Wednesday 28 March 2018

Giving and Receiving . . .




I saw this story recently and thought I would like to share it with you. I hope that you are able to get something out of it.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who went to school, and over a period of time her teacher noticed that she was having problems reading in her reading class. It was something about the way she held the book which made the teacher realize that there was a problem with the little girl's eyes, and so she arranged for an eye examination at her own oculist, not as a charity case but as the girl's friend. Indeed, the child did not really know what was happening, but saw it as merely a fun activity . . . until the day the teacher presented her with a brand new pair of eye glasses at school.



The child looked at her teacher . . . "I can't take them. I can't pay for them." was her response, embarassed by her own poverty.

The teacher replied. "When I was a child, a neighbor bought glasses for me. She said I should pay for them someday by getting eye glasses for some other little girl. So, you see, the glasses were paid for before you were born."

And then came the most welcome words ever . . . "Someday you will buy glasses for some other little girl."



That statement made all the difference in the world . . . it took away the shame of having to take charity and turned the receiver into a giver. It helped to make the little girl responsible. With that one giving action and beautiful statement, the teacher showed the little girl that she believed that one day this child would have something to offer someone else. That little girl walked out of the room, clutching the eye glasses feeling not as a recipient of charity, but as a trusted courier.

When my marriage first broke up all those years ago, I found myself living on a very limited income in a rented bedroom in a stranger's house. Things were very, very tight for me. One day I opened the back door to see a friend from church standing on the doorstep. She clutched several bags of groceries in her hands. Inside was a variety of beautiful food for me to eat . . . fruit, vegetables, etc. She had noticed, I guess, that I was not able to eat much more than pot noodles etc. on my very limited budget. I was somewhat embarassed by this . . . I am a prideful person, but she very lovingly explained to me that she believed that sometime down the road I would find myself in the position to do a similar act of kindness for another friend and that to deprive her of this action meant to deprive her of the blessings one receives from being able to share with and serve another. This made all the difference in the world to me . . . it truly did.



I have since then had many opportunities myself to do similar acts of service for others, and I always do so in a way that the recipient sees it as an opportunity to be able to pass the same service on to some other soul, somewhere down the road . . . the circumstances we may find ourselves in today, are not always the circumstances we will always find ourselves in. Life ebs and flows, the path we're all following being sometimes an easy path to trod and at other times, a more difficult path to circumnavigate . . . When we find ourselves blessed with having received service from others, we must accept it with grace . . . knowing in our hearts that one day we, too, will have a similar opportunity to serve. We are only the trusted couriers of all that we may receive . . .


We had a really busy day yesterday.  In the morning we slipped over to Costco.  They have the best price for petrol for the car. Its as much as 10p a litre cheaper than it is at some places.  I was going to buy muffins because the new Senior Missionary Couple that is serving here in Chester was coming over in the afternoon so we could help them with a few things.  I didn't though because in the end I thought they were too big and I could make nicer ones at home, so we came home and I baked muffins.  Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.  These are sooo good. I always blitz my bananas in my small food processor now, as they end up with no lumps, just pureed banana which  mixes into anything really well.  Then the Boyers came over and we helped them with the things they needed help with and we got to know them a bit better. They are such a lovely Senior couple, from Utah.  


I've started drinking a warm drink every morning made with boiled water, some organic cider vinegar (with the mother) and honey.  I am hoping that it will help with this gastric problem. I do not want to have to go and have another scope test.  I hated it so much the first time I had it done and I really, really don't want to have it done again. Hopefully this will help.  It doesn't taste too bad actually. 

My mom is going in tomorrow morning (early, early) to have her angioplasty done, so I will be calling her this afternoon. The last one was cancelled due to the hospital not having had any power the day before, so I am really hoping that she can get this one done and over with, so there is no more waiting.  I am really hoping that she will feel a lot better afterwards and that the circulation in her feet will have improved enough that she can keep them.  You know I think that the real difference in health between she and my dad has been that my mother smoked and my father didn't.  He quit when he was young and my mother didn't quit until she was well up into her late 60's.  If you smoke. Quit.  It does so much damage, and not just cancer. (Although my mother has had that twice.)  I am so glad I quit, even though I gained weight in doing so.  (Now if I could only lose that!) Please pray that all will go well with this procedure, thanks so much!

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *.˛.
Though we are incomplete,
God loves us completely.
Though we are imperfect,
He loves us perfectly.
Though we may feel lost
and without compass,
God's love encompasses us
completely.•。★★ 。* 。
 ~Dieter F Uchtdorf 



 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER 

Tomorrow's Reading  -  Mosiah 27:18-37 
Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How do we "become new creatures"? 

Thoughts - I become a new creature every time I yield to the enticings of the natural man, and use the grace and atonement of Jesus Christ. It changes my trajectory by a few degrees and helps me to align my will more closely to Heavenly Fathers. The other way, is an "easier" path, but one that will never lead to happiness or peace. I know when I'm being renewed, because I want to share the wonder of the gospel with everyone. 

