Lessons From My Granddaughter

November 13th, 2025 Scott
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TheDiscipleMD

More than a decade ago, I wrote these thoughts:
“It has been so many years since I have watched, up close, the life of a small child.  I had forgotten the lessons I should have learned from them when I raised my own.  Since becoming a grandfather, I have had the pleasure of watching my granddaughter, now 16 months old, both at church and at home.  I never knew life was filled with so much adventure!  I’ve watched her in the halls of the church, in my house, and at a few stores. At each location, she is excited and learning something new.  Everything goes to the mouth for inspection of taste. Everything is touched or felt! The simplest of things she studies and evaluates. I never knew empty church hallways could be so exciting!  She feels the course texture of the wall, the smoothness of the wood doors, and the coolness of the outdoor glass.  It is clear that she is enjoying new experiences and sensations that her senses perceive.  Sometimes I feel jealous of her.  Everything is new, exciting and a learning experience. When is the last time I felt like my little granddaughter?  With age, the excitement of life somehow seems to have worn off.  I wonder why it has to be that way.  I guess the answer is, “It doesn’t!”  Perhaps there is more to the words of Christ when he said: “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, ‘Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven'” (Matt. 18:1-4)

Christ specifically mentioned the “humbleness” of little children. Perhaps other attributes of little children will also lead us to eternal life. I’m sure that Christ might also have meant that he wanted us to be as “inquisitive’ and “joyful” with the beauty of God’s creations as little children are. The world is filled with beauty and can be found in the halls of the church or our homes.  I guess when you live inside of a “miracle” it becomes easy to take it for granted.  I must admit that I rarely take a step back and appreciate the simple things of life.  It has taken a little girl wandering the halls of my home and church to give me a greater understanding of its beauties.  As we age, life does get more complicated and filled with many challenges, but it needn’t rob us of what should be a childlike appreciation for the simple blessings of life.

Harassment! (Take Courage!)

November 12th, 2025 Scott
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I was eighteen, just graduated from High School, when I was greeted that summer morning on the construction site by the Forman with, “So you are the Boy Scout we have head about.” It was not said in a complimentary manner and he wasn’t referring to the actual Boy Scouts. He was referring to the recommendation that had preceded  my employment of being a ‘goody two shoes.’

Soon it was common knowledge among the workers that I was a bit different. How different? Well, I happened to believe that the law of chastity was sacred, that drinking and smoking were not something good for my body,  and that the basic tenants of Christianity were worth living.
For the next several months I was constantly challenged regarding my beliefs. Vile things were said to my face on a daily basis. It became unbearable for me.  Each morning I was treated to questioning from the eight men I worked with regarding my morals and I was repeatedly shown pornographic images that were posted about the site. The language was very course and vile regarding my moral code and on more than one occasion I found himself sitting alone in my car eating lunch praying for strength that somehow I could endure another day behind the gates of Hell.

The personal persecution became so intense that eventually, I quit the good-paying job, as the benefit of the monetary gain was overcome by the pain and suffering inflicted. I lost the job, but I kept my standards. In retrospect, I don’t think they were bad guys, just men who were having a little fun at my expense. And actually, when I was alone with each one, they were very decent to me. However, in a group, they seemed to follow the ‘pack’ mentality of being ‘men’ as they understood it.

That experience and its feelings have stayed with me for now almost fifty years. Harassment takes many different forms. However, no matter how it is disguised, it remains ugly.

There are many ‘Boy Scouts’ out there working in less-than-desirable environments and can’t afford to lose their jobs. Perhaps you are one! Don’t lose courage, keep the faith, and don’t compromise your standards! Follow the counsel of Paul:
“ O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…” (1 Timothy 6:11-12)

Times have changed since my experience, and most companies have policies and personnel in place to handle inappropriate behavior in the workplace.  However, every individual is alone in dealing with their particular situation and must make a decision in how to handle it. But no one should have to put up with harassment in any form.

