The Worth of a Soul

It truly has been a fantastic season. The love and joy in the air is so refreshing, I miss it already. I focused the gifts I gave on the Saviour and helping the receiver become a better person. To Brittani I made an African nativity set out of clay. It was beautiful and took so much time, it was truly worth it.

For my mom I gave her Seven Habits of Highly Effective People with a journal of Christ and a woman on the ground reaching up to him. I also added quotes, printed out the challenges and added tools I've used when I read it. I wanted it to really change her life. To my brother I gave Hope In Our Hearts by Russell M. Nelson and I gave a movie called Life Lessons From Fathers of Faith: Inspiring True Stories About Latter-day Dads to my father. I will never regret giving Christ-centered gifts this year and hope to always remember it.

Now I must admit a weakness. I've really been struggling lately with my testimony of my Saviour and of his realness. I've felt so left alone and unsure if he really saves me or if it makes a difference if I fervently believe in him or not. Well I'd like to tell you about my favorite Christmas gift. First you must know that I love Africa and it's people. I've never been there but I feel so drawn to them and I'm dying to go there some day. So for Christmas I pulled out a $.50 picture that changed my life.

I had seen the picture before, but it was what was written on the back that brought tears to my eyes. There was a short note from my mother that read, "Dearest Tia, Until you can hold them, pray daily that God will. Love, Mom" as well as the story of how the picture came to be. 

The Worth of a Soul

By Liz Lemon Swindle

When Mothers Without Borders approached me about going to Africa, I told them I was not interested. For me Africa was a world away, “and besides,” I thought, “I am too busy.” Imagine my surprise when I found myself on a plane to Zambia in June 2007.

One of the first children I met was Kennedy, the little boy you see in the painting. At three years old he has lost both of his parents to AIDS and was found living alone with his six year old brother and ten year old sister. When I thought of those three children struggling to survive and the millions of others across Africa in similar circumstances, I felt an overwhelming hopelessness and said to myself, “No amount of money can fix this.”

Later that day while we were filming, Kennedy climbed into the arms of the man portraying the Savior. As I stood watching them, Kennedy turned towards me and our eyes met. At that moment I knew it wasn’t hopeless. I realized that the Savior could fix not only the problems of Africa, but of the whole world…and we can be His hands to do it.

For the first time in my life I felt what Isaiah meant when he said, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.” To Kennedy and all who struggle to understand why, I promise that God has not forgotten you.

Looking back I realize that my reasons for not wanting to go to Africa are likely the same as yours. We are busy and feel like we cannot make a difference, but I know now that neither is true. We are never too busy to lift another and every good work is known to Him who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of…these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

I have shared this gift with close friends and every time I share it with them it touches me in a different way. When I first saw this picture I thought of myself and the person I want to become. I felt like God was holding my little black baby until one day I was prepared and called. It brought me to reach for something, something deep inside that I had been ignoring; my mission and purpose. The next time I showed this picture to a friend I realized that not only is he holding the little children of Africa but he is holding me. And lastly I realized that when I struggle to feel the love of the Saviour it is because I am not looking outside of myself. Every time I look into the eyes of any living thing, I can see Christ. I realize that if I am not looking for Christ in others then I cannot expect to see Christ there for me.

I bear testimony that He lives. His celestial light shines in us and the more we recognize it the closer he feels. God loves each and every one of us, he knows our trials and he sees our beauty. I am so grateful for the blessing I have and strive daily to share my gratitude by sharing my blessings with others. He lives and is watching his work come forth. I bare this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I Believe in Christ

This Christmas I'm focused on Christ. All my presents are focused on bringing the receiver closer to Christ and his love. It is such an outstanding project and so worth it. The compassion I feel for everyone and most importantly my Savior is overwhelming. I'm so grateful I'm the youngest in my family and Santa no longer exists, Christmas is about Jesus Christ as it should be. I love this time of year when I get to take time away from the busy world and focus on what matters most. All my SayGoBeDos are focused on making Christ more pronounced in CHRISTmas. Through little acts of service, extra time spent on those in need, making all my gifts encourage the light of Christ, spending my free time bettering myself  and making all my decorations Christ centered I'm really able to make this time of year special. 

"Joy to the world, the Lord has come!"

 I challenge you to really ask yourself how you would like your Christmas to be this year and to listen to those SayGoBeDos to make it worth remembering. He came for a purpose and lived a perfect, magnificent life, it is the least we can do to make one month all about him.