My focus is now decidedly outward and I try my best to follow the example of Christ (as imperfect as I am this makes me a much more agreeable person than before!) I have become and am still becoming a new creature destined to live a higher law, with standards to uphold and accountability to my choices. I'm no longer ruled by my head but I'm ruled by my heart and the things the Spirit whispers to me. I much prefer the creature I am now, and I can say with impunity, despite any challenges I have faced, face and will face, I am a much happier person. 

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 132) - Mosiah 28:1-20 
Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How can knowledge be a blessing?

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Swiss Roll, or Jelly Roll as it is also called.  Yummy!

I  hope you have a beautiful Wednesday!  Don't forget along the way of your day!
    
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════

And I do too!  

 



12 comments:

  1. Hi Marie, I love this story. It reminds me of a film I saw many years ago called Pay it Forward. It was a really good film, but the main actor was Kevin Spacey and as he's now under a black cloud I'm not sure how available it is.

    Oh Marie gastro problems are horrendous. I watched my daughter helplessly for years. She was admitted to hospital many times abd even morphine wouldn't ease the pain. I think I mentioned to you before that after many years she was finally diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which basically means her body makes too much histamine. The histamine collects in the gut and causes unbelievable pain. She now takes a lot of anti histamine medication and watchs what she eats as so much food contains histamine. Who knew! Hope you get yours sorted soon.

    Sending your Mum lots of love and prayers for tomorrow.
    Have a lovely Wednesday, lots of love xxx

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    1. Thanks very much Kate. For now we are just trying to control the access stomach acid! Hoping we can get that done! Eating for me has become a mine field! Love and hugs to you! It’s been a bit showery here today! Xoxo

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  2. I don't know about the vinegar treatment but do know some who think it works. Will be praying all goes well for your mom. Being put on hold like that had to have made the wait all the worse. I liked that story and it's true about giving and receiving. It's also true what we give we always get back. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday.

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    1. Thanks Pam! I hope you gave a wonderful Wednesday too! Xoxo

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  3. I loved Pay It Forward..oh boy Kevin.. :(
    Thinking of your mom..and you:)

    So much of a better feeling to give than to receive.♥

    But..still, the latter is fun:)

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    1. It is fun to give and sometimes it is fun to receive! A balance of both is best. We should be able to do both graciously! Thanks for your thoughts for mum. She was very addled today. Made me sad. :-( xoxo

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  4. I'm glad that you seem to be getting relief for the stomach acid with the hot water and vinegar. My dearest sister Sarah always drunk hot water with cider vinegar in it, she drunk that and that only for years with the exception of her glass of sherry at any excuse !!.....just hope you continue to get relief. Can hardly believe that this time tomorrow we will be up at my friend Fiona and Graham's..in fact we are all going out in the evening to a supper in the village hall...should be interesting....hope you have had a good day. We started with heavy rain but it died down by afternoon to heavy showers. I hope tomorrow will be a dry day ...take care. God Bless. Xxx

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    1. I do hope you have a safe trip up to Scotland Sybil! And that you enjoy your time while you are there! Love you! xoxo

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  5. Hi Marie~

    Loved the story...I think service has touched all of us at one time or another...and I always feel blessed, whether I am the giver, or the receiver. When our little miss, Averi was in the hospital, I would open the door and find loaves of bread, cookies, whole meals and more. Some left anonymously, others left a card, some left with a hug and a tear, but all left with my love. Service is the pure love of Christ.

    Your mom will be in my prayers. It's so hard to see our sweet moms going through medical crisis, very difficult, you are also in my prayers...always. I was also a smoker, many,many years ago! I watched Bob's dad die an early death because of smoking, and his mom smoked up until about two weeks before she died...she was 84. It's no way to live, they really do control your life.

    I hope the vinegar and honey help, it will make a difference, I have used it before and still do when I am feeling a little tummy issue coming on.

    Your comments on the BOM were right on! Over the past 35 years, I feel like I have become a totally different person...I even look different! It's amazing what happiness will do for a person. My life is not perfect, nor am I, but I really do just keep trying...everyday! XOXO

    Hugs and Love,
    Barb

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    1. Thanks so much Barb! I cannot picture you smoking! haha But then again, I cannot picture me either and yet I did for 16 years.Like you I try every day. If each day I can say that I am a bit of a better person than I was yesterday, then I am happy. Love and hugs, xoxo

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  6. I'm guilty of smoking too Marie. When I found out that my Mom had cancer..I tried to stop. It took my a year and a half to quit. Nasty habit..just play with the ashes thinking that was what ur lungs will be like. That's how I stop finally!xo

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    1. My mom's dementia Jan, hardening of the arteries in the brain, caused from smoking, and they can't do anything about it. It is a nasty habit. I can't understand how anyone still takes it up with all the knowledge we have today. Quitting was the hardest thing I ever had to do, and I gained weight then as well, but I am still glad that I quit. 30 years now. xoxo

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