Doctrine and Covenants 19:32, “Behold, this is a great and the last commandmentwhich I shall give unto you concerning this matter; for this shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life.”
I arise early-ish. I pull my weary body out of bed. My foot hits the floor and weighs down the plush carpet. In just a step or two my feet become wildly aware of a plethora of carnal savagings left to rest; shirts, pants, papers, and toys. This is the first step of 5,000 today. I make my way to the bathroom and glance in the mirror. Last night’s exhausted pony tail has transformed into a labor of wild nightly entangled chaos. A quick hair redo and a brush of my teeth and I am ready to put my shoes on for our morning outing.
My husband and I walk along 1000 East, while the morning commuters rush to get to work. We cross the busy 12300 South, and head into old Draper. The houses transform into 1990s and 2000s developments with beige stucco single family houses into 1950s and 1960s brick houses with peaked gables and intricate wood work in the windows. One white wooden house dawns blue window frames with a cut out of intricate embellishments. In the yard is a matching playhouse – a doll house for little girls to practice the art of household duties.
Another property is home to a small pet pony, dark brown hair with a white tail and mane.
Our feet travel southward, descending elevation into the flat part of the old farming neighborhood. We pass a cemetery, this is the dead part of town.
We catch the head of a walking trail, and make our way around a few plots of remaining farm land, and into Draper park, and adjacent library. With houses out of the way our view is opened up to the amazing mountain scapes of Lone Peak Mountain, the magnificently changing clouds and brightened morning clouds.
I can breathe out here.
I listen to the sound of my pounding heart, the pounding pavement and my pounding determination to move forward.
This is my daily walk.
Each step represents a desire to be better, to be fully engaged in my maker’s kingdom. I want to push myself farther, let go of my past and move into the future with faith and determination.
(Verses 28-41}
28 And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.
“Ally it’s your turn to say the prayer.”
“Ok, Mom.”
She is now five, her light brown hair hangs carelessly in her sparkly hazel eyes. Strands of dark brown and golden streaks showcase her vibrant youth.
“Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day. Please bless Heavenly Father to look over us, and the angels. Please bless the food.” {Long pause…}
I add, “Bless our family…”
“Mom, I can do it, …. And our fam-i-ly….”
“And Anna, Brennan, Ally, and Ben…,” I encourage.
“Anna…Brennan, Ally and Ben. And Mom and Dad. Name of Jesus Christ, Amen. “
29 And thou shalt declare glad tidings, yea, publish it upon the mountains, and upon every high place, and among every people that thou shalt be permitted to see.
“Brennan, how did you do in school today?” I ask.
“Good Mom.” His rosy red cheeks offer life to his 8 year frame. Running through the grass at school, playing ball and making friends.
“Mom, I got to program at school today! I made the fish turn into a shark when he hits the sea weed!”
“Oh good, Brennan, you are so smart little buddy…”
30 And thou shalt do it with all humility, trusting in me, reviling not against revilers.
31 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.
“Mom!!!!! Brennan kicked me!!!” Running down the halls the pouting of her lips was only exasperated by the pouting of her feet on the dark hard wood floors. Their friendship is kindled in love and rampaged by rivalry and vying for family resources.
“Mom!! I was just sitting here, doing nothing and he came and kicked me!!”
“No! I! Didn’t!!” He runs in defending himself from the accusations.
“Kids! Kids. Let’s all just breathe. You are okay. Brennan, did you kick your sister? We need to be nice to each other. Brennan, you need to apologize.”
“Anna, I’m sorry, what can I do to make it up?”
“Never do it again!”
32 Behold, this is a great and the last commandmentwhich I shall give unto you concerning this matter; for this shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life.
33 And misery thou shalt receive if thou wilt slight these counsels, yea, even the destruction of thyself and property.
34 Impart a portion of thy property, yea, even part of thy lands, and all save the support of thy family.
“Oh look! The young men are here, Sarah, can you go get your check book?”
Fast offerings, tithing are gifts of sacrifice.
“Yeah, its right here.”
“Hey guys! Thanks for coming, just give me a second.” I run into the kitchen and unbury the checkbook from my purse. A willing heart and mind, means imparting of my goods to God. Paying in money what he has given me so freely to care for my family.
The top copy of the receipt is theirs to take back to the Bishop. The yellow copy is mine.
It seems like such a small gift, a widow’s mite, and yet not as significant as her small everything, and yet in faith I give.
35 Pay the debt thou hast contracted with the printer. Release thyself from bondage.
“Okay Jonny, let’s do invoicing.” It’s the first of the month. Self employment is an opportunity for growth, for freedom and a test of faith. Tiths and offerings to the Lord, and payments of debts, to release myself from bondage. Pay down the credit card. Thank goodness we have a catch fall for hard months, but more importantly we have faith to pay off the debts, to get out of debt. To be freed from the burdens of credit. Just like the anti-Lehi-Nephites who cleaned and buried their weapons of war, we too need to clean our debts and bury them forever more
36 Leave thy house and home, except when thou shalt desire to see thy family;
37 And speak freely to all; yea, preach, exhort, declare the truth, even with a loud voice, with a sound of rejoicing, crying—Hosanna, hosanna, blessed be the name of the Lord God!
38 Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.
It’s Sunday afternoon, it it time for weekly visits. We are leaving our kids at home to go share the good word of the Gospel to the women of our ward. The widow, the mothers, the wives, the single sisters, the down trodden, the faith-lost, the hiding; to them we come say hello. Not to condemn, or to shame, but to befriend and to comfort. To them I welcome and invite to join our ward family.
I am amazed at her talents, our new sister in the ward is originally from India. Her family adopted her and three other kids from India. She radiates light and testimony. Her gift is to create a beautiful home, and to shine brightly with the gospel peace. What a blessing to me to get to know her, to love her, and to welcome her.
39 Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness?
40 Or canst thou run about longer as a blind guide?
41 Or canst thou be humble and meek, and conduct thyself wisely before me? Yea, come unto me thy Savior. Amen.
My daily walk….
My daily dance in the kitchen. The kids and I gather at dinner time, to eat and to clean up. We sing at the top of our lungs and dance with silliness at the opportunity to belong, to be one. To share in the light of our family. We cry together, we fight together, we strive together. I will no longer as a blind guide, to our family, but with a heart of gladness to I live.
My daily walk; waking, praying, walking, wiping, hugging, comforting, pausing, working, driving, encouraging, taunting, employing, yelling, apologizing, cooking, cleaning, paying, honoring, loving.
It is in this walk that I rejoice and happily come unto my savior.
