August Amari: Spiritual

Showing posts with label Spiritual. Show all posts

Monday, April 28, 2014

The Savior

I am grateful for this time of year—Easter: the renewal of life— for the opportunity to remember our Saviors life, especially his resurrection. We are blessed to have the opportunity—because of him—to overcome sin, death, sorrows, pain, and be reborn again. I am grateful I have the opportunity of mothering these two precious, little boys and sharing the knowledge I have of the Savior with them.

I LOVED this video the church put out on the life of Christ and was further grateful I was able to share it with Amari and Beckahm this Easter season.

I know my Savior lives. I know he loves us. I know he is there to shift the weight of our burdens, to carry the load we bear, to hold us in his arms when we are afraid, lonely, scared, disappointed, sad, or suffering. I know that because of him there is no death; I know that because of him I can live with those I love again. I know that because of him I have an eternal family. I know that because of him I can find peace, confidence, love, light and joy in this life.

I wanted to share this incredible testimony that I found on a blogpost I was reading the other day. Trimble describes so well—and in such simple terms— the meaning, beauty, and blessing of the atonement in our lives.

"At some point in time, you’re going to lay down on your back when you’re all alone and look to the heavens for answers. I don’t care who you are or what you believe…you will have this experience at least one time in your life. Most often, this sort of moment is going to come in a time of distress or confusion. Maybe you’ve just lost a loved one or witnessed a tragedy. Maybe you’re fighting depression or a physical malady. Maybe you’re just downright tired, lonely, or scared and you’ve got nowhere else to turn. Regardless of what it is, there is something that you must know about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

1. It’s Never To Late to Come Home

Troubled teens sometimes run away from home for the wrong reasons. When they realize what they’ve done, the only thing that prohibits them going back home is pride or the fear of facing their parents and not being received back.

The primary reason for Jesus Christ coming to earth was to help us home. Our Heavenly Father wants us back, and He sent Jesus Christ on a rescue mission to “seek that which was lost”. Many of us fail to see the familial love that exists between Heavenly Father and Jesus and each of us. Christ literally volunteered to go into a relentless storm of persecution and pain in order to find each and every one of us as we lay spiritually lifeless on life’s battlefields. When he found us in our darkest abyss, He effectually nourished us back to spiritual consciousness and then tells us about our heavenly home and how much we’ve been missed. He grabs us calmly by our shirt with tears in his eyes and says, “Look! I’ve come a long way to get you. I’ve plead your cause and paid you’re debts. There is nothing that you have done that I have not paid for. Will you walk home with me? It’s not to late.”

2. Christ Knew Us Intimately Before We Came to This Earth

I have often wondered how Christ was able to go through with the Atonement. How was He able to endure this type of pain for people that he had never even met in the flesh. It all came to me on the night of my first child’s birth.

She was born during passover time in April. The delivery wasn’t going as planned. Her heart was beating very fast and then painfully slow. They determined the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and it was choking her out. My wife was in all kinds of pain. We had been up for 36 + hours and I am standing there almost helpless.

At one point in time…it was as if time stood still and for the first time in my life I truly comprehended the love of God. I stood there not knowing why I was visualizing the Garden of Gethsemane at the height of this emotional roller coaster but it was all I could see with my mind’s eyes. I looked at my wife in pain and all I could think of was that I would do anything to take her place and take her pain. My mind flashed back to the Garden of Gethsemane. I visualized the Savior being “pressed”, enduring physical and spiritual torment beyond comprehension. I looked back at my wife. John 15:13 came to my mind. Then 1 John 3:16 came next…and there it was…

Because of the love I felt for my wife and daughter, I would have done anything…even to enduring a long and tortuous death if necessary in order to save them. I would fight tooth and nails until my last breath to make sure they live on…and that…I realized is exactly what Christ did for us in the Garden and on the Cross. The love I felt for them, was the love He felt for me as He atoned for my sins. The very thought of my family suffering… caused a love to stir within me that can only be described as divine.

Because Christ knew all of us before we came to earth, He was able to draw upon the memories and the love He had for each and every one of us. The very thought of our suffering motivated Him to go through with it. He didn’t want to do it. In fact, He asked for that “bitter cup” to be removed from Him, but His familial love is what enabled Him to endure.

Now He asks us to cultivate that kind of love not only for our family members but for even our enemies.

