Stop the twerking!

I'm feeling bold today....

enough with twerking!

What is it that makes us, the human race, want to debase ourselves for the sake of fun, humor, or attention.  It is beneath who we are.  It's beneath even those who have already debased themselves publicly and otherwise (your favorite entertainer included).  We are all God's children. It saddens me to see good christians and even Mormons, knowing who they are, following this trend as though its funny or the next great dance craze.  It's not!  Don't let it be!  Don't give it another thought, word, joke, Facebook comment, or especially any place at your next dance.  Don't do it!  Don't watch the Youtubes.  Let's just not give it any place in our world.  We have so much other garbage to deal with, we don't need to add to the pile.

You may think that it's no big deal, but it certainly was when it started.  Didn't we all gasp and make a big fuss about how inappropriate it is?  That's how it happens.  We push it away and then slowly accept it into our lives as normal.  If you think it's no big deal then you've already been sucked in.  It's happened to me before too.

It's not too late!

Let's push back!

There, I've said my piece.  There's more to be said, but I'll stop.  Your eyebrows maybe raised or knit together at the moment.  You might agree or you might not.  We all have our freedom.  I hope that my kids will take note and put serious thought into the matter.  I don't voice my opinion on this blog often but I felt strongly today that I wanted to share this one. 

 We are all so much more than what the world would have us think.

little member

Any time you get a several people in a room who are each seeking their own agenda, you'll find some sort of conflict.  Lower the age a bit and you can get chaos.  This seems to happen in our home every time summer starts.  Everybody has their own idea of what summer holds for them which will often clash with other ideas in the house, especially if there are teenagers involved.  Here is where the littlest "member" reeks havoc.  The member I'm speaking of isn't little Abi but the active workings of the tongue.  Sometimes, it takes on a life of its own.  Multiply it by 8 and you have a mouthful!

As a mother, it pains me when the negative noise drowns out any positive noise and most especially the quiet whisper of the Spirit.  It can be so frustrating that I often join in.  In hopes that we could work on this during the summer, I taught the lesson on family night about our language.

The Lord teaches in a letter written by the apostle James that the tongue is very powerful even though it is small.  Just as the bit controls the horse and the small helm controls the ship "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things," James 3:5  He even says that "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."

Our children need to learn self control beginning with their speech.  It can have such a powerful affect on others for good or bad.  It probably is the most difficult to learn though, because it is so easy to just blurt out what is going through our mind.  Teaching the next generation self control through speech begins with mothers and fathers.  We can be more successful if we rely on the Spirit to guide us and strengthen us when our control starts to wain.

I was reading the Ensign today, a talk given by Julie Beck, the Relief Society President and a part of it struck me as relevant to our "tongue" issue at home.  She said, "When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed.  For instance, mothers can feel help from the Spirit even when tired, noisy children are clamoring for attention, but they can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children."

Christ nurtured with teaching, patience, and most of all love.  I pray daily for charity to love my family, to see them clearly and be patient with them.  I fall short daily, so I will continue to ask daily. 

Weeds

We got so much done in the yard today thanks to us all working together. I've been embarrassed for some time now of our overgrown shrubs, weeds, and unruly grass. But we are well on our way to having everything in order. We even planted flowers today.

While I was pulling weeds , it occurs to me that they are like sins or bad habits. If we don't get rid of them while they are small then we have to spend a lot more time and effort to root them out. It's funny that I seem to think that every time I weed.

small voice

I'm so grateful for the small voice in our heads and hearts that leads us to do good things. Thru this voice 3 people listened and blessed the life of another in pain. If they hadn't listened and obeyed that voice, the still small voice, the Holy Spirit, that person would have remained in pain and might have done something foolish. But now, all four lives have been blessed and lifted up with a view of the love Heavenly Father has for each of them. He is ever mindful of our needs and sends the Spirit to prompt us to take care of one another. He doesn't force us or yell his directions at us but uses a still small voice that requires our listening. How wonderful!