Serving For The Greater Good: May 2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Recap of: May Day, Mother's Day, Memorial Day

May Day popped out of no where. I was having a rather downer day that morning, when a friend came to my door with a cookie bouquet to wish our family a Happy May Day. I almost broke down into tears. This is a very special day that we learned about in Nebraska. The kids in the neighborhood would ring each other's door bells, and before they ran away they would leave a goodie basket. At first I thought this was a very silly kid day, but once my kids wanted to do it too, it soon became the new thing to look forward too each May 1st. I had forgotten this year. As I was standing at the front door floods of memories came to my mind and I was refreshed with motivation to get our May Day baskets of goodies put together to deliver that very evening. The kids and I had a very fun May Day after all, and we hope you too had a Good May Day.

Mother's Day was a lump swallowing day. The kids sang with their church Primary a couple songs to us mothers, and this would have been the year that all my kids would be up on the stand singing away. Though I could only see 3, I know that there was 4. Sunday talks were on Mothers. There was one talk specifically that was I think made for me. I was a blubbery mess throughout the whole talk. What was mentioned was the exact same thing that I have recently learned about birthdays. Birthdays are not so much for the individual but for everyone else, because it is a day that is given for those that love the individual to shower and show their love and appreciation for them. I have greatly learned that it is SO SO SO much easier to tell that person that you love them when they are here in person. It is so difficult to know just how and what to do for them to show them that you love them when they are gone. This was the same perspective that was taught about how Mother's Day should be looked at. Mother's Day is not so much for the Mother, because we only see how terrible our flaws are and how we have failed to be the best mother. But Mother's Day is for everyone else to shower and show their love for that individual, for it is easier to do this in person then when they are not with us anymore. So, I set aside my judge-mental self thinking that I am not worth such pampering and allowed my family to serve me: foot massage, nails and toes paints, hair done, back massage, dinner and dessert served to first and I did not need to clean up....

It was a life changing Mother's Day for me, to see this difficult holiday in a very different perspective, something that I have been greatly needing for a long time. We hope all you Mother's had a very special Mother's Day!

Memorial Day was special, we visited Caleb, and Eric's sister Carmen, and left them flowers and walked around to show our respect to those who have fought so valiantly for our country. We have many military crosses in our small little heaven on earth. What an honor to continue to be touched by their service which they have done so selflessly. To fight for our homes, our families, our freedoms of liberty, and yet sadly to say so many of our rights are being taken away. After all that they have done, and those suited up today to serve and fight for our country. We will never know the inner struggles and difficulties that they suffered so that we can be a free country, but I am touched not just every year, but every time I see a man or woman in uniform. I tip my hat to them and say proudly, "Thank You for serving!" They do so much for us, what and honor, what a blessing they are.

Thank you all you wonderful people that have and are serving our country, and for you amazing families standing behind your soldiers, God Bless every one of you!!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tamara turned the BIG 8

Tamara had made the choice for herself to be baptized on her 8th birthday. Her and I experienced MUCH emotion before her big birthday/baptism day. It was difficult for her to come to terms of reality of what this would mean. For it meant that she would physically in age catch up to her older brother. She mentioned many times in the past that she never wanted to turn 8 and become older then her big brother Caleb. I explained several times that I didn't want things to chance either, but told her that whether or not we felt that we were ready it would come just the same. I knew that this special 'emotional' event would be a difficult one for me and our family. SO I called in my friends of faith; of family and friends nearby to come, support, cry and share in this moment with us.

I have such an incredible love for my amazing friends of faith. Regardless of what physical church we choose to attend too, they came to support and give us strength through the love of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is such an amazing source of strength that I draw from these friends of faith. And I received an amazing sense of ONE-NESS. It is the same God that we worship, the same Jesus Christ that we love and look to for a perfect example and follow in baptism. Regardless of the way that we choose to worship- it is the same God Head that we love together, and this is what unifies us as ONE. And our Heavenly Father has given us a bigger family of faith then what we really think. I rejoice with all my friends of faith, it is an honor to be there for them as they are and have been here for me and my family. It gives me much courage within to be able to stand as ONE, as I am reminded that it is only ourselves that divide our ONE of faith. Our friendship is not one of judgement or of offense, it is a very special friendship- of unconditional love, mutual respect, and support through the spirit and love of Jesus Christ. We do not feel the need or pressure to convert or to feel that we are trying to be converted, because know that we all have already been converted to Jesus Christ in our personal lives, and that it is only the spirit of God that is given that role to convert. And for us, our role is to only reach out in unconditional love, mutual respect, and support each other as friends in faith... helping our God to unify his children as ONE.

We would personally like to thank our special family and friends of faith for being here for us on this emotional birthday baptism day. You will never know how much your support, love and prayers have meant to us during this monumental step forward our family has taken.

=)LOVE, The Mathison Family