Yep. I am.
I attended the Glenn Beck American Revival meeting in Salt Lake City this past Saturday--that's how conservative I am. The meeting was nothing short of inspiring! The speakers were knowledgeable, articulate, and truthful; the crowd of 6,000 was enthusiastic and respectful (sorry, no racism or short-sightedness); and the message was one of HOPE.
One of the speakers gave this quote--it sort of sums up how I want to go forward in fighting to bring America back to what the original Founding Fathers intended.
"Hope is born of Faith, grounded in Truth, and expressed in Action."
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Losing a Child
Parents--you know that feeling when you lose a child in a department store? One moment they're beside you and the next moment they're nowhere to be seen. Your heart drops into your stomach as panic sets in. Your focus becomes only them--finding them--making sure they're safe. You scramble down the aisles, praying silently, and calling their name over and over again. Others in the store sense your distress and helplessness; many come to help.
My husband and I had two very adventurous children, so we've experienced that panic on a few occasions. It's terrible. But, oh the great relief when you finally hear their voice or see their little faces as they come trudging down the aisle with one of the store clerks. After the initial breath and blessed relief, you go through a succession of emotions from joy to anger. It's all because you love them so much.
Almost two months ago, we lost our son. Not to distraction at the mall, but to death. He was thirty-two years old, not six. He was taken by illness, not a self-styled escape from Mom. Never-the-less, the resultant panic and emotion was very much the same. All those in the family who loved him felt absolutely helpless. Others felt our distress and came to help. But, there was no voice heard--no seeing of his face--no store clerk bringing him back to us. It is silence and desolation that goes on and on. We have been through many emotions, because we love him so much. It is pain that actually settles in your heart and makes it hard to breathe.
Here is where faith comes in.
We found ourselves reaching for strength and comfort in our testimonies of spiritual truth. We felt peace from the doctrines of eternal life and the promise of the Resurrection. We held the hand of the Savior as He wept with us and shared our sorrow. This isn't just a bunch of words; this is a tangible comfort that enfolded us and continues to enfold us during the most devastating earthly trial we've had to face.
I may not hear my son's voice right now. I may not see his face. But, I know one day I will. One day I will see him and I will breathe again and I will feel only joy.
My husband and I had two very adventurous children, so we've experienced that panic on a few occasions. It's terrible. But, oh the great relief when you finally hear their voice or see their little faces as they come trudging down the aisle with one of the store clerks. After the initial breath and blessed relief, you go through a succession of emotions from joy to anger. It's all because you love them so much.
Almost two months ago, we lost our son. Not to distraction at the mall, but to death. He was thirty-two years old, not six. He was taken by illness, not a self-styled escape from Mom. Never-the-less, the resultant panic and emotion was very much the same. All those in the family who loved him felt absolutely helpless. Others felt our distress and came to help. But, there was no voice heard--no seeing of his face--no store clerk bringing him back to us. It is silence and desolation that goes on and on. We have been through many emotions, because we love him so much. It is pain that actually settles in your heart and makes it hard to breathe.
Here is where faith comes in.
We found ourselves reaching for strength and comfort in our testimonies of spiritual truth. We felt peace from the doctrines of eternal life and the promise of the Resurrection. We held the hand of the Savior as He wept with us and shared our sorrow. This isn't just a bunch of words; this is a tangible comfort that enfolded us and continues to enfold us during the most devastating earthly trial we've had to face.
I may not hear my son's voice right now. I may not see his face. But, I know one day I will. One day I will see him and I will breathe again and I will feel only joy.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Fourth of July!
Sunday will be the Fourth of July; the celebration for our country’s declaration of independence from the rule of monarchy of Great Britain. It is one of my favorite holidays. I love this country. I stand in awe of the brilliance of the founding fathers, I marvel at the strength and simplicity of the Constitution they scribed, and I cherish the liberty that came of their struggle.
It is a blessing to live in this country—a blessing that many Americans have been lax to appreciate and honor. I think the current attempts to twist this country’s foundational principles have brought a drowsing population awake. City and country Americans alike are renewing their commitment to the tenets of the original Constitutional concepts; they’re speaking out against a transforming of this nation’s purpose; they’re reevaluating their own virtue and values.
Samuel Adams said: “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.” Adams also said: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington referred to religion and morality as the “great Pillars of human happiness.”
My voice is small, but I concur with these great men who pledged their lives, property, and sacred honor, that in order for America to remain good, her people must be good.
As I pledge allegiance to the flag, this Fourth of July, I will also pledge to be a better person. One by one we can set America back on a path of greatness.
It is a blessing to live in this country—a blessing that many Americans have been lax to appreciate and honor. I think the current attempts to twist this country’s foundational principles have brought a drowsing population awake. City and country Americans alike are renewing their commitment to the tenets of the original Constitutional concepts; they’re speaking out against a transforming of this nation’s purpose; they’re reevaluating their own virtue and values.
Samuel Adams said: “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.” Adams also said: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington referred to religion and morality as the “great Pillars of human happiness.”
My voice is small, but I concur with these great men who pledged their lives, property, and sacred honor, that in order for America to remain good, her people must be good.
As I pledge allegiance to the flag, this Fourth of July, I will also pledge to be a better person. One by one we can set America back on a path of greatness.
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