Jesus Christ told Peter that on the rock of revelation, he would build his church. He told him that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ (Matt. 16: 18) Take courage that, as the ‘gate’ opens and closes each day when you enter the workplace, if we seek personal revelation for power and strength, the Lord will help guide us in what to do.  From one ‘Boy Scout’ to another, take courage!

I’ve Got A Winner In You!

November 11th, 2025 Scott
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TheDiscipleMD

In 1978, I met a girl at college who later became my wife. Our short courtship lasted only five weeks before we became engaged, and from the day we first met to the day we were married was just over three months. I know the conventional wisdom of today is that you need to be in a long-term relationship before you can ‘know’ if he or she is the right one. Some say you have to live together as a ‘trial for at least a year. Many others say you don’t need to get married at all. After all, it’s just a “piece of paper.” Well, I’m not sure about all that, but I do know what I have personally learned and experienced.

Here is what I have learned and experienced from 47+ years of marriage. Marriage, like life, is much like getting on the monster rollercoaster at the amusement park.  You voluntarily get into the car, put your belt on, and wait for what you know will be the scariest yet most enjoyable ride of your life.  As you ascend to the top, you hear the click, click, click, of the cars, and you grab ahold of the bar as tight as you can.  At that point, you wonder, “What did I do?” Yet, the thrill of it all is just, well…so much fun! During the ride, your adrenaline is pumping as your heart races.  Sometimes the ride has you screaming; sometimes you get brave and take your hands off the bar, raising them high, daring the ride to throw you off!  The centrifugal force throws you back and forth in the car, and your hair is flying in the wind. The line to the rollercoaster is always long.  Everyone wants the thrill of the ride, even though it’s scary. What I notice about all the people ahead of me that are getting off the ride is that they are smiling, laughing, and most run to the back of the line for “one more ride.”

Throughout my young life, I watched my parents’ marriage, as well as many other successful marriages. The length of their courtship varied, and their stories were always different.  However, the common thread they all seemed to share was a commitment to see the ride through to the end.  Where did they get that commitment?  More often than not, they shared a belief in the divine nature of marriage and that it was ordained by God. That belief gave them the strength to endure both the good and the bad times that come in a marriage.

On the first anniversary of my marriage, I began dedicating a song from that year to my wife, which best expressed my love and devotion. Now forty-seven dedicated songs later, my favorite is still my first. “I’ve got a winner in you, no way I can lose. A love I can hold on to.  I’ve got a winner in you,”  crooned Don Williams. (“I’ve Got A Winner In You”, Country Boy,1977)

All marriages can be “winners” if both parties are committed to each other. That commitment is best supported by a belief that marriage is of God, not man! Using the Lord’s commandments as a foundation for our marriages will cement in our hearts the sacred nature of our unions and the knowledge that they can be eternal in nature. So let’s buckle up and enjoy the ride!

When You Are Cast Into The Fire!

November 10th, 2025 Scott
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I think we all have that moment of weakness, when we feel that somehow the Lord has abandoned us to the fire of it all! Many years ago, I once found myself alone, late at night, pondering over the plight of a problem that was vexing and one that was consuming my soul with worry. As I bathed myself in pity, I came across the words written in Alma:

“And he began to plead…but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them…and sent men to cast stones at them. And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.”

It was such an ugly scene that was being played out in my mind, yet as I read those words, my heart was lifted. For some reason I took great comfort in the knowledge that, through the centuries, believers have never, nor ever will be, immune from the trials of this world. And though the flicker of the world’s flames should burn my body, yet my soul could only be consumed if I allowed anger and bitterness to enter therein.

Metaphorically, I am sure most of us have felt, at one time or another, that we have been cast in the fire. Yet the words Alma spoke as he was forced to watch the travesty rang true to my soul:

“… for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory…”

As I closed the scriptures and pondered on the greatness of the Lord that night, I felt a little closer to understanding that, while being cast in the fire was certainly nothing I wanted or desired, the lessons learned were something that I needed in order to become more like Him! And the knowledge of the glory of his love that night, for me, was sufficient enough to soothe my soul and extinguish the pain of the refiner’s fire.

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