jayosmond.com Blog » July Blog

7-31-06

Administrator — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 21:29:52 +0000

I spoke to a very angry person the other day. My son Eric and I were on our way to Missouri, and suddenly had to deal with a broken tensioner arm in the engine. As our car broke down in Wyoming, we desperately tried to deal with the situation. We felt stranded for awhile, because AAA wasn’t able to get anyone to pick us up. Everone was either busy, or couldn’t be reached. Eric and I had a little prayer. In a few minutes, we got through to a person name Jim. He owned a towtruck, and indicated that he would be there in about a half hour. He came right on time, and towed Eric and me into this little town.

As we drove, he told me of a very sad situation regarding his son, and his struggle with cancer. He was LDS and felt like he was a good practicing Christian, but shared that anger was overtaking him. He said he didn’t know where to direct his anger. Should it be to God, or the Stake president, to himself, to the doctors? Where? ( I have never seen a person with such raging turmoil inside.)

He started to doubt some things he believed in. Instead of hope, there was despair, instead of faith, there was fear. I told him there was a quote I heard somewhere, that said, ”The Gospel is not here to take away our pain, but here to help us through it.” We then started to talk about brother Wayne, how he went through hell with his cancer, how it took it’s toll on all of us, but prayer pulled all of us through. Because of the hurt about the passing of his son, and some things that were said by some people, plus some major pride issues, the topic of prayer was a little sensitive. He told me that this incident is tearing his family apart. His wife cries everyday at his son’s grave site. The young mother, and the kids his son left behind, are still in shock. The stake president said some hurtful things, etc., etc.

Then I said, “What an opportunity to really deepen yourself, and to teach your grandchildren about life and death.” He looked at me a little funny, but seemed to understand what I was saying. He knew that his situation was not unusual, and that others are struggling with similar challenges. He knew this “lemon could be turned into lemonade.” He also knows that we are all vulnerable to the problems and pains of this life, that the Gospel is there to fall back on, and that God does not leave us alone. Still, anger was blinding all of this.

We talked briefly about the purpose of life, and why we have to go through the trials and temptations. (See Abraham 3) We discussed how people can say things that hurt, and how easy it is to be offended. We then talked about how our nerves are like hot pipes…sometimes they heat up! Just like these pipes, our nerves have a valve installed to release the pressure when there is an overload. It is called PRAYER.

When we are heavily burdened, the Savior told us to come unto Him, and He will give us rest. He literally means this. Prayer is the valve, but we have to make an effort to turn it.

He agreed. I saw a physical difference, as well as a humility come over this guy. I left him saying that I would pray for him and his family, and that I hope he will pray for peace, for help, and for those people involved.

Next time a challenge hits your family, watch out for the anger. Redirect it through prayer!

Have a great week,

Jay

7-24-06

Administrator — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:49 +0000

Hello everyone,

This was such a better week! I hope you all had a good one too.

It all started with Eric’s question about what spirituality means. He was a little confused, so I tried to explain that spirituality is actually having an understanding of God’s love and concern for us. The more we know of this great love, the more we have purpose in our lives and want to become more like our savior. As we apply what we learn, we comprehend the things of God better, and find peace in our hearts and in our minds.

I think my message to Eric was a little too deep.

That afternoon, our neighbor (Bobby Smith) who frequently takes walks around the area, showed up at the door with a sack in his hand and said he was exercising. I looked at him kind of strange, and wondered if he had any sleep. He told me that he “sure felt good.”

I told him I was glad, and jokingly called him a character. Then he said, “I’m also spiritually exercising.” I was then waiting for some kind of punch-line (he jokes around worse than Wayne). He handed me that sack (which was homemade bread) and said, “The best way to spiritually exersise is to just be nice. Have a good day!” When he left, I thought, that little act of kindness will go a long way.

Well Eric was impressed! He said, “Now I see. It just means to BE NICE.”

He’s right! We not only need to become more active in a physical way so we can feel better about ourselves, but the same applies to us spiritually. The more we do for others, the better we feel about ourselves and life.

I think that to be on our way as a human being, we have to start being more of a human doing!

