Colorful Bar-Mitzvah!
Hey Y'all - it has been a good week. I hope yours has been a good one as well. I have been fortunate enough to go out with the Elder in our stake the past few weeks and meet with member and non-members alike. It has been a great learning experience. I have taken those experiences and combined them with thoughts and impressions from lesson preparation this week. What does it come down to? Bar-Mitzvahs and Crayons. Yep, that it where I am at. I hope to help you follow along.
My experience with the Elders this week was a lesson on Obedience. They have a re-activation plan set up with a sister and wanted to get her to commit to the Law of Obedience. It is such a simple concept, yet the hardest thing to do. I was sent a quote from a conference talk just a few days ago that talks about it. I will be right back, I need to find it. It sums it up nicely.
Found it - L. Tom Perry - "Obedience is a choice." It was not from this April, but last. (2014). That is what it all comes down to doesn't it. We either do or we don't.
But I digress from my topic. What, you are asking, does that have to do with Bar-Mitzvahs and Crayons?
A great deal. Do any of you know what a Mitzvah is? I learned myself just this week. As a result of last weeks meeting with the Elders, I wanted to know how I could better defined 2 Nephi 28:30. Really it was just the word "Precept". The sister we were teaching wanted to know. When I looked it up, that it what I got - Mitzvah! Yep, Mitzvah is an established precept, order, rule, tenet, or law.
When we precede it with Bar or Bat (Son or Daughter, respectfully) we are really celebrating the a covenant of the Jewish tradition. Though most Jewish children celebrate this covenant making, we seem to hear about or make a bigger deal of the Bar-Mitzvah. A celebration of a young Jewish male covenanting to become a Son of Order. Committing to live a life following the precepts, teaching, rules, laws, and ordinances of the Jewish faith. Traditionally, it happens at the age of 13 for a young man and the age of 12 for a young woman.
Interesting huh?
Now, on to the crayons. I will tie them all in together in a few.
This morning in testimony meeting, a brother got up and shared a tender moment in his life. Yesterday, he had the opportunity to baptize and confirm his oldest daughter.(Bat-Mitzvah?) Though he talked about the baptism, what touched me more was a journal entry he shared with us that took place a little over a year previously. It all took place on a Sunday afternoon, the family had just returned home from church. Everyone was going through the normal routine of changing out of Sunday clothes, hanging them up, putting away their church bags, and preparing for the home teachers to visit. Mom and Dad were just living their room when their young daughter came running down the hall with a look of complete fear and devastation. She was repeating the phrase, "Oh No, Oh No, Oh No!" over and over again. As concerned parents, they pulled her into their room to discuss what was wrong. She sat on foot of their bed and slowly opened her clenched fist to reveal a small crayon. With tears in her eyes, she reported that she had accidentally stolen a crayon from the church. Quickly went on to share how she did not mean to, it was a mistake, she put it in to her pocket when she was done coloring and forgot to give it back. No matter how much her parents tried to rationalize with her that it was OK, it was a mistake, she did not do it intentionally, they would take it back next week, etc... Her real fear and concern was whether or not Jesus would still love her.
Wow! She was not 12, 13, 18, or 19. She had yet to make any or understand any real covenants with Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ. Yet, she was filled with the Fear of God. Fear that her lack of obedience, intentional or not, would destroy her relationship with her Brother, Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. My thoughts went to 3 Nephi 9:22 - "...whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive..."
Are we as this little child? Have we, are we, will we celebrate Bar/Bat-Mitzvah on a daily basis? Do we let the crayons that fill our pockets bring us unto Christ? It has given me new perspective. I hope it does you as well.
Before go much further, can I say how much I love spell check at times. I know that I ramble a great deal and don't always make sense, but spell check makes me look less silly than I really am.
As I said, it has been a good week. The Queen and I had a second date night this month. I know she was not impressed with the first one, chili just is not her cup of tea, but she went with me. Then this weekend, she allowed me to join her at "The Drowsy Chaperoned". It was a fun show that was entertaining from so many aspects. Thanks for letting us share Tall Man.
Other than that, we just ran the normal routines.
The Professor is battling an early cold or something. At first, we thought it was because the microphone in her classroom had gone out, but as the week progressed, her voice got deeper and raspier.(spell check again) Teaching fractions, going to school, grading homework, having homework, and church calling is stacking up. She is doing her best to overcome.
Tall Man has been busy with the play and work. We get to see him as he comes and goes in passing. Things seem to be on the up swing.
SnackPack did an excellent T-shot this weekend. At first, we did not really understand it and thought he was just messing around. I am glad he does not scoff at us when we ask. I know it has been several years, but we still don't understand all the intricacies of the game. I did not feel to bad, because Heath Bar(15)'s Dad turned around several times during the game and asked me what was going on.
