How can we take it in?

Feb 1, 2015        

Today I am almost giddy with joy and appreciation for all that surrounds me. The examples of Christ like love witnessed this week have been beyond my grasp of understanding. I watched as grand children worked tirelessly and together to rig a sort of train out of a bicycle, a couple of kiddie cars, and some twine. They toiled, unaware of the freezing weather for the sheer joy of being together and living life. What joy! I went inside to see “dad and mom” working side-by-side to address issues of family activity now and in the future. I looked down and saw this little angle crawling around spreading humungous amounts of love and heavenly joy. My thoughts went immediately to St Matthew where Jesus tells us what our job is – to love God, to love others, and to love ourselves.

Today I went, resisting all the way, to a baptism. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be in such a place of peace and tranquility; rather, that some circumstance in the past might cause distress for those associated with the family. Perish the thought. As soon as we entered the chapel the light of Christ eradicated all negative opportunities for Satan to do his dastardly deeds of doubt and destruction and the whole thing became bright and beautiful. Beyond comprehension the little girl with the same name as two of my Aunts went to the podium and sang an angels carol. Her beautiful sweet notes were only surpassed by her bright and knowing countenance. You see, she knows that God lives; that he loves us and is so very pleased when we can see through the din and continue to follow the Iron Rod toward the loving arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Smiles, hugs, and promises to continue and enhance a family history and an even more important testament of God the Eternal Father, his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Today when we got home from the baptism, I open my email to find a letter from our latest missionary in the family. Elder Wright is one who has fought like a caged tiger for the opportunity to serve as a missionary. Health questions with no answers plagued him for over a year as he picked and poked at the medical system and slowly but surely worked his way through to find the sweet service he so wished and deserved to provide. The letter is very sacred and precious so I shall not divulge the nature of even the gist of his message. I will simply share that in the short week he has been on his mission he has grown into a man of God. In this world of difficulties, doubts, unanswerable questions, economic impending doom, liars, cheats, and unworthy desires; my heart takes courage and hope as I watch the future leaders of the world. These beautiful people working, loving, sharing, praying, doing the will of Our Father in Heaven.

I believe that the answer to the rhetorical question, “How can we take it in?” is right in front of us. Our job is to join in the feast of love and understanding right in front of us. Jesus told us that we needed to become as little children. I take this literally and ask myself; self, can I turn back the clock of my mind and think happy and sweet thoughts and share them with those around me? Can I get right down on the floor with that angelic one-year old and smile and laugh right back. Can I look around; see those who are having some of life’s trials and bring joy and encouragement to them? Forever I have been intrigued with the world of the autistic, with the epileptic, with the mentally deficient. What are they thinking? What are they going to report to our Savior about how we shared (or ignored) them? The young man plagued with bursts of loud noises; the child that looks just like yours that can only sit and stare at a notepad screen looking at random colors and designs is a child of God, placed here for purposes which are more than we can take in. Our job is to use our talents to bless those around us by loving, caring, actions.

God has formed for us, a beautiful world with all the challenges necessary for us to prove ourselves to ourselves. God bless us all that we can obtain to the challenge.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother, and friend