Because of Him

We had some awesome thunder and lightning yesterday. It never did rain as was forecast but I really enjoyed the rumble of the thunder. North of us, the storm produced ping pong ball sized hail. One companionship of Sisters informed me that their car had sustained damage from the hail. At least there wasn't anything they could have done to prevent that. Some Elders called me telling me that while driving their car to the body shop to get their recent rear-end collision repaired, they rear-ended yet another car. They said, hopefully it just damaged the part that was already damaged. Another companionship of Elders called telling me that they had hit the same curb while making a right turn that they had hit a week ago. This time it blew the tire requiring it to be replaced. I scratch my head at just how to train so as to prevent these judgement-lapse accidents.

For our date night on Friday, I took my sweetheart shopping. She has been a bit down this past couple of weeks and nothing picks her up quite like a shopping trip. Fortunately she wanted to go to the Salvation Army store; I personally don't like that place, but...love prevailed. She found 7 summer skirts for only $34. I even picked out two of them. She has been deliriously happy since.

The past two days it has been warm enough for me to exercise outside. Boy have I longed for that. I walked 5 miles those two days and am excited to hopefully be able to shed the winter fat layer. Coming out of hibernation into Spring is awesome. This morning early, I sat with the sliding glass door open, listening to the birds chirp. Do you know why you don't hear the birds chirp in the winter when it is so cold and snowy? It is because they are so focused on survival they don't dare use any energy to make a happy noise. I think there is a lesson here for us. Do we allow the stresses, pressures and hectic pace of life to prevent us from singing a happy song and notice the beauty around us? Do we allow work to be so all-consuming that we don't make time to enjoy those we love and the wonders of nature? I encourage each of us to take time to appreciate and enjoy those you love and the wonders of this great world in which we live.

As we go into this Easter week, I pray that each of us will pause to recognize and appreciate the many blessings and tender mercies we receive because of Him, the Lord, Jesus Christ. To assist you in that, I encourage you to go to Mormon.org or YouTube and view the 2 1/2 minute video the church has made called 'Because of Him'. I posted the link on my Facebook page this morning.

Because of Him, I know who I am and who I can become. Because of Him, I too will live again with those I love. Because of Him, we each can repent and change and become a new person through His Atoning blood. Because of Him, my life has meaning and purpose far beyond anything in this world. Because of Him, my life can hopefully be a light for others to find peace, joy and love. He is the reason for Easter. I testify that He lives and loves us beyond our capacity to fully understand. Because of Him, I pray that each of us will have a blessed week.

Elder Taggart