A Letter To My Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren~

A Letter To My Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren~

I have been thinking a lot about my precious grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have 13 granddaughters and 2 great granddaughters along with 18 grandsons and 1 great grandson. It is often difficult to have one and one moments with each of them because many of them live far away. I do have a blog entitled: Grandpa and Grandma's Twitterings. This blog is in the development stage and I hope it will be a fun way to connect with them all.

When we visit our grandchildren, I can tell which one of these spirited children will give their parents a run for their money. Through the years while raising my own children I have gained wisdom through the process of struggles and trials that go along with parenthood. However, to me my grandchildren are wonderful and each one is unique and very special spirit. I know that all of them have been reserved to come to come to earth; each with an assigned purpose in the winding up scenes before the 2nd Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, I thought I would write a letter to them all. There are only a few of them that are at an age to read and understand the feelings of my heart.

Dearest and beloved Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren:

Here are some thoughts from my heart to yours.

Babies are such a miracle. How could anyone not know that they have come to this earth from a pre-mortal realm where they left their Heavenly Parents and their Elder brother Jesus Christ. The veil was drawn at birth and you cannot remember that wonderful pre-mortal life. I know that in that state I knew you all and that you were assigned to come into our earthly family.

When I have held each of you adorable and precious grandchildren and great grandchildren in my arms; I can see in your sweet little faces that you had just freshly left the courts on high. I like to think that perhaps you received a blessing from our loving Heavenly Father as you left for this great adventure. Here you came to earth to fulfill your divine and chosen earthly mission. How I loved to kiss your little cheeks, necks and tiny little feet and hold you close to my heart. You were and are so precious and innocent to me. I know that you are truly Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Parents. As I looked into your angelic little faces I know that you have strong spirits that were prepared to tackle your earth life experiences. At that moment I prayed that your earthy parents and we as your grandparents could provide the support and teachings you will need as you sojourn through life.

So dear grandchildren and great grandchildren this is my hope and prayer for you. Here are some thoughts that come from my heart and hopefully to yours.

In the beginning as you are taught to pray; I pray that you will always know that you have a kind wise Heavenly Father and your Elder Brother Jesus Christ who are there to listen to your prayers. I myself like to picture that I am at the knees of my Father in Heaven as I praise Him, give gratitude for His countless blessings and pray for my everyday needs. There will come emergencies into your life when only prayer can give you that comfort, peace and direction that you seek. I know beyond doubt that our Heavenly Father and our Savior knows your name; you are his child and He knows your needs.

Our Father in Heaven wants us to return to Him clean and pure and He will help us accomplish this if we but reach up through prayer for Him. God is our 911; Prayer is our emergency line. Use prayer to reach Him wherever you are and in whatever situation you find yourself in.

I pray that you will love the scriptures. I hope that you will find within the scriptures answers to your prayers and a closer relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that as you read the stories, prophecies and counsel within those pages that you will feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost whisper into your ears that these are eternal truths. Perhaps you will feel like you have heard some of these thoughts somewhere before. Feast upon the words of Christ especially found in "The Book of Mormon".

Another thing that I pray for is that you will be given opportunities and teaching experiences when you will feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. I pray that you will understand, feel and obey that special gift that you have been given at your baptisms. This is a priceless gift; learn to let it guide you.

The question is asked; what else can you do to bring more happiness and joy into your lives? I found that the answer is to serve one another. Finding opportunities to serve your family, friends and neighbors will bring into your soul great happiness. I pray that you will think outside of yourself and what you think you need and look for opportunities to serve others. When your heart is troubled, when you are alone and afraid; go out and serve someone. Those troubles will just slip away. It is one of the greatest sources of help for depression and those down days we all have.

Many years ago I was quite ill and at the time was working as a Hospice nurse. I had to drag myself to work. However, once I visited my first patient I would lose that feeling of hopelessness in my physical distress. I would think to myself; this dear person I am working with will die soon and I still have time to live. When you don't feel like serving another is the exact time to do just that. Look for opportunities to serve and your life will be greatly blessed.

Learn to work; work is a principle of power. By working and accomplishing tasks you will find more satisfaction in your life. Perhaps your work in the beginning will be helping at home, then working a job to prepare for going to college or on a mission. Have a goal to work towards and you will find that your happiness will multiply.

You will one day want to find an eternal companion. I pray that you will choose well. I pray that you will go to your Heavenly Father in prayer to verify that this young man or woman whom you love is the one you should marry. This one decision will be the biggest decision you will every make in this life.

I pray that I might live to see you all married in the Temple of our Lord. The temple is the crowning joy of this life. To be an eternal family is so important to me. I pray with all my heart and soul that all of our families will be in the Celestial Kingdom together. I desire with all my heart that there will be "No Empty Chairs" in our family.

The temple is a oasis. It is the fountain of Living Water. Here you will learn of eternal truths. Here you will provide saving ordinances for ancestors who are waiting to receive their blessings though you. Here if you come prepared you can receive answers to prayers and revelation for all of the important decisions that you will make in life.

