Sunday, 27 December 2009
Guess who is coming to visit us tonight?
Not Santa, he already visited. No, not the Easter Bunny.
Take a look at the photo below and take a guess.
Yep, the Tooth Fairy.
Last night Keenan came running to me in tears and proclaimed that his mouth is breaking. He showed me his loose tooth and was pratically hyperventilating from fright. When I saw his terrified little face I instantly got as excited and as animated as I could and exclaimed, "Whoot Whoo! You, my huge big kid are losing your baby teeth. How exciting! How fun! I can't believe you are so big already that you are losing teeth!" My over-acting worked and Keenan snapped out of his meltdown. Thank goodness. I have never seen terror in his eyes before today. He really thought that his mouth was falling apart. This afternoon his tooth did come out. I have never known a tooth to go from newly loose to out in less than 24 hrs. Keenan was a bit antsy about waiting for his tooth to fall out so he gave it a good yank. lol. He is excited to see how much the Tooth Fairy leaves under his pillow. Hmm, I have forgotten--how much is the going rate for a 1st lost tooth these days?
Valu was asked to speak at our Stake Priesthood Meeting tonight. He wouldn't let me take a photo of him all decked out so I will share his talk that he memorized, instead. :)
Brethren Aloha,
President Enesa met me on the road to my home Monday night. He asked me to give a talk on service at this meeting. At first I felt honored that I would be asked to speak at this meeting, being that I have only been a Deacon for 3 months. And then I felt a bit HUMBLED and horrified-being that I have only been a Deacon for 3 months. It wasn’t until I started preparing on Christmas day that I realized that I had made a mistake waiting so long to start. With a bit a self-motivating rationalization I decided that Christmas was a wonderful day to prepare a talk on service because it is the day that we celebrate Christ and his birth into this world - and one of the things that He did best while on this earth is serve others.
President Monson gave a memorable talk this past conference on service. While I was reading it, I was reminded of all the selfless actions, which the Lord performed for mankind. For example, during the last supper, he washed all of the apostles’ feet, which was one of the lowliest jobs at the time: the job of a servant. I realized that if the son of our Heavenly Father, our savior, would kneel down on and wash grimy feet with his bare hands, than I can at least do simple service for others.
I like the hymn Have You Done Any Good. One verse that really stands out to me is:
quote: "Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not I have failed indeed. Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?" unquote. It makes me remember how we will be responsible for the opportunities of service that we willingly ignore. - as in the saying by Voltaire. “Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do". This principle is repeated in Galatians 5:13. It reads “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love, serve one another.”
Service doesn’t only help me and the people I serve- it is the equivalent of serving our Savior. One well known scripture that teaches this concept is Mosiah 2:17 which reads “When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.”
As I was thinking about all of the ways our church promotes service I thought about Boy Scouts, one of its major goals is to promote and give service as said in their oath, slogan and law. The scout motto is “A scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.” Their slogan is “Do a good turn daily!” and their oath is “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
I remember an experience when my troop and I went out to the ward farm and served. We pulled weeds and cleared unwanted trees near the farmed plants. Although it took a couple hours and the hot sun was sweltering, it was still a wonderful feeling when we finished the job. Yet, another benefit of serving with others is that you often build a good bond with those around and you and get to know them better than you already do.
Every time I recite the mission statement of the Aaronic Priesthood, I always notice that part of their statement is to give service. The mission statement states: The purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood are to help each ordained to that priesthood:
· Become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and live its teachings.
· Serve faithfully in each priesthood calling and fulfill the responsibilities of priesthood offices.
· Give meaningful service.
· Prepare and live worthy to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and temple ordinances.
· Prepare to serve an honorable full- time mission.
· Obtain as much education as possible,
· Prepare to become a worthy husband and father.
· Give proper respect to women, girls, and children.
One thing that I have learned about myself throughout my long life of twelve years is that I am often reluctant to go out and serve. Not that I don’t want to—I am just not sure what to do. But, then I realized it doesn’t matter what I do, it’s just important TO DO something. If I take the time to notice what is going on around me, there are always lots of ways to serve. Women and girls still really do love having doors opened for them. Smiles really do brighten other people’s days. Simply including someone or taking the time to really listen to someone is more than enough. I know my parents love it when I stay focused and actually listen to them. Truthfully, nothing compares to the special feeling you get when you have been able to really serve someone. Serving is one of the instances where both the giver and the receiver are both edified. I want to learn to serve the way Elder Marvin J. Ashton suggests, quote: “Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped.”
Every Christmas evening, after we have finished opening presents, my family and I have a special celebration where we give gifts to Christ. We of course don’t give him worldly gifts. We decided that the best give we can give him, the best way to honor HIM, is to become more like him. We pick a Christ-like attribute that we commit to develop through-out the next year and review at our FHEs. My gift to Christ for this up coming year is to serve full heartedly and without complaints, just like our Savior did.
I would like to bear my testimony to you that I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true; that He shared HIS message to the world through service. I know that Joseph Smith restored this church. I am grateful for faithful saints who sacrificed and served so that we can live the gospel freely. I am grateful for my Young Men leaders who are great examples of serving selflessly. After all, they serve me and the rest of our quorum and make us feel like there is no other place they would rather be. I know that President Monson is our prophet now. I am thankful for my parents who constantly serve me. My dad who always is mindful and thoughtful of us, his family, always striving to be the perfect role- model father and person. I am grateful for my mom who helps me with my everyday problems and serves me in every aspect of my life. And I am thankful for my brother who continuously teaches me patience. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Gratitude Journal:
Keenan: Grateful that my tooth didn't hurt when it came out.
Valu: Grateful that my talk is over and I don't have to worry about it anymore.
Mom: Grateful that Valu takes his responsibilities seriously. He is a wonderful speaker.
Dad: Grateful that I could hear Valu speak. He is a remarkable young man. What a privledge it is to have him as a son.
