Birthday Thoughts

I turned 37 today. I'm just sitting here thinking through some of the things that I've learned (or re-learned) over the past year.

I've been reminded that true happiness comes through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Gospel means "good news". And what is the good news? That Jesus loves us. That He died for us. That He not only took our sins upon Him, but also experienced our pains, sufferings, sorrows, and disappointments. So that He could not only offer us salvation, but know how to succor us in our infirmities. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:15-16).

This week was a poignant reminder of my need for mercy and grace in my life. I am prone to bouts of anger, which I am ashamed to say that I sometimes take out on my wife and children. One need not suppose that I strike them physically. I've never been inclined to do so. But my words and feelings can be very unkind and harsh at times. My wife called me on it this week, pointing out things which I knew in my heart already, but perhaps needed to hear from mortal lips. It was a difficult thing to hear, but needful. I am working and striving to be a more kind and understanding husband and father, which is what I truly wish to be in the first place! I have seen progress in the later half of this week. But surely, I need mercy and grace from a loving Savior to help me stay the course.

We had our ward conference today. One of the things that stuck out to me was that one of the speakers spoke on addictive habits, and how prevalent they are in our society today. I am prone to such with websurfing and computer games, wasting many hours that could be spent in better things. I want to be more wise with my time, and also teach my children the same, as they are prone to the same thing.

It's really amazing how much things change over time. I remember fragments from when I was younger. I remember when my family got our first microwave, and our first VCR. I remember when phones had a cord. Speaking of which, I remember a cartoon in Boy's Life years and years ago. The scouts in the cartoon travelled to the future. The scout in the future indicated that everyone had a personal communication device via satellite, but that the satellites now had to be much lower. They then ducked as a satellite whizzed over their heads. In any case, that is not the future anymore. It is the present, as I look at the prolifiration of cell phones. As the old saying goes, science fiction is fact that hasn't happened yet.

Here's hoping that I may become more like my Savior as I begin the next year in my mortal sojourn.