Last of all here are a few moments in my life that have filled my heart with joy. The kind of joy that I would term exceedingly great joy; an exquisite joy. The first was when I knelt across the alter to be married and sealed to your grandfather many years ago. What a very good man I chose to be my eternal companion. I hope you will look to him as a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He is there to support you in any way he can. Another moment was the day that our last child was married and sealed in the temple to her chosen companion. In that beautiful temple sealing room sat all of my children and their beloved spouses. We were together as one family with "No empty Chairs". Finally, but not least the moments when I held each of you sweet ones in my arms and welcomed you into the world; just as I had held my own sons and daughters.

This kind of joy is indescribable and you have to experience it to know.

I pray you will.

With great love to you all; I send these thoughts to you all today.

My three precious Great Grandchildren: Lilly, Jadyn and Sagan ~

The True Story of Androclus And The Lion....

 

Here is a interesting story with a valuable moral to it; just for my dear Grandchildren~

The true story of Androclus and the Lion . . .

 

With his heart racing and his legs aching from the effort, Androclus finally reached the forest. He had been running for days, but the forest was a place where he knew he would be safe. There was no place else he could go that would be as fine a place to hide. In the forest he would be able to survive. There would be roots and berries to eat and it would be a lot easier to avoid the wild animals than it would be for him to hide from the Romans which were looking for him as a runaway slave. If caught, he knew he faced execution.

Within the forest he would live with the terror of being discovered, but he would be alive. Every pine cone which dropped softly to the moss which carpeted the forest floor was enough to make him jump, his head jerking around . . . his eyes searching for soldiers.

He badly needed shelter. The air was filled with the promise of rain and darkness would soon be falling. As he peered through the trees of the forest, he could see an opening in the rocks. It might be large enough to sleep in for one night, and so Androclus ran towards it. Just as he got to the mouth of the cave he stopped short. Lying to the right of the hole in the rocks was a large lion. Still . . . his fear of discovery was much larger than his fear of the lion. Praying that the huge beast had already eaten, Androclus ran closer to the open gap in the side of the mountain.

He slowed and stopped . . . having noticed that the lion had not chased him. The only movement from the large beast had been a roll of it's head to look at him, rather sorrowfully. This made Androclus stop to think, and then . . . he slowly retraced his steps.

It became clear to him that the lion was in a great deal of pain. Although he was afraid Androculs reached down to the large cat, speaking softly and stroking his hand down it's mane and back, gently searching for an injury . . . which he found at last in a nasty gash on the lion's hind leg. It was apparent that it had been bleeding for some time and showed no signs of stopping. The man tore cloth from the hem of his tunic and cleaned the wound. The lion shuddered and groaned, but finally slept.

Just then the clouds which moment before were full of rain, let go of their load and the rain fell to the earth in a torrent of drops. Androclus crawled into the cave in the side of the mountain and fell asleep immediately. He was exhausted. It had been a long and tiring journey from the city walls and he was so very tired. Minutes later, he was awoken as the lion crawled into the cave, dragging it's injured leg. It collapsed next to him with a wheezing sigh . . .

The cave was a large space, and Androclus and the lion were able to live there together in a strange companionship for several weeks. They were able to find a fresh spring not too far away to drink from and the two hunted and gathered the food needed each day.

One day as Androclus knelt scooping water from the stream, he felt something sharp press into his neck. The centurions had found him at last, and he was forced back to the city. As he went back into captivity he thought of his friend the lion, knowing that they would never meet again. Taken to stand in front of the Emperor in court, he was sentenced to death and was then taken to a stone cell in the lower halls under the area to be kept until his time of execution, death being his prize for being a runaway slave.

Finally the day came and he as led into the arena. All around him the crowd jeered and spit at him, their vile hatred of him filling the very air around him. His heart filled with dread, as their jeers turned into a thunderous cheer and he witnessed a lion being loosed. A lion which had not been fed for several days and had been poked and prodded into a fierce anger by the Roman soldiers. It roared as it saw Androclus and bounded headlong towards him.

He knew he didn't stand a chance against the great beast and so Androclus braced himself, his body tensed for the fight, ready for the pain which he knew would follow. How different things had been when he had befriended a lion in pain . . . instead of facing a lion which had been poked and prodded towards anger. He closed his eyes, steeling himself in anticipation of the weight and first slashing blow from the angry beast.

But wait . . . what was this. Instead of searing pain, Androclus felt the tongue of the lion wash over his face as it knocked him to the ground. Opening his eyed, Androclus came face to face with his friend from the forest. Instead of pouncing to kill, even after days of hunger and torment, the lion, once so gently cared for, fawned over the man like a friendly dog to it's master after his return home.

The crowd lay stunned in silence. Even the Emperor was silent. Finally he called Androclus to him whereupon Androclus related to him the story of this amazing friendship which had been formed in the forest outside of the city walls.

When Androclus had finished speaking the Emperor thought for a few minutes, and then he stood to face the crowd.

"Both Androclus and his lion are to be hereby freed," he announced. "Such amazing kindness and gratitude between fierce enemies should be greatly rewarded."

"The quality of mercy . . . is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives and it blesses him that takes."

~Shakespeare

This story was provided by Marie Rayner~

Be sure and look at the Living Waters post for a letter written just for all of you.