each second of life seems like a noble idea, as in using up the gas in my car. Sitting in a can in the garage gas eventually only becomes vapor. My life is full of seconds that vaporize. What I do with my seconds does not.    Using up my mind and heart is the message Father has been slipping into my soul this week. 

      Don't spend your time Kathy, Use it...... dish it up and dish it out wear it out and use it up> In his Holy service. Be too tired to complain, to weary to worry and keep HIS Face in your minds eye NOT your own face. You can never see your own face in the flesh either ~!

HEAVENLY MESSAGE

Waking at 4:30 am to find the longed for swallow of pure lovely tap water unavailable is slightly unnerving. Add to the equation an elderly mother in your care who does not quite understand why the toilet won't flush and asks is there a place to get a drink ... somewhere.
Panic rose inside my unprepared mortal being filling my head with "I should haves". 

The emergent need was water. At 5:45 I told mother I was going just around the corner to buy some gallons of water. She seemed to understand and stayed in bed. By the time I left the third CLOSED store, I was beginning to grasp the idea of being prepared, albeit on a small scale to say the least.

Oh, Thank Heaven for 7-11. (just happens to be my date of birth:) mmmm I should have gone there first. 

Three gallons @ $1.99 each and I am back headed for home. After all three went, literally down the toilet, I needed more. 

"Sheesh" flashes through my brain, and then "Oh my Heck", common sentiments in times of despair when I would rather not swear. Off to a sisters house to beg, borrow, bum, or steal (as we used to say). Kindly they let me HAVE, lots. including unopened drinking water. 

Moral of the story>Note to self: Get a grip, get a clue, get on board, get it together and for Heaven's Sake.... Get Prepared ~! 

nuff said, right:0