“There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ.”

—President Thomas S. Monson

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" -John 14:27

Simple Sets the Path

I've taken alot of time to ponder as to what to write and I hope to be able to say what I need to say. My Thanksgiving turned out much different than I had expected and things continued to go dowwnnn. I really wanted to invite people for dinner because it was going to be so fancy and my family definitely don't care all that much. By the day before I realized I wouldn't be able to invite a homeless person or a elderly person and got pretty bummed out. But I still persisted in inviting people who might be alone on Thanksgiving. Even on Thanksgiving day we continued to invite people. Not a single person could come. My spirits were so low and any hope I had of making Thanksgiving great was gone. There was alot of tension in our home and an hour before dinner was ready I gave up and went crying to my room. The food I was most excited for I didn't make, the stuffing I spend hours on got ruined and I just didn't care anymore. I spent the afternoon in my room talking to an inspiring friend on the phone, reading my scriptures and I sung every hymn out of the hymn book that I knew. Of course the feelings were alot deeper than about a ruined dinner and not being able to have someone over but none the less I got through it. My dad finished dinner and we all sat down to eat, then everyone discovered the notes I had written the day before on the name tags at the table. My goal of writing thank you notes I had accomplished and it ended up being a Thanksgiving miracle. I had written everyone in my family a thank you note and then in return, while sitting at the table, they all passed around my blank name card and wrote a note to me. As I sat there reading the notes from my parents and brothers tears rolled down my cheek. I had been brought so low that this tiny act brought me so far back up. I suppose that if things are as fantastic as we always plan, we can become ungrateful for the little things and the reminders that really matter. Although my Thanksgiving was far from fantastic, it was meaningful. And by being so simple, it really set me off on a good path for Christmas. This Christmas is already different from all the others and I'm really taking the time to become close to my Savior. SayGoBeDos are coming back again. For the sake of not overwelming you with really long posts I will post my recent Saygobedos on a new post. But the moral of this is to say that:

Having fantastic SayGoBeDos are great some times and give up opportunities to be great; but sometimes we must go back to the basics. To as simple as saying thank you or holding on to those close to us. We need to be able to do the things that are easy in order to make room enough for those that are hard to accomplish. If any of you are like me, you need reminded on how simple things really are. And that those simple things are so important in the long run.

By looking simply, I can now look on to a compassionate, calming, joyful and light Christmas. Join me in my journey?

Friends!

Something that has really struck me lately is the SayGoBeDo's that I've received concerning my friends!  For reasons I don't know, I have received a lot more of these lately, and each SayGoBeDo I have followed has brought me closer to my friends in ways that otherwise wouldn't be possible.  I challenge all of you to really listen when you are with your friends or even when you are just thinking of your friends.  If you have a thought such as "I bet that person would really like a phone call, a visit, a hug, some encouragement etc." then follow it, because chances are, that person really DOES need that!  If you follow the SayGoBeDo's you receive about friends, your friendships will grow to new levels and you will better understand each other.  The feeling it creates is undescribable when you cultivate true relationships and have long lasting friends :)

God works in mysterious ways

Lately, I have been searching for a job.  I haven't had one since October, and not having any money to spend is so frustrating!  I've been relying on my parents a lot, and I feel too dependent and not interdependent enough.  I've been applying to all sorts of places, praying a TON and just hoping a job would show up.  About a month ago I applied to Noodles & Company and honestly thought I was going to get the job.  I waited, and waited, and waited.  I knew I was following a SayGoBeDo by applying there, so I was wondering why I wasn't getting a call back.  Then, I got really sick and was in bed for about two weeks.  I realized that it was a good thing I didn't get a job then.  Then after I was better, a friend who works at the movies was saying that the movie theatre was hiring.  Right then I had a SayGoBeDo to apply, so I went home and applied! I asked this friend to put in a good word for me, and called the theatre to make sure they got my application.  It's been a few days and sure enough, I got a call tonight and I have an interview set up!  This is SUCH an answer to my prayers and I am so thankful to myself that I listened to my SayGoBeDo!  I know that sometimes when we follow SayGoBeDo's, they won't turn out, as with my first attempt, but there are always lessons that will be learned when you follow a SayGoBeDo.  Although it may seem like things aren't going your way at the time, in the end things WILL turn out when you choose to follow a SayGoBeDo!!

