Day 157

     Katie had a low grade fever last night, and she has developed a slight cough.  Her fever broke later last night - but she has a fever of 100 this morning.  If Katie's ever gets a fever above 100.3, we are required to take her to the hospital.  None of us are up for a hospital stay.  So we have been praying she won't get worse.  We will call the PCH clinic this morning, to see the doctor on call will give us an antibiotic for her.  We would appreciate your prayers.

     Recently, I seem to keep getting led to quotes by Neal A. Maxwell.  I  randomly came across another of his quotes this morning (which also just happened to correspond with a friends comment yesterday).  Today I am glad for Elder Maxwell's wisdom and insight.  The following excerpts came from a talk entitled: The Pathway of Discipleship.

     "Of course, there are going to be puzzling moments. Nephi had this reaction when he was perplexed: “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Ne. 11:17). We cannot always fully or glibly explain everything that is happening to us or around us, but knowing that God loves us is absolutely crucial. Then, as immortals possessed of immortal principles, we can overcome the mortal trials and we can put the pressing things of the day in precious perspective.

     The divine attributes of love, mercy, patience, submissiveness, meekness, purity, and others are attributes we have been directed to develop in each of us (see 3 Ne. 27:27; Mosiah 3:19)—and they cannot be developed in the abstract. These require the clinical experiences—those things through which we are asked to pass. Nor can these attributes be developed in a hurry. Thus the scripture says, “All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7), referring to the mix of mortal experiences, immortal individuals, and immortal principles. When that interplay occurs and we see things through the lens of the gospel, then we can see more clearly and navigate the road of discipleship.

     Another thing will happen: we will become much more aware of and alive to the many possibilities for doing good that are present in life’s daily situations. Even the moments that seem humdrum are full of possibilities. Nothing is really routine.

      We must look carefully, therefore, not only at life’s large defining moments but also at the seemingly small moments. Even small acts and brief conversations count, if only incrementally, in the constant shaping of souls, in the strategic swirl of people and principles and tactical situations. What will we bring to all of those moments small and large? Will we do what we can to make our presence count as a needed constant in such fleeting moments, even in micro ways? Do you and I not sometimes say appreciatively of individuals who have helped us, “They were there when we needed them”? Will we reciprocate?

      The daily discipleship to which I’m referring is designed to develop the very attributes which are possessed to perfection by Jesus. These attributes emerge from a consciously chosen way of life, one in which we deny ourselves of all ungodliness and we take up the cross daily—not occasionally, not weekly, not monthly. If we are thus determined, then we are emulating yet another quality of our Lord, of whom we read, “And there is nothing that the Lord thy God shall take in his heart to do but what he will do it” (Abr. 3:17). True disciples are meek but very determined." (Ensign, Sept.,1998).