leather boots bring spiritual strength
Leann Whitesides showed us a picture of the black italian leather boots she bought before she was married. Her friend told her she had to buy them now because everything would change after she was married and had a family. The friend was right- money was needed for many other things as she raised a family and attended to their needs. The boots moved to her dress up box and have been used by her family as pirate boots, witches boots and pioneer boots. Her children are grown now and there is money to spare, but she has never replaced the black leather boots. Instead, she holds on to the old ones as a symbol of what she gave up and left behind for what she knows now:
Heavenly Father loves her and answers her prayers.
Jesus Christ made it possible for her to repent.
The scriptures are the word of God and teach us what we should do...
I love this idea and am trying to figure out what my symbol will be. Maybe the pleated navy skirt with bright colored stars that I put away after I went to the temple because it was just a little too short for the covenants I had made. What I have felt and learned in the House of the Lord is more valuable to me than that much loved skirt. I too am SO grateful for what I know today!!
Other wonderful things she said:
Heavenly Father loves her and answers her prayers.
Jesus Christ made it possible for her to repent.
The scriptures are the word of God and teach us what we should do...
I love this idea and am trying to figure out what my symbol will be. Maybe the pleated navy skirt with bright colored stars that I put away after I went to the temple because it was just a little too short for the covenants I had made. What I have felt and learned in the House of the Lord is more valuable to me than that much loved skirt. I too am SO grateful for what I know today!!
Other wonderful things she said:
- We can refresh our spiritual strength by 1) recognizing the Love of the Lord, 2) partaking of the sacrament with thoughtfulness, and 3) having a grateful heart.
- Simple things are individual blessing from our Father in Heaven. She shared that one busy morning she came in the door from her morning walk and not even two minutes later the rain began to POUR. She knew it was a personal blessing for her to not have been a mile away from home when the rain started.
- Our treatment of others is an indicator of our feelings for Heavenly Father. (ouch!)
- Each day, ask yourself "When did I feel the love of the Lord today?"
- When we partake of the sacrament, we are renewing ALL the covenants we have made which means we must come to the sacrament table prepared.
- Giving thanks brings us closer to the Giver.
- What would we have left if Heavenly Father were to take back the things we had not given thanks for?
posted by jenn | 5/07/2006
3 Comments:
I love these thoughts, especially the last two in your list. What a great idea, too, to have a tangible item to remind you of the good choices you have made. It sounds like you had a very good women's conference experience. All those terrible crowds and mob mentality are worth the inspiring words! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! That really makes me think... and I think that I don't show my Father in Heaven the love and gratitude that I should and that He is deserved. I know how much I owe Him and at the same time I feel so far from Him, I also that this is my fault. Life is a continual lesson and I am the continual student.
I love all of these thoughts too, and am especially struck by what would happen if the Lord took back all the things I haven't thanked him for. I love it that you shared these notes with us.
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