The Teachings of Kami Mitchell

If you've ever gone to YFF or any kind of seminar where Kami Mitchell is present, you've probably heard her talk about "Say Go Be Dos." But there is one thing that she teaches about "Say Go Be Dos" that I have begun to really understand lately. It is that if you're committed to doing them, and if you keep track of them, then you can put one on hold and still "get 'er done." (as 'Mater from "Cars" says)

I have had several "Say Go Be Dos" over the past couple weeks, and I have had to put most of them "on hold" due to circumstances. But, because I have remembered them, I have been able to start working on a few of them.

Never think that because you can't follow a "Say Go Be Do" the very instant that you get it, that you can't or won't ever be able to fulfill it. That's a terrible lie. Keep them, write them down, and then the time will come for you to actually perform that act. I see "Say Go Be Dos" as God's way of guiding us in fulfilling our life's missions. He may impress us to do something for the mere fact to get us thinking about it and then, when the time is right, He will send us another prompting telling us to perform the act that we've been preparing for.

1 Nephi 3:7 states, "...I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." The waiting period between the initial prompting and the time to act is the preparation time that God is giving us. So, don't give up on them. Write them down and then do them when they NEED to be done.

Finally I'm back! However the past short while has been very hard indeed. I made a promise that I would not post again until I had SayGoBeDos to share and it's definitely been hard to find them. Honestly, where and who we place ourselves with is everything. The spirit is a delicate, yet a very powerful gift that we can never take lightly. It is often frustrating when it leaves us and we don't understand why. But I guess this tests our willingness to bring it back.

Anyway, aside from the bumpy road in the past and definitely the bumpy road in the future, we must keep going. God's way is the SayGoBeDo way. Unless we are Saying what we need to say, Going where we need to go, we cannot Be who we need to be or Do what we need to do. Sometimes we feel that we have to say, go, be and do all at once, however this is not always the case. It is a process. Sometimes the process if fast, where we receive a prompting and make it happen, and other times we must start our SayGoBeDos by first being willing to say and go.

This is the road in every one's future, especially those who are trying to do what's right, but don't be discouraged. It's is possible but just takes more time. Remember 1 Nephi 3:7 says, I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." This scripture has hit me pretty hard lately. Even with SayGoBeDos we often have to step into the dark and know that God will provide guidance and the spirit to us in his own time. It is up to us to continue to move forward and not wait idly until they come to us. Therefore, you're probably wondering how all this has affected me and my SayGoBeDos, right? Well I wish I had some outstanding story for you how I changed the world... But I don't. But that's ok, I'll admit for you, most of your SayGoBeDos wont be all that great either. What's important is that we do them right?

So, on a small stepping stone I'm makin' my way back up. I have dedicated this fall break (my fall break) to accomplishing SayGoBeDos and making a difference. Hopefully to more than one person. The SayGoBeDos that I have continued to put off are pretty huge, therefore failing to accomplish them, I must begin the starting process.

SayGoBeDo #1: I'm going to have a fireside on SayGoBeDo! Yup, me, giving a fireside all on my lonesome. Bring it on!! :) I have lot's of people to talk to, as well as MUCH preparation and planning. I also need to reread SayGoBeDo the book. I talked to my leader today and I'm working on getting it scheduled. This Blog shall be the first to know when it's happening!

#2: This Thanksgiving I'm inviting strangers to my thanksgiving feast. I've made it the past two years and it's way too big of a deal for just my family who is definitely lacking appreciation for it. Thus, I'm either inviting two homeless people or two elderly people from a nursing home! I'm not sure how to work it out, but I need your prayers. Thanks!

#3: Reaching out to those who may feel forgotten. This brings me back to the song, "The Lost Get Found" that Brittani posted. Over the past weekend I invited a friend from my seminary class to watch a movie at my house with my friends because he doesn't have many friends. Big prompting right there. It was a difficult choice, but I hope it made a difference. I also plan to send thank you notes to those people who have made a difference to me. Don't feel left out if you don't get one, I don't have time to send many. I'm not really sure what else SayGoBeDo will prompt me to do this week but I'm hoping I will be able to follow all of them.

That's all for now, I'll post again soon and share about Thanksgiving at least. Please continue to pursue SayGoBeDos even if they aren't pursuing you!