3. We Have a Very Protective Older Brother

The origin of the word “Atonement” comes from the Aramaic word “kafata”. This word “kafata” was used to describe the embrace that took place between the great lords of the desert known anciently as sheiks and those that were fleeing from their enemies and seeking refuge or protection. Imagine a man running for his life through the desert with his enemies chasing closely behind. They have swords and clubs ready to fall on this man. They will not show mercy. The man knows that if he can reach the tent of the great sheik, that he can gain his protection. As the man approaches the tent of the sheik, he runs to him and kneels before him and declares, “I am thy suppliant” whereupon the sheik and the man embrace becoming “At-One”. The sheik places the hem of his robe around the man to declare him under his protection.

In effect, the sheik raises his arms to the man’s enemies and says “What!…bring it”. The man’s enemies turn and go about their way because they don’t want any trouble with the sheik.

When you have nowhere else to turn and your enemies are bearing down on you, the great Lord of lords is waiting for you to commit yourself to Him. He wants to be at-one with you so that he can bestow His kingly protection over you.

4. It was the most “Unfair” thing to ever happen on this planet.

When you contemplate what happened to Christ, your life will not seem all that unfair. One of the most frustrating things in life is watching unfair things happen to yourself and to others. “I didn’t deserve this or that.” “Why did that happen to this person.” “Life is so unfair.”

Try this on for size…

A baby was born in a cave among animals and feces on the ground. Then He was hunted by a wicked king and soldiers. He moved from place to place to avoid certain death and settled in a city called Nazareth. At about age 30, He started going around helping people. He preached the gospel, performed miracles, and never sinned. He had more love in His heart than any person that ever lived. He went into a garden and bled from every pour for the sins of mankind. He was spit upon and betrayed by one of his best friends. The people he went about serving allowed a known criminal (Bar-Abbas, Son of the Father) go free instead of Him. Then he was scourged with a whip lashed with bones and other sharp objects. Most people died from scourging alone. Instead of lash marks and cuts being made, chunks of His back were ripped from His frame. Then He carried a heavy cross to a hill outside the city by the road so that everyone could see Him hang there as they passed by. He watched his mom and his friends as metal stakes were driven though his wrists, His palms, and His feet. He was raised up on the cross between two criminals and to cap it off…His Father left Him all alone.

You’re right…life is not fair…but Christ is not asking you to go through anything that he didn’t go through already…which brings us to our next point.

5. There is Nothing You Could Go Through That He Hasn’t Gone Through

Christ didn’t only just suffer for your sins. He suffered for every physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual pain you have ever experienced. You cannot ever say “nobody knows how it feels” because someone does. The “thorns in the flesh”, mental illnesses, physical handicaps, betrayal, and every anguish imaginable…He has gone through it…so let Him carry some of your burdens.

You need to know that someone has your back. There is someone out there that loves you more than you love yourself. He’s your oldest brother and he’s been through it all. He’s sacrificed everything for you in order to help you through the unfair things that happen to you throughout your life. He is protective of you and longs for your embrace. He wants to become “At-One” with you and share the load because you guys were so close before you came to this earth…and now He’s asking you to get on the path that leads back home."

Gregtrimble.com

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Things I Want You to Know

I feel bad not having kept a journal for years. I used to be so vigilent at writing in a journal on a daily basis. Since my first marriage and since getting sort of "beat up" by life, I lost this innate gift and passion for writing. Keeping a blog—one for you, one for Amari, and our family blog, and a few personal journal entries here and there— is about the extent of my journal keeping. I think I have also let pictures do most of the memory recalling. A picture is worth a thousand words, and boy do I have thousands of memories of my children.

There is so much advice I wish I could pass on, from years back to the present—advice of things I have lived, seen, and known; things I don't necessarily wish you to believe because I know you must live out your own life and have your own experiences, but if any of this is a help to you—your future self—then this was worth taking a moment to write down.

(mind you these all might be random, but I shall write them as they are remembered in my heart and as they come into my mind).

I want you to LIVE life (when you are young, live it out of a suitcase). Adventure this world, live your dreams, live with passion, live with a conscious state of knowing that this is a moment to refine you, to one day define you, to add to a collection of memories you can take off your bookshelf and read during a moment of gloom, despair, or forgetfulness.

I want you to remember to live with no regrets. Always follow your heart. Do things with purpose.

Know that you can do anything you set your mind too. And that there is nothing too hard that you can't accomplish.

LAUGH! Humor is the most attractive quality you could posses; it can get you through almost anything.

Be sensitive to women and their needs.

Always work on being a better communicator (you don't know how far you can go in life, relationships in particular, when you are an effective communicator).

