Walking with kids and dogs

April 21, 2013

Picture this! It’s a rainy day on a lane with tall pines tower to the skies and black berries grow everywhere. Two little boys, Thomas and Kayden walk about thirty feet ahead of Teresa and I. The boys each have a dog tethered and are running behind the pups, Alvin and Creed. They are completely free of cares or worries. Their greatest challenge is to herd the pups down the lane so they can visit the horses. We got to the end of the lane in time to watch a truck load some shingles with a fork lift and then see the driver attach the forklift to the back of the truck. I told him Lowe’s should let me work for them free so I could use their “toys”. He agreed it was fun and we all left in a delightful mood.

Scene two; Pingree, Idaho.  We drive up to my sister Betty’s house and after a couple of minutes visiting with Betty, her great grandson, Andrew comes bounding in. He is five going on twenty. He reminds me completely of our son Andrew. He is excited about the world; talks non-stop, and never stops moving. He is gregarious and super pleased with the world. He too is not burdened with the cares of the world, with hate and envy; he simply is playing his role as a child of God. We shared our dogs. We took Creed to Andrew’s backyard and let Creed play with (sorry Andrew, I can’t remember your dogs names). We let the pups introduce each other; threw a coffee can lid for the pups to catch, and Andrew threw a ball for them but his arm was so strong he threw it over in the chicken pen. We went in for dinner and enjoyed pictures, conversation, catching up, wonderful food, and warm commitments to visit again soon and by all means to maintain this excellent family connection.

I truly believe this is how heaven will be. But most importantly, I believe that we can find the same joy, freedom, and peace everyday as we live our lives. I believe our job as children of a loving Heavenly Father is to do the little things in life that spawn this loving, kind, charitable spirit around us. In church today we discussed the path to living this kind of personal and family experience. How do we stay in tune with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost? How do we learn to turn off anger, frustration, fear, and personal doubts? How can we become as little children so we can be numbered among those Jesus spoke of when he said, “Let the children come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

As I look back over seven decades it is impossible for me to count the number of times I have been forgiven for transgressions of body and mind. How many times I have been saved from the jaws of Satan and his minions by the Holy Ghost and ministering angels. How many times I have been allowed to continue on my journey with my family as we move through life. Our job; the purpose of our existence is to be continually vigilant and bless those around us. I am committing once again to do everything I am asked to do through spiritual guidance to help my family and those around me feel that same spirit of freedom, love, and charity I spoke of and witnessed as I shared moments with Thomas, Hayden, Andrew, and Kayla (that’s Andrew’s little sister).

Andrew’s parents, Jennifer and Bryan and her brother Jonathan were the salt of the earth and have become a wonderful part of my mortality.

My most sincere desire is for each person with whom I associate to reach for the goodness inside; to feel the spirit of God in their everyday activities, find the joy that God wishes for each of his children.

God bless you as you seek out and provide love and comfort to those around you.

Duane Jacobs, Grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and fond friend