Have a great week,

Jay

7-17-06

Administrator — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 13:02:11 +0000

I don’t know how you felt about last week, but I really had to fasten my seat belt!

I have been through some of the most patient-testing moments of my life. These last few days have tested me not only as a parent, but as to life itself, and my ability to cope with everyday stresses and mistakes of others and my own.

What saved me was a call to my father. I got an e-mail from brother Virl, indicating Father was depressed and lonely. So, I called over to check on him. He (Father) answered the phone and said, “Come and see me, I’m dying!” I quickly called the facility to have someone go up to his room and check on him. When I got there, he was lying on the bed. A nurse was talking to him and said, “He’s been waiting.” I said, “What’s going on?” His eyes lit up, and he started to smile. After some kidding around with him, I found that I too, was starting to smile and laugh. I played my old drum tape for him, and he started to wave his hand like he was the conductor. He said, “That was beautiful!” I started to laugh, and tease him for being sad. It was such good therapy. When I left, I wondered if that great experience was for him or for me?

Sometimes when we think we are doing things to help others, we are really doing them to help ourselves. The Savior wasn’t kidding when He told us that when we lose ourselves for others, we really find ourselves. My father once again reminded me in a very strange way, that in helping him, I was really helping me! Our best cure for the sad and depressed syndrome, is to think of someone who might need some help, and then find a way to help him/her.

We are expected to help each other “back home,” if you will. Life isn’t easy, but it’s worth it! We are all here for one reason or another, and we all depend on each other for assistance. If I have done one thing right this week, it is to know that I have helped my father, and myself!

Oh, that reminds me, my wife and kids need me…Got to go!

Until next week……

Love, Jay

7-11-06

Administrator — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 12:23:10 +0000

I was deeply moved as I read the responses from our fans regarding the demolition of our old home in Ogden, Utah. This is a sad event for sure. However, as my father often says, “You can’t stop progress!”

My parents sold this place several years ago. I am not certain why. They also sold our summer home in Huntsville, Utah around the same time. I remember Father and Mother offering each of us in the family a chance to buy these homes for almost a song, but for some reason none of us took the offers. In a way, I’m kind of glad. Every one of us in the family have great memories of these places. Would it have caused a problem later on within the family to have one member own the property, but another member want it? I’m not sure. My parents tried very hard all their lives to be as fair as possible. I can’t tell you how many times they said to us that they love us all the same.

It would have been nice (if possible) maybe, for each of us to own (physically) a little piece of these places, for memory sake. But then again, maybe not. Either way, my mother always tried to look at things in a positive light. She is probably glad that our home is being torn down, so we can remember this place in our hearts as it was, rather than seeing it in it’s current state. She was, as many of you know, a true optimist. She “laughed to forget,” where a pessimist “forgets to laugh.” I can hear her now saying, “This too shall pass!”

7-3-06

Administrator — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 18:51:03 +0000

I was with my boy Eric, who also happens to be my hometeaching companion (in the church, families and individuals are assigned to help each other. This program is called “home and visiting teaching”). He and I met with one of our families yesterday, to give them a thought for the month. I asked Eric if he would prepare something. We got in the car to go see them, and there was a kite in the back seat. I asked him if he was going to tell that story of the dad and son flying a kite in the wind, and the son wants to let go of the string? “Yes,” was his reply. We got out the car, he brought the kite with him, we went up to the door, and inside the house. I did my usual greeting and a joke. Eric rolled his eyes, and we sat down. After a few minutes, Eric went into his lesson.

I was absolutely amazed, not only by the way he presented the story, but with how he did it. When he got to the part where the son lets go of the string, he sat up straight and asked, “What do you think happened next?” One of the girls in the family said, “it took off like a balloon.” “No,” said Eric, “it came crashing down to the ground.” The young girl looked perplexed. Eric said, “Obviously you haven’t been kite flying,” and then he said, “the kite represents each one of us. The string is the Gospel and the church. The wind is adversity and obsticles that keep us up. However, if we let go of the string, we are in trouble.” Then Eric sat right up on the edge of his chair, and looked this innocent, sweet little gal in the eye, and said, “The things we think are keeping us back, are really the things that are holding us up.” She got it!

I was very proud of Eric.