Besides that, SnackPack also filled his time helping in the community as they rallied #Alexistrong. The raised incredible amounts of support during the game on Friday, making and selling T-shirts, and filling social media.
That is about all I have for this week. Hope yours was just a full and inspiring. Make the next one just as great!
My experience with the Elders this week was a lesson on Obedience. They have a re-activation plan set up with a sister and wanted to get her to commit to the Law of Obedience. It is such a simple concept, yet the hardest thing to do. I was sent a quote from a conference talk just a few days ago that talks about it. I will be right back, I need to find it. It sums it up nicely.
Found it - L. Tom Perry - "Obedience is a choice." It was not from this April, but last. (2014). That is what it all comes down to doesn't it. We either do or we don't.
But I digress from my topic. What, you are asking, does that have to do with Bar-Mitzvahs and Crayons?
A great deal. Do any of you know what a Mitzvah is? I learned myself just this week. As a result of last weeks meeting with the Elders, I wanted to know how I could better defined 2 Nephi 28:30. Really it was just the word "Precept". The sister we were teaching wanted to know. When I looked it up, that it what I got - Mitzvah! Yep, Mitzvah is an established precept, order, rule, tenet, or law.
When we precede it with Bar or Bat (Son or Daughter, respectfully) we are really celebrating the a covenant of the Jewish tradition. Though most Jewish children celebrate this covenant making, we seem to hear about or make a bigger deal of the Bar-Mitzvah. A celebration of a young Jewish male covenanting to become a Son of Order. Committing to live a life following the precepts, teaching, rules, laws, and ordinances of the Jewish faith. Traditionally, it happens at the age of 13 for a young man and the age of 12 for a young woman.
Interesting huh?
Now, on to the crayons. I will tie them all in together in a few.
This morning in testimony meeting, a brother got up and shared a tender moment in his life. Yesterday, he had the opportunity to baptize and confirm his oldest daughter.(Bat-Mitzvah?) Though he talked about the baptism, what touched me more was a journal entry he shared with us that took place a little over a year previously. It all took place on a Sunday afternoon, the family had just returned home from church. Everyone was going through the normal routine of changing out of Sunday clothes, hanging them up, putting away their church bags, and preparing for the home teachers to visit. Mom and Dad were just living their room when their young daughter came running down the hall with a look of complete fear and devastation. She was repeating the phrase, "Oh No, Oh No, Oh No!" over and over again. As concerned parents, they pulled her into their room to discuss what was wrong. She sat on foot of their bed and slowly opened her clenched fist to reveal a small crayon. With tears in her eyes, she reported that she had accidentally stolen a crayon from the church. Quickly went on to share how she did not mean to, it was a mistake, she put it in to her pocket when she was done coloring and forgot to give it back. No matter how much her parents tried to rationalize with her that it was OK, it was a mistake, she did not do it intentionally, they would take it back next week, etc... Her real fear and concern was whether or not Jesus would still love her.
Wow! She was not 12, 13, 18, or 19. She had yet to make any or understand any real covenants with Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ. Yet, she was filled with the Fear of God. Fear that her lack of obedience, intentional or not, would destroy her relationship with her Brother, Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. My thoughts went to 3 Nephi 9:22 - "...whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive..."
Are we as this little child? Have we, are we, will we celebrate Bar/Bat-Mitzvah on a daily basis? Do we let the crayons that fill our pockets bring us unto Christ? It has given me new perspective. I hope it does you as well.
Before go much further, can I say how much I love spell check at times. I know that I ramble a great deal and don't always make sense, but spell check makes me look less silly than I really am.
As I said, it has been a good week. The Queen and I had a second date night this month. I know she was not impressed with the first one, chili just is not her cup of tea, but she went with me. Then this weekend, she allowed me to join her at "The Drowsy Chaperoned". It was a fun show that was entertaining from so many aspects. Thanks for letting us share Tall Man.
Other than that, we just ran the normal routines.
The Professor is battling an early cold or something. At first, we thought it was because the microphone in her classroom had gone out, but as the week progressed, her voice got deeper and raspier.(spell check again) Teaching fractions, going to school, grading homework, having homework, and church calling is stacking up. She is doing her best to overcome.
Tall Man has been busy with the play and work. We get to see him as he comes and goes in passing. Things seem to be on the up swing.
SnackPack did an excellent T-shot this weekend. At first, we did not really understand it and thought he was just messing around. I am glad he does not scoff at us when we ask. I know it has been several years, but we still don't understand all the intricacies of the game. I did not feel to bad, because Heath Bar(15)'s Dad turned around several times during the game and asked me what was going on.
Besides that, SnackPack also filled his time helping in the community as they rallied #Alexistrong. The raised incredible amounts of support during the game on Friday, making and selling T-shirts, and filling social media.
That is about all I have for this week. Hope yours was just a full and inspiring. Make the next one just as great!
Comments