Stripling Warriors' Mom: Visiting Donaire

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Blog Entry Number 888~

This is the 888th blog entry for this site. It adds up and tells me how much more I could have had had I made and entry every day!

The main purpose of making entries is to make note of important, sacred incidents in my day. I will share one here.

Today I went to see a friend, Donaire, who is in a skilled nursing facility. That just means she is unable to take care of herself and is receiving some physical therapy to strengthen her ability to walk better or to recover from a stroke back in December of last year, 2010.

My days in the week will consist of going to see her at least three times a week. It depends on my schedule and what I need to do otherwise. It gives me a time to be still and visit with her as if I was visiting my own mother. I cherish this dear lady and the opportunity to get to know her all the more. We have been friends since, 1996, so that is about fifteen years. now.

It is like going visiting teaching and taking the time to sit with her during her meal, go to sacrament meeting with her, which I did once, unaware that she would be attending the services there at the center.

Another time, I was there and the Relief Society President came to her room to invite her to their meeting. It happened that Donaire started to tell her "no", since I was there. I insisted that we could go together and I would stay to visit with her afterward. It meant a lot to my dear friend.

She is Jewish and this week's lesson was on the Atonement and given from the Ensign, an article by Elder Bruce McConkie in the April Ensign. I really liked the lesson and just listened without getting any feedback from Donaire, and it was timely since this month is Easter. The closing song was, "I Stand All Amazed." It is one of my favorites and the words are very uplifting to me.

I think back about how things played out for the visit to see Donaire. It gives her support and helps her think about something else besides the pain she is in most of the time. It was good to visit with her, and I am the one blessed for her company.

Power to Act in God's Name

I believe and know very strongly that, " A man, young or old never stands taller than when he is doing his priesthood duties or responsibilities. Be it station as a Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Elder, High Priest, Home teacher, priesthood holder husband, father, son or grandfather, Bishop, or Prophet of God. He has a mantle about him that emanates and gives him the authority to act in God's name, and uses it in righteousness. It is a blessing to him and his family. To this I know that he raises the bar in doing his duty to God and his fellow man.”

" I stand in awe of the goodness that pervades within that soul who honors and lives up to his priesthood calling with a pure heart. It is evident to me and cannot be hidden. I believe that quality shines in their countenances and His image is radiated in their face's.

Insights by Anna 11.22.09

Touch of The Master's Hand

And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
" It was battered and scarred,
Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

Myra Brooks Welch