They Look For It, Dear

Back when I was a little girl General Conference was carried on our little television, boy were we lucky back then. I remember one General Conference vividly because I had the privilege that April of sitting in the "Orange Chair." There was nothing compared to sitting in that "Orange Chair." It was well loved and therefore well worn. It served as a rocking chair most of the time unless the imagination of two creative little children took over. Boy was that chair fun. During General Conference that spring it was a throne because I was sitting in it and I had command, or at least I thought that in my mind.

Now to make this day even more special I got to bring the piano bench over to serve as my table. On it were carefully placed my scriptures and my hymnal, of which of course I could "read" when the time was right. I had the privilege of look up the scriptures and directing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and congregation in whatever we were singing that day. See, I was in the throne that lovely Sunday.

As the conference was in session, I'm sure I paid little attention to what the speakers were really saying, I was just a little girl playing church. But then my ears perked up as an Apostle of Jesus Christ told a fascinating story. I want to believe it was President Monson, just because he was one of my favorites and I always believed he was speaking to me, but I don't recall who it was. As the story came to a close the Apostle then told us how this everyday story correlated to the gospel of Jesus Christ, of whom he testified of that day. I was amazed! This human being took an every day story, one your grandpa would tell you, and turned it into a modern day parable, teaching the gospel through a beautiful story. My ears hadn't heard anything like it before, or rather my mind had never connected the dots.

I turned to my mother and asked, "How did he do that?"

I think in her attempt to hush me so that she could pay attention to the speaker she replied quickly and quietly, "They look for it, dear, they look for it."

I can't remember the speaker that day or the story that was told. What I can remember is my mother's words and they have stuck in my heart and mind to this day. From that day forward my everyday life bears witness to the gospel, to our Heavenly Father's love for us and the importance of "looking for it" every day.

I can't help but think about repentance when I'm pulling weeds. Some are difficult to get out and some even require help from a tool. Sometimes I don't get to the bottom of the root and it comes back later on in the year. Sometimes they are very little and easily pulled weeds that infect my garden---but there are often way too many of them. But when I'm done weeding, I put my aching body in a chair on my deck, sit back, drink an ice cold glass of lemonade and smile at my gardens that are now so beautiful. I looked for it and the weeds taught me.

Then when my strength is back and I plant the vegetable and flower gardens I can't help but think of the seeds I've sewn while going about my daily life. I wonder, have I been the missionary I could be? I also know that not every seed I sow will bare fruit, but I did my part. I looked for it and my garden taught me.

I can't help but remember the lesson I learned when I first planted my tulip bulbs. I put them under the eaves of my house. When the spring sun came out they all bent their little stems reaching for the light. Do I bend my little "stem" looking for the Light? I looked for it and my tulips taught me.

When we rebuilt our deck I couldn't help but notice that even though the foundation of the old deck was strong and good, the building on top of it was of flimsy wood. Our new deck was built of solid thick wood. Our children can not put their foot through a board on our new deck. I can't help but think of the foundation I've laid in my life and think did I build a building on top that is worthy of that foundation. And what would have happened if it was a foundation on sand or worse? I looked for it and my deck taught me.

When I go for my morning run and I see a tree that was recently toppled in a Northwest wind storm I think, "how firmly am I planted? Does my taproot go deep enough? I looked for the lessons a recent storm taught me.

As I coach my son's soccer team, there really isn't much I can do to make the ball go in the goal for my team while standing on the side lines. I've taught them all I can in the practices. I can yell from the side lines and I can cheer from the side lines, but I can't make the ball go in the net. Isn't that kind of like raising children? We can stand on the side lines after all the practice and and cheer and yell directions. it doesn't mean the players will listen, but we do our best. There will be a midweek practice to correct mistakes and go over plays. Sounds like Family Home Evening to me. Take it one more step, sounds like Sunday worship and temple attendance to me. How much better will the players on the team be if we go to the practices? I looked for it and my son's team taught me.

When in August my pretty flowers are withering because of the hot sun, I think how often do I wither in the heat of the adversity or in the midst of troubling trials because I didn't take a drink of "Living Water?" I looked for it and my wilting flowers taught me.

What lesson does a child bring to my mind when they bring me a flower, even if it is a beloved dandelion? Could it be to treasure even the least of His sheep? I looked for it and a dandelion in the hands of a three year old taught me.

What lesson do I learn when I see a little robin bravely attack the neighborhood red tailed hawk to save her babies? Am I attacking the attempts of Satan as he tried to snatch my babies from my homes? Am I standing as a guard and refusing to let him enter through the TV, computer, CD, video players and radios in my home? And what if he tries another way in like print media, do I attack with full force? I looked for it and a little bird taught me.

Are these the things we think when we see these examples cross our paths in the course of our day? I'm sure the Apostles see those things just because "they look for it, dear, they look for it." May we see it as well.

by Doreen Blanding

please contact her at waldsfe@hotmail.com for permission to use

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