Shoelaces

One thing that annoys me is when a student comes up and shoves his/her foot in my lap. Being an observant adult, I can see that the shoelaces are untied, and I can infer that the student wants me to tie his/her shoe. But really, can't they talk? And if they can't, shouldn't they learn? So I teach my students to say, "Will you tie my shoe please?" Demands don't work: "Tie my shoe!" It needs to be a request. I appreciate the request. But it's about time for them to learn how to tie their own shoes. So I expect to see them begin to work on it themselves. Granted, some of the middle steps of tying shoes are a little tricky. But they can do the first step without too much trouble. So I teach them to do what they can before they ask for help.

I know that I am fallen and make mistakes and that the Lord is higher and more just and merciful and I cannot compare myself to Him in any real way. But I think there's a principle here.
I've been learning about fasting lately. I used to think that I just had to go without food and water for 24 hours. Then I realized that I needed to be praying and reading the scriptures along with that. Now I'm learning that the Lord expects us to do as much as we can. For example, if I'm fasting for charity, I should be praying for charity, studying everything I can find about it, and doing everything I can to be charitable while in my fasting and non-fasting state. If I'm fasting to lose weight, I should be praying for help, studying the word of God about how to be a steward of my body and exercise self-control, and I should probably throw away all the junk food in the house and make an exercise and eating plan that will help me get what I want.

The Lord expects us to do all we can and He will help us with the rest. He also expects requests. Being an omnipotent Being, He knows what we need before we ask. But it's still polite. And it's good for us to learn how to ask - and how to work.

Note to self:

Elder Holland said, "We look back to gain the embers from our glowing experiences, not the ashes." Keep the embers going - they fuel the next fire. Faith looks forward with anticipation. Realize that the future is as bright as my faith. Know that the Lord has wonderful things in store for me and He wouldn't ask me to move on if it weren't toward something better. Remember Lot's wife. Remember Lehi, leaving his home and all he held dear, to experience hard times in the wilderness for years and years. Remember that it is through faith that all things are fulfilled. Remember that the Lord keeps His promises. Remember that while we think we are being made into a cottage, the Lord is making us into a palace. Look forward with faith. Take the glowing embers and leave the ashes, looking forward to the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Atonement takes away the pain and shows us how bright the future really is. And I've seen my future. It is bright.

Don't forget!!

p.s. I love campfires

I cried last night. And the night before. And today. Nothing too big - just lost hopes, dashed dreams, soul aches, and beginning to reconstruct a future. I don't know why some things happen the way they do. I don't know why this particular dream of mine keeps getting deferred. Maybe I'm not really ready for it, even though I think I am. But I really think I am.

But I do know that what Sister Beck says is true: "When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves." I am disappointed. Oh, so very very disappointed, but I am not disappointed in myself. I have done my very best. And what Eliza R. Snow said in the same talk is true, too: "We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities."

I will work to refine and cultivate everything that is good and ennobling in myself to qualify for this dream of mine. Because I really, really want it. And the Lord, in His mercy, wisdom, and timetable, will bring it to pass.