Today I walked from my apartment to the LDS Temple in Provo. It was kind of a long walk in a dress and heels, but the journey is half the experience right? I'm not complaining because my walk was only about 30 minutes, and there are people who sometimes walk days and spend every cent they own to get to the temple.
The final stretch to the temple is the walk along the missionary field (literally a soccer field for the missionaries in the Missionary Training Center). I saw a stretch of grass between the missionary field and the temple with a sign pressed in it about every 15 feet. As soon as I was close enough to read the sign I laughed: "I'm trying hard to grow, so please don't walk on me"---BYU Grounds. Apparently the grounds crew at BYU is now giving the grass its own voice. Perhaps to appeal to our emotions and keep us off the grass.
The funny thing was I immediately thought of all the times I've wished I could have that very sign placed on my forehead. "I'm trying hard to grow so please don't walk on me." Doesn't it sometimes feel like you're getting walked on from so many different directions? That really puts a damper on things when you're trying so hard to grow stronger, and better. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just put up a sign that says don't walk on me right now? Wouldn't it be so much easier to grow?
Unfortunately even if we did tape a sign to our foreheads it is inevitable that we'll get walked on through our life journey. Then I thought; contrary to grass, the more we get walked on the better, more refined we become. Can you imagine going through life without any struggle, without ever being trampled, picked, stepped on, dug up? Seems like we would never learn from our mistakes, and never be allowed to grow stronger by overcoming the hard times. We would never recognize the need for something or someone of a higher power, more perfect than ourselves to help us through.
I think I would rather have my sign on my heart, not my forehead, with these words: "Father in Heaven, I'm trying hard to grow, so if I must be stepped on please help me to grow anyway."
Christmas Quilts 2017
6 years ago
6 comments:
Abby, I love the way your mind thinks and how you pay attention to everything around you, even the grass. I have a sign on my forehead that says, "I'm going crazy, wanna come too?"
if the whole world took the time that you do to see the world in which they live, there would be fewer signs mucking everything up.
I wanted to make a deep observation so I could appear as interesting as you, but I have to go see what is on the TV, so I don't have time.
The "lessons from grass" that most people get is: Smoking it is illegal, It's addictive, It makes you hungry and tired and paranoid. I love the way you view the world. It has made me start applying signs to myself now too. Like the one with a dog pooping and a "don't" circle across it. Or a "stop" sign - but i had to stop applying that one to my life because i never got anywhere.
You should write conference talks. I love that comparison!
~Andy
What funny kids I have! I mean that in both the "Ha Ha" and "strange" way. You make me laugh AND bring tears to my eyes.
Abby,
I wanted to say hi from the Watson's in Maryland. Rob, Christina, and Kale that is. I appreciate your good thoughts. We all have those times of feeling stepped on and what a great view you have on allowing those times to form us into better people. Hope all is well with you and your family.
Rob, Tina, and Kale
Post a Comment