"A Soft Answer Turneth Away Wrath"

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger”

-Proverbs 15:1

Normally, I try to pick Ponderize scriptures that stand out to me from my personal scripture study, but this one was quoted in an article that was shared on one of the Facebook groups I'm in; the article is entitled "Is Not Yelling Even A Thing?" I started reading the article because I've noticed a feeling of dissonance in our home, a lack of peace, and I've felt like I've been yelling a lot more lately than I wanted. 

When I came across this scripture, I didn't even finish reading the article. It shook me to my core. How often do I react to my daughters in a state of frustration, anger and yelling? How often do I react angrily towards Mario? It never ends well.  When I act on whatever caused my indignation in anger, there's a ripple effect of anger and frustration from whomever I've directed it at/ In contrast, when I am able to respond calmly, anger seems to face away. Which is why I chose the image I chose for my picture quote: the ripples protrude from the center, but as it the water begins to calm, the flower becomes more visible. Should I choose to agitate the water, the flower would disappear. 

That symbolism--the beauty of life, and the ease of it hiding from realization in anger--was a very poignant reminder to me, that I need to focus on my ability to calm and collect my thoughts before reacting.

Amazon Affiliate Member

I have several friends and family members who are Amazon Affiliate members, and one of them suggested that I sign up as an Amazon Affiliate. So I signed up, under the impression that Mario's orders would count for the commission, but it doesn't look like that's the case. That would be nice if I'm mistaken, but probably not worth the possibility of violating the Program Participation Requirements.

If anyone is feeling especially generous, we'd love if you ordered through my Amazon  "Thank You" Affiliate Link. It won't change your price, but it will earn me a very small commission, which, would always be appreciated. I'll even provide a handy link to a Amazon Kindle Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial and an Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial,

If you do choose to help me earn that small commission, I'd love if you came back to this post, or others that may have links. Since the click is only good for 24 hours, I don't think bookmarking a link would be sufficient.

Update: I forgot to add what the commission would be used for. It will be used to supplement Mario's living stipend, and hopefully help us save for a minivan.

Amazon Default Disclaimer/Disclosure: Michaela is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Mandatory Conference

With Mario being a PhD student, we knew he'd have to go to at least a handful of travel research conferences, conventions and/or colloquia, but for some reason I assumed that they would all be ones he got to choose. In retrospect, that is a very unfounded assumption, but, regardless, it persisted, until he was told by his research lab he was going to a mandatory conference at a military base in Pennsylvania 1 week ago. 

He left yesterday at noon to attend a training conference through the Army, who is the primary funding agency on his lab's grant. Today's meetings lasted from 8-8, and tomorrow they're from 8-3, with a 5:00 flight home. Unfortunately, with the layover, they won't be back until 11p tomorrow.

So here's us girls "rulin' the roost." 😉

Ps: it's getting progressively MORE difficult to take selfies with them. For some reason, I thought it would get easier. 

"Unto him that receiveth I will give more"

After the last Ponderize scripture, and my realization of the things I'm learning "line upon line," I thought it apt to ponderize 2 Nephi 28:30. This tine, however, the phrase "unto him that receiveth I will give more" stood out to me.

We're always learning; whether it be formal or informal, secular or spiritual, we are always gaining knowledge and understanding. As long as we receive and utilize the knowledge we have received, this scripture promises that we will be given more. As we strive to "learn wisdom in our youth" we will be given more wisdom as we listen to and act upon what we have already received. (And I am willing to venture that we could all say we are in our youth, no matter our mortal age, because this is such a small portion of eternity.) 

What a wonderful promise! A simple desire to learn, and acting upon--or actively receiving--that learning, and we can gain more.

It reminds me of a photo of the Sistine Chapel that a friend shared on Facebook recently:

"The Creation of Adam"

Depicted here is a section called "The Creation of Adam," where God is giving Adam life.I have always thought it interesting that Michelangelo chose to portray this moment in history this way: God stretches as far as possible to reach Adam, but Adam won't quite reach back. All Adam has to do is straighten his arm, or just sit up a little bit, but he remains reclined. To me it's always been a reminder that we as mortals miss out on so much knowledge, wisdom, understanding and support because we simply don't reach out for it. 

But according to 2 Nephi 28:30, we not only miss out on light and understanding we COULD have received, if we "shall say, we have enough," we will have that light and knowledge we have already received, taken from us. 

And, while not a spiritual example, I definitely have seen this loss of knowledge in my life as I have stopped taking and using the skills and knowledge from my math classes, I just can't remember most of it anymore! While forgetting math is frustrating sometimes, it is so much more important to continue the study and review and share knowledge and testimony we have gained through our time on this life!! Missing math may affect my life now, but these truths will affect me for eternity! I want to be able to stand before the Judgement Bar, and not just watch my life and know of what I once knew, I want to be able stand before Him and say, "I know thou art my God! I have lived my life to its fullest, and I have followed and retained the truth I have received." 

I think that someday, if we continue through this life, always using that perfect, infinite gift of the Atonement, we each will have that opportunity. For I know we have a loving, merciful God--our Father--who loves us and has provided a way for us to improved and return to His presence through the sacrifice of His Son, our Savior. I know that as we strive to come unto Him, His hands truly are outstretched to us, and we may be lifted from wherever we may stand. I know that this truth was once on the earth, but was lost to the wickedness of men; but I also know that it was Restored by the power of God, through the question of a 14-year-old boy Joseph, until it was fully Restored to this earth. I know that Christ walked this earth, having been born of Mary, and I know that He will one day walk this earth again; this time as a Resurrected Being, in His full glory. I know that part of the Restored Gospel included modern revelation, both to Prophets and Apostles on a global scale, but also the ability for each of us as an individual to gain revelation, directly from God, for our personal enrichment. 

If you are struggling with truths you once knew, bow down before God. Pour out your thought and concerns to Him, and He will guide you. Let Him take those hurting, broken pieces of your heart and bind them together to make you stronger. Let Him love you; and most importantly, let yourself be loved--for that is damnation: stopping your progress towards and ability to be loved by your Savior and Father in Heaven.

Past Ponderize

I realized I stopped sharing my ponderize scriptures, so here's at least a collection of the ones I've used/made up to now.