Take time to enjoy the beauties around you; meditate, contemplate, BE in nature

Remember to BREATHE

Remember that weaknesses are given to you so you can be humble. Put your faith in God, come to him in humility and your weaknesses will become strengths. Even if they don't become strengths in this life, learn to love them and accept them as you accept your strengths (Ether 12).

Along with that thought: 33 years of living and I just now came to this epiphany: it's easier to overcome ones faults or weaknesses if one first learns to accepts them.

Why is it so easy for us to love our good parts and not our bad? Are we afraid if we love and embrace ALL of who we are--yes even our seemingly "unattractive" self (whom we try to hide from the rest of the world)--we might run the risk of not being able to change? I think this is a majorly flawed way of living ones life.

It is much easier to accept the things you cannot change, and change the things you are learning to accept.

In my opinion, this is a far more beautiful, and honest way of living.

Utilize your priesthood always! Not just for administering blessings when others are sick, but for anything you or others need help with. You have been given Gods power, use it!

Be a leader. Be someone others look up to, especially your siblings.

Don't be afraid of showing your talents and using them. Try to foster every good gift the Lord has given you.

Know that your Father in Heaven is your PERFECT Father. Although they love you, your earthly parents will fail, they are not perfect, but there is one who is: turn to Him. Know that He loves you unconditionally

The scriptures hold many of life's answers; look to them when you need help.

Remember to be selfless but never lose yourself in the process (I am referring to a time when you become a daddy, or any other suitable time).

The only person you should CARE about impressing is your Father in Heaven. What other's think doesn't matter.

Don't be afraid to stand out, be who you are. When you are older you will realize trying to fit in or impress others was a waste of time.

Try to associate with people that believe in you, people that push you to be better, people who are a positive influence in your life. Life is way too short to be in the association of people who are constantly trying to bring you down in an effort to elevate themselves.

Live your life in your early 20's. Take the time to find yourself, to get an education, to go on a mission, to find the qualities and traits you desire in a woman BEFORE you settle down and get married and have children (you will be a much better spouse and daddy).

Take responsibility for your actions, don't pawn them off on someone else even if someone enacted something upon you that wasn't seemingly your fault.

FORGIVE. This is such a hard principle to live, but I promise you, through recent years of experience in holding onto a grudge, that the only person affected by lack of forgiveness is yourself. It is like a snake bite, the snake slithers away unharmed but you are left with the venom. It isn't worth your time or happiness to hold onto things.

Learn all that you can; even if you don't get a formal education (which I at least ADVISE you trying to do simply so you can learn life long skills such as discipline, the ability to study, retain information, obtain drive, etc.) seek to learn from good books, good mentors, and anything you can get your hands on. Furthermore, APPLY what you learn!

Try to read your scriptures, pray, and read something positive on a daily basis (your day will go so much better if you put these things first)

Remember your priorities, NOTHING comes before family

SERVE: it is the greatest anecdote to depression and self-pitty

Care for animals, recycle, take care of this planet (DO NOT LITER)

Exercise! Not only is it important in keeping your body healthy but it will help give you mental clarity, it will help you release stress, and overall it is the best medicine you can take for your body.

PLEASE, PLEASE, I BEG of you (from seeing the life-long damage it has done to your Dad, and my own siblings) don't experiment with drugs or alcohol. If you are struggling with something, TALK to someone, pick up a hobby . . . do anything but fall prey to drugs. They will take your freedom from you (present and future). They will make you so you are NOT in control and they will limit so many of your choices.

I am far from perfect; I will never claim to be perfect. I struggle just like you; I have so many faults and weaknesses. Every night I pray with you and ask Heavenly Father to forgive me of my weaknesses and for you to see past them. I want you to know this because I don't want you growing up with a false perception of me—seeing me as unrelatable or untouchable. Yes, I am your mother, and with that calling comes the responsibility to give you structure and guidelines and try to help you find your way in this life, but I will NEVER presume to be better than you. You are just as much my teacher; we are learning and growing in this life together. I love you, and more than anything I want you to feel comfortable coming to me, knowing I won't judge you or belittle you. I have made so many poor choices and mistakes in my life, I have all the room in the world to LOVE you through yours.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Our Sealing

One HUGE event that transpired while you were in the womb was our sealing together as a family in the Salt Lake temple. It was such a special day for all of us (you can read about it in my journal and on our family blog). We are so grateful that you will be born under the covenant and, like your brother, will be sealed to us for time and all eternity.