Last night Jacob gave a great Family Home Evening Lesson based on a chapter in President Gordon B. Hinckley's book, "Way to Be." He focused on the chapter entitled, Be Involved. "What this chapter boils down to," he said, "Is the importance of work in our lives." President Hinckley was a worker. I've heard stories of how energetic he was and the crazy pace of his travels around the world, right up into his last years.
President Hinckley tells us that work feeds us, clothes us, and gives us shelter. But it gives us more than that. He says that "work is the best antidote for worry, and the best medicine for despair." Way to Be, pg. 40. Work brings light to our lives. He says, "You have to stay on your feet and keep moving if you are going to have light in your life." Way to Be, pg. 38. This reminded me of a display at our local planetarium. There is a stationary bicycle hooked up to a generator which powers a light bulb. In order to get the light bulb to turn on you must pedal. The harder you pedal the brighter the bulb glows. I need light in my life. My husband and children need light in their lives. And work is one way to feel that light.
By work I don't think President Hinckley is referring only to mowing the lawn, doing the laundry and cleaning toilets. While I think these are priceless skills to teach our children, I think there is more to it than that. Work includes creating through music and art and writing. It includes service to neighbors and in our church. It includes developing our talents in whatever area they may be. It includes studying the scriptures, and great books of the ages. It includes being the best mother, father, sister, brother, grandparent, aunt or uncle that we can be.
When we are willing to work hard, to put forth effort, in worthwhile pursuits, I believe the Lord can bless us and help us to accomplish amazing things. He can help us to accomplish what others may not think possible. He often requires sacrifice and effort on our part in order to bless us with what we desire.
In his lesson, Jacob related a personal experience from yesterday afternoon. We recently were given some laying hens and a rooster from a friend. On Sunday Olivia noticed that the rooster was limping and when she looked closer she could see that the band that the previous owner had put on his leg was cutting into his leg. The leg had swollen and looked terribly painful. Unfortunately we forgot about the problem until Monday. Jacob went out to the coop to see if he could restrain the rooster and get the band off of his leg. I asked Benjamin to help him but Jacob headed out on his own while Benjamin was getting ready. He tried to catch the rooster with no luck. Finally, he told us, he knelt down and said a prayer that the rooster would just come and lay down in front of him so that he could get the troublesome bit of metal off of his leg. Meanwhile, Emily and I were saying a prayer of our own inside the house. We really did not want this bird to die. When Jacob finished his prayer he had a strong feeling, or answer, if you will. He felt impressed that Heavenly Father could help him only if he would put forth some effort of his own. He stood up and tried again to catch the rooster. This time he was successful. He was able to remove the band and now time will tell as to how our rooster heals. He bore a simple testimony that the Lord can indeed bless us more when we are willing to work and do our part.
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