3 Sep 2023, Sunday

3 Sep 2023, Sunday

 Prioritized Daily Task

We slept in this morning.  Debbie and I had prayer together.  I still have a chest cold and am coughing less but I got a poor night's sleep.  I showered, shaved, and got dressed for church at noon for Lehi 7th Ward Services.  I will wear a face mask but did not want to take a chance going at 10:30 to Abington Memory Center.  Everyone came home and at 12 Noon we attended Lehi 7th Ward, Fast and Testimony Meeting, and Sunday School.  Jody came and attended with us.  Note: I try and bear my testimony of Christ every chance I get.  I remember the promise from the Lord: “For I will forgive you of your sins,” he promises, “with this commandment—that you remain steadfast . . . in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you” (D&C 84:61).  After church Debbie rode back home with Jody and the Jelicics rode with me.  Debbie showed Jody our garden and fruit trees.  We got our first apple from one of the apple trees and grapes from both grape vines.  Debbie cooked a nice lunch and we broke our fast.  Shelby and Libby came up from Provo and had lunch or early dinner at 4:30 PM with us. I called the children and got their voicemail.  I left messages but did not give up.  I called and talked to Brett.  I asked him how Rae Lynn is doing and how he is holding up with keeping up with the 5 boys' schedules.   Rae Lynn is still sore as expected for the 1st week but is going to be fine.  So far he is keeping up with getting the boys to school, their practices, and games.  Beth called me back.  She is making cookies and Tucker is having some of his friends over and the missionaries are coming by.  Matthew tried to call and texted after I had gone to bed.  I got a text earlier from Alex needing a ride from the SLC Airport tomorrow afternoon.  I called and told her I did not have an extra car and Debbie is taking Mirko, Ljubica, and Bojana to try and get the Border Patrol to extend their visa 3 days.  We all thought the visa was for 3 months, June 13 to September 13, but it is for 90 days.  I called her back and told her Debbie will be at the Airport with the Jelicics and could bring her back.  She said she already had a ride worked out to get her to her apartment in Provo.  We had prayer with the Jelicics, Debbie and I had prayer and got to bed after midnight.  Debbie has been busy washing and drying clothes.

Note:   I try and bear my testimony of Christ every chance I get.  I remember the promise from the Lord: “For I will forgive you of your sins,” he promises, “with this commandment—that you remain steadfast . . . in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you” (D&C 84:61). 

Story Debbie sent me: This is not funny but a very touching story:                  I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes.  I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.                                           I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.  I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.  Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between r. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.                                                   “Hello Barry, how are you today?” “H’lo, Mr. Miller.  Fine, thank ya.  JUs’ admirin’ them peas.  They sure look good.”  “They are good, Barry.  How’s your Ma?”  “Fine.  Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.” “Good.  Anything I can help you with?”  “No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.”  “Would you like to take some home?” Asked Mr. Miller  “No, Sir.  Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.”  “Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas? “  “All I got’s my prize marble here.”  “Is that right?  Let me see it,” said Mr. Miller.  “Here ’tis”. She’s a dandy.”  “I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue, and I sort of go for red.  Do you have a red one like this at home?” The store owner asked.  “Not zackley but almost.”  “Tell you what.  Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble,” Mr. Miller told the boy.  “Sure will.  Thanks Mr. Miller.”                                                                                                     Mrs. Miler, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, “There are two other boys like him in town, all three are in very poor circumstances.  Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.  When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one when they come on their next trip to the store.”                                      I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.  A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.                                                    Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had an occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and, while I was there, I learned that Mr. Miller had died.  They were having his visitation that evening and, knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.  Upon arrival at the mortuary, we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.  Ahead of us in line were three young men.  One was in an army uniform and the other two had nice haircuts, wore dark  suits and white shirts…all very professional looking.  They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.  Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.  Her misty light-blue eyes followed them, and one by one, each young man stopped briefly ad placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket.  Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.                                                                                                       Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.  I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many ears ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles.  With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.                                                                  “Those three young men who just left were those boys.  They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ”traded “ them.  Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size…they came to pay their debt.  “We’ve never had a great deal of wealth of this world, “ She confided, “but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.”                                                                                                      With loving gentleness, she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.  Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

We will not be remembered by our words but by our kind deeds.