They Look For It

Home June 2005

Read next article

Read previous article

Print Quarterly Bulletin: an in-depth exploration of the homeschooling adventure.

Meet the author
Doreen loves music, cross stitching, sewing, gardening, reading, learning, scouting, and her family. She is a soccer coach, web master and President of Washington State Latter-day Saint Family Educators. She helps organize a yearly Family Education Conference for LDS families in Washington State.

To think about...
"The affection and thoughtfulness required in the home are no abstract exercises in love, no mere rhetoric concerning some distant human cause. Family life is an encounter with raw selfishness, with the need for civility, of taking turns, of being hurt, and yet forgiving, and of being at the mercy of others' moods." (Neal A. Maxwell)

Published by the National LDS Homeschool Association
Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2005

"They Look for It, Dear!"by Doreen Blanding

When I was a young girl, General Conference was carried on our little television. Boy, were we lucky back then. I remember one General Conference vividly, because I had the privilege that April of sitting in the "orange chair." There was nothing that compared to sitting in the "orange chair". Was that chair fun! It was well-loved, and therefore well- worn. It served as a rocking chair most of the time, unless the imaginations of two creative children took over.

During General Conference that spring, it was a throne, because I was sitting in it, and I had command -- or at least I thought so. Now, to make this day even more special, I got to bring the piano bench over to serve as my table. On it were carefully placed my scriptures and my hymnal, which, of course, I could "read" when the time was right. I had the privilege of looking up the scriptures, and of directing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the congregation in whatever we were singing that day. I was in the throne that lovely Sunday. As the conference was in session, I'm sure I paid little attention to what the speakers were really saying; I was just a little girl playing church.

Then my ears perked up as an Apostle of Jesus Christ told a fascinating story. I want to believe it was President Monson, just because he was one of my favorites, and I always believed he was speaking to me, but I don't recall who it was. As the story came to a close, the Apostle then told us how this everyday story correlated to the gospel of Jesus Christ, of whom he testified that day. I was amazed! This gentle leader took an everyday story, one like my grandpa would tell me, and turned it into a modern day parable, teaching the gospel through a beautiful story.

My ears hadn't heard anything like it before. My mind had never "connected the dots". I turned to my mother and asked, "How did he do that?" I think in her attempt to hush me so that she could pay attention to the speaker she replied quickly and quietly, "They look for it, dear, they look for it." I can't remember the speaker that day, nor the story that was told. What I can remember are my mother's words, which have stayed in my heart and mind to this day.

From that day forward, I have been able to see that the events of my everyday life bear witness of the gospel, of Heavenly Father's love, as I have better understood the importance of "looking for it" each day. I think about repentance when I'm pulling weeds. Some are difficult to get out, and some require help from a tool. I may not get to the bottom of the root, and it comes back later. Some weeds that infect my garden are small and easily pulled, but there are often many of them. When I'm done with my labors, I ease my aching body into a chair on my deck, sit back, drink an ice cold glass of lemonade, and smile at my now beautiful garden. Repentance -- I looked for it, and the weeds taught me.

When I plant my vegetable and flower gardens, I think of the seeds I've sown while going about my daily life. I wonder: have I been the missionary I could be? I also know that not every seed I sow will bear fruit, but did I do my part? Missionary work -- I looked for it, and my garden taught me. I remember the lesson I learned when I first planted my tulip bulbs. I put them under the eaves of my house. When the spring sun came out they all bent their little stems reaching for the light. Do I bend my little "stem" looking for the light? Seeking the truth -- I looked for it, and my tulips taught me.

When we rebuilt our deck, I couldn't help but notice that even though the foundation of the old deck was strong and good, the building on top of it was of flimsy wood. Our new deck is built of solid thick wood. Our children cannot put their feet through a board on our new deck. I think of the foundation I've laid in my life, and hope that I built a building on top that is worthy of my good foundation. What would have happened if my foundation were on sand, or worse? A firm foundation -- I looked for it, and my deck taught me.

When I go for my morning run, and I see a tree that was recently toppled in a Northwest wind storm, I think, "How firmly am I planted? Does my taproot go deep enough?" Having deep roots -- I looked for and found the lessons a recent storm taught me. As I coach my son's soccer team, there isn't much I can do to make the ball go in the goal for my team while standing on the side lines. I've taught the players all I can during our practices. I can yell from the side lines and I can cheer from the side lines, but I can't make the ball go in the net. Isn't that kind of like raising children?

We can stand on the side lines after all the practice and cheer and yell directions. It doesn't mean our children will listen, but we do our best. There will be a midweek practice to correct mistakes and go over plays. Hmmm, sounds like family home evening to me. Take it one more step -- sounds like Sunday worship and temple attendance to me. How much better will the "players" on our home team be if we go to the "practices"? Training, practice, and teaching -- I looked for it and my son's team taught me.

When in August, my pretty flowers are withering because of the hot sun, I think, how often do I wither in the heat of the adversity or in the midst of troubling trials, because I didn't take a deep drink of "living water?" Living water -- I looked for it, and my wilting flowers taught me. What lesson does a child bring to my mind when he brings me a flower, even if it is just a beloved dandelion? Could it be to treasure even the least of His sheep? I looked for it, and a dandelion in the hands of a three year old taught me.

What lesson do I learn when I see a little robin bravely attack the neighborhood red-tailed hawk to save her babies? Do I defend against the attempts of the adversary as he tries to snatch my babies from my home? Am I standing strong as a guard and refusing to let him enter through the TV, computer, CD, video players and radios in my home? What if he tries another way in, like print media, do I counter-attack with full force? The sanctity of the home -- I looked for it, and a little bird taught me.

Are these the simple things we think of when we see these examples cross our paths in the course of a day? The apostles see these parables and teach us: "They look for it, dear, they look for it." May we see clearly, as well.

Previous article

Print

Next article