March 14, 2011

FAMILY STAYS CONNECTED DESPITE LAND AND SEA

While reading through letter #69 it is clear to me that our minds and souls are connected even though we are physically apart. It's spring and that means soccer season in the Puriri household.  I think Isaac is feeling a bit of soccer fever as he continues his missionary service and compares the work of a missionary to the work of a soccer player.  His words will be a great benefit to his brothers as they work towards a successful season.  

Isaac speaks of the power of work.  Ammon gave a talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday.  His topic was blessings that come through scripture study.  Ammon focused on a few character traits that can be learned in the scriptures and then if applied can bring great blessings.  One of those scriptures was 2 Nehpi 9:51

Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.  

Ammon's focus of this scripture was "do not labor for that which cannot satisfy" and the blessing that comes from "feasting" on work is that "our soul will delight in fatness."  Isaac rejoices in the "fatness".

Every Sunday when I send Isaac an email I include a spiritual thought.  This week my spiritual thought was on the subject of success being an endless journey (see below).  Isaac speaks of this as he explains how once "you obtain possession of the ball you do not stop and say 'I won'.  Instead you have created more work for yourself and it is satisfying to delight in that work.

This morning the spirit speaks to my soul that even though we are separated by land and sea the waves of our brain flow on the same current and the beat of our heart pumps at the same speed.  One more reassuring factor that we are spiritual beings having a human experience.  I accept that we are connected to our Heavenly home and that Heavenly Father is very aware of the needs of our family.  It is such a blessing to have a son serving a mission in a most diligent and obedient fashion.      

It is the whole story of a man's life that must ultimately determine whether or not he is successful, and not any single page or chapter of it.  And there are none so young but what their performance has its effect upon the whole of their lives, and none so old as to place them and their actions beyond judgment.  A little foolishness may destroy a long-standing reputation for wisdom, and a little brilliance may seem to cover a multitude of sins.  But life is not a thing that begins and ends at two definable points.  It is an eternal journey, to endless destinations; and the highest reward is for consistency of performance--not merely for occasional flashes of brilliance, or isolated acts of goodness, or brief periods of dependability.  It is still true, as it was when it was anciently spoken, that he "that endureth to the end" has the greatest assurance of success and the greatest promise of having the labors of his life pronounced "well done." -Richard L. Evans  

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