Growing Season in the Winter

We've had a long winter.

Already.

And it's March.

We still have at least two and half months of winter left

here in Colorado Springs.

There's snow on the ground,

and nothing is growing.

Except for some rampant crankiness

around here.

Weeping

wailing

gnashing of teeth...

whinage

and

tears.

When

                                                                 "guys, knock it off"

"be kind."

"Show your best."

and

"seriously, you guys have to stop."

--didn't work,

I had to

"dig deep", as Emily* says.

Mahatma Ghandi said

"Be the change you want to see."

What I wanted to see was everyone

being kinder

using their soft voices

being more positive.

I started reading

"MORE HOLINESS GIVE ME"

by Robert Millet.

How fitting.

And how completely uplifting!

In the attitude of

seeking things "of good report and praiseworthy",

I share these:

"The nearer we get to our heavenly Father,

the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls;

we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders,

 and cast their sins behind our backs."~Joseph Smith

"One way we know we are growing spiritually, maturing in the qualities of holiness, and preparing ourselves to be with our Maker is the extent to which we become more and more sensitive to people--

to their plight, to their challenges, to their silent strugglings. " ~ R. Millet.

"It is not well for a man to pray cream and live skim milk." ~ Henry W. Beecher

"There is now before us a danger that many may pray skim milk and live that not at all." ~Howard W. Hunter

"Just as our lives are only as good as our prayers, so our prayers are only as good as our lives. That is, the more faithful we become in keeping the Lord's commandments and putting first things first in our lives, the more we open the doors of communication with the heavens and the more comfortable we feel with holy things and holy beings." ~ R. Millet

"Peace is a sure and solid sign from God that the heavens are pleased." ~ R. Millet

As I read these passages and many others,

I have made a more concentrated effort to

center

myself.

Use a softer voice.

Turn off the TV

turn on uplifting music--

and I have to say that while

classical truly does "feel" better,

once I turn on

sacred music*

the Spirit turns my home

into a sanctuary.

Use kinder words when I speak.

Praise more.

Chasten less.

Work alongside the children.

Be more positive myself.

Mr. Wonderful has been home

for dinner

most nights again.

Gosh, I missed him.

We really love having him home--

his time away made us appreciate him more.

The hugs are tighter.

The smiles are smily-er.

Let your words be filled with Love

and taste like Honey.

I came up with that

one morning

a month ago

while thinking

"What can I write that will make a difference in my family?"

Pondering that thought,

and making a few changes around MY home--

(it is MY home,

Mother is the heart of the home,

you know that, right?)--

for good,

has been

Great

for all of us.

Turns out,

you can have some growth in the winter afterall.

*Emily is the Midwife Assistant I've worked with--it's what she says to laboring moms, when they think they can't go on.

*sacred music for me is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Hillary Weeks, Cherie Call, and other spiritual singers.