Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Beautiful thoughts, to help us forgive others!   The Crucial Skill of Giving Beauty for Ashes By  Kate Piersanti  · July 13, 2021 I love the phrase “beauty for ashes.” It’s from Isaiah 61:1-3. The Spirit of the Lord God  is  upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to  them that are  bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them  beauty for ashes ,  the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, t...

  I really enjoyed this article, from Meridian Magazine. Insights from the World Expert on Family and Relationships By  Wallace Goddard  · July 5, 2021 The world’s best expert on families and relationships is God. No one else can match His understanding—no one. So, as sensible humans, where do many of us turn for guidance on families and relationships? Everywhere except God. We draw heavily on the traditions of our fathers. We consult the latest books about relationships. We bumble along as imperfect people, parents, and partners, doing our best but knowing we fall far short. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can find essential truths for relationships in God’s counsel to us. We can discover hidden treasures of knowledge. Let me give you some examples: Did you know that recent research has revealed the keys to personal well-being and that the same keys are perfectly described in scripture and by modern prophets and apostles? Did you know that the greatest research di...

This has some very thoughtful ideas from an LDS Psychologist.  Latter-day Saint psychologist: Navigating the (sometimes) rough road to happiness by Dr. David T. Morgan, Contributor  | Jul. 02, 2021 Our youngest child just graduated from high school. It was a strange experience, sitting in the same football stadium where we had watched her five older siblings celebrate the same accomplishment. Walking to the car, my wife and I reflected on the rapidly approaching end of our full-time parenting. There have been times of joy. There have been times of sorrow. There have been times when I wished I could crawl into a hole and not come out. There have been times when I gushed with tears of gratitude for the privilege of being a father to such amazing children. Coming to the end of this portion of the journey, I can truly say the overall experience has been happy and blessed. So, if my destination was joy, why was there so much difficulty, grief, and sorrow along the way?  The an...

  I have learned something new!  I thought that I would automatically enjoy writing about things that happen almost daily, and not include writings from other sources.  I simply have enough interests, and I'm so busy that I don't even remember to write in my journal, and the blog is at the back of my mind. I'm going to include great articles that I read, which are public on the internet, and give the sources, as I used to do.  I hope this helps you readers!   I will be 87 in October, and I find my physical energy is dwindling somewhat with each year.  But I still have my mind, thankfully!  (There are those who may question that!)  But here is an article from Meridian Magazine today, that I found inspirational! Your Hardest Family Question: Why do strong emotions overwhelm my peace? By  Geoff Steurer, MS, LMFT  · July 8, 2021 Question My family is going through a difficult trial right now involving potential legal and financial conse...

  I posted this last July 4th, and I will next year!  My husband Wayne had special anniversaries on July 4th, which are told here!  It is a special tribute to my husband Wayne D Eckman, who passed away Feb. 21, 2016. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blogs 881, 1050, and 1146 are all the same, with a few additions each year! --------------------------------------- I FIRST POSTED THIS July 4th, 2018, and is # 1050 in this blog.  I hope you enjoy these special memories!  And Beautiful music! Happy July 4th to all you dear friends!  I'm reposting # 881 I posted a year ago, about my husband Wayne, and him coming home on July 4th from the army in 1955, and 2 years earlier on July 4th from his mission to Sweden.  Fun memories!  Also some beautiful Patriotic songs!  (Further down)                    Wayne, on a July 4th holiday at our son Allen's in ...