Three Boys and A Girl: Taken For Granted

There are moments in life when we all feel

taken for granted!

Those moments usually leave us ticked off and often, make us want to give up and throw in the towel. I've been there ... done that ... even thrown in the towel at times!

But how many times have you stopped and asked yourself what

YOU

are taking for granted?

I'll admit, I haven't done it much but I did ... this past Sunday!

As I sat in church I had an epiphany and was flooded with thoughts of the simple things I have been taking for granted.

I looked over at the pew where the deacons sit and it was ...

That's an odd sight for our ward, which has so many young men who are always there in their Sunday best!

I suddenly thought...

"How am going to renew my covenants with my Father-in-Heaven without any deacons here?"

My heart felt a little empty as I missed all those 12 and 13 year old boys!! I realized how much I have been taking them for granted and the immeasurable opportunity they provide me every Sunday.

As I starred at the empty row I noticed the man in front of me, an elder in our ward. He rose and went and sat on that empty pew.

Quickly one elder after another stood, leaving their wives to wrestle the children. It was awesome to see all their wives smile just like I was! I loved it!!!

In just matter of minutes that pew was filled with grown men. I thought how thankful I was for the rank and order of the Priesthood, which would allow me to still renew my covenants!

Then I watched gleefully as the deacons suddenly came in the back door. They'd been busy setting up chairs around the building so we wouldn't have to do it ... another thing I've been taking for granted. (Along with them emptying all the garbages after church!! They're awesome!!)

I watched those elders, those grown men, one by one, return to sit with their families.

They all held the Priesthood but they knew if a deacon appeared then this duty, of passing the Sacrament, belonged to that deacon.

Again, the rank and order of the Gospel, and the fact that someone will always step up, in service for ME ... is something I've been taking for granted.

As those men returned to their seats I watched their little ones crawl up on their laps, so happy to have their daddy's sit with them once more.

I looked at my pew ... empty.

I smiled at the Lifeguard from afar. He's our bishop so he sits on the stand. He smiled back and I thought about days gone by when I wrestled two boys in those very pews.

They relished in frustrating me with their irreverent antics! Why is it fun to torture a tired mama in church?

I sighed and realized I had taken those days for granted! OH!!! Soooooo for granted!!!

How I would love to sit with those little boys again! Irreverent or not, they never failed to make me smile!! They still do, even though they're all grown up and even though they seem to relish in being "thugs" ... as if they could pull that off in their white shirts and ties!! LOL!!

Time are hard when you're trying to keep those little one's quiet in church but none the less, they are wonderful days ... days, in my weariness, that I took for granted.

By this time the meeting had started. Announcements were being made from the pulpit.

"Just a reminder of Stake Conference next week and the Provo Temple Dedication the week after that so we won't be together for a couple of weeks."

I knew this was happening but I was bummed. The Lifeguard and I had already missed a couple Sunday's this past month for reasons beyond our control. We miss our ward when we don't see them each Sunday!

Not only that ... but I really miss my calling!! I have a new calling by the way. I'm going to blog about that another day because it's quite a story, but not today!

Anyway, I was truly feelin' bad and realizing how much I take our good ward for granted!! They are so loving to me and the Lifeguard!!

Soon the blessing and passing of the sacrament was in full swing. As I sat there quietly reflecting, my mind wandered to Saturday night.

The Lifeguard and I had the opportunity to witness a beautiful sight as we sat in the Celestial Room of the Salt Lake Temple.

We watched a group of grown children and grandchildren stand all together, quietly waiting for their mother to join them. She's over 70 years old and they've waited oh so long to be in that room with her.

It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever witnessed as she entered and was embraced by each of them. There were smiles and tears and just ... true joy!!

The Lifeguard and I stood against the wall and smiled at the scene ... and cried too!

I was reminded of the great gift the temple is ... it's something I've been taking for granted!!

These reminders of things I had been taking for granted were a tender mercy to me from the Lord. It's good to be reminded of all the goodness in our lives ... even though life is sometimes hard.

I stood from that meeting feeling more grateful than I had in a while.

And then Monday came ...

An unexpected reminder came by way of our missionary in the Dominican Republic.

On Monday I received a personal note from Dillon on the presidential campaign. I was surprised he knew anything about it, after all, he is in another country and it hasn't been a topic in our letters.

I was surprised to learn that it has been a topic in the Dominican Republic, and in fact, all over the world ... and a hot topic at that!

Dillon's explanation caught me off guard and brought me to my knees, quite literally!!

He more or less said ...

It is because America offers HOPE to the hopeless!!

Dillon has made friends from all over the world. On his p-days he has taught many of them English. They've shared with him their HOPE of one day, coming to America ... their HOPE that one day they can bless their families with the things we have take for granted!

My heart was suddenly ripped into shreds!!!

As tears rolled down my cheeks, I realized I have been taking for granted this wonderful country with all her freedom and opportunity! I've forgotten, because I was born on this sacred ground, what a privilege it is to live here!