Life

            

            The poem You Say… came about because I had a teacher who believed in me and encouraged me to write it. Her name was Mrs. Wilson and she was largely responsible for nourishing the desire of writing poetry and developing that talent. She had asked me to write about the accomplishments of our 8^th grade year, but I could think of nothing specific that we as a class had accomplished, so instead I focused on a broader perspective and I chose to give my class and others words for thought; cherish the time and the people around us and to remember that when everything is said and done, only memories will last.

You Say…

You say we are brilliant, wild, and lazy,

Quiet, nice, noisy, or crazy.

You say we have done much through the years,

But with our accomplishments have come new fears,

And yet through it all, you say we have grown

Stronger and wiser than we ourselves have known.

You say we are growing up too fast,

And that, precious memories only will last,

But please worry not, for someday, it’s true;

We will be adults just like you,

And we will think of our childhood days,

And we will remember our fun old ways.

Then we will think “It all goes by so fast,”

“And yes, only memories will last.”

So now in our hearts we will keep

Precious thoughts and memories sweet,

So if nothing else will ever last,

We’ll have our thoughts and memories to hold us fast.

  

            I once was explaining to my grandmother and to some of my other relatives about how something that I liked to do was not popular, but I still liked it. Grandma then taught me an important principal. “Be true to yourself” she said, and then she told me to not let what was popular determine the person that I would become and to not let what was popular keep me from doing what I knew to be right. I have thought about this many times in my life and I am grateful for the inspired lesson from my wise grandma. 

Popularity

Life is flying before my eyes.

Nothing seems to go the way I’ve planned, or so I’ve realized.

Why do most of the popular people take it all?

The attention, the votes; it’s all still standing tall.

It seems they don’t go through the trials or pain.

It seems they just get glory and gain.

But no! It can’t be true.

They must have some trials and pain to go through,

But still, we not so popular people, we just sit there and stare,

While the popular people get their own way. It’s not fair!

I don’t want to be popular. That’s not what I said,

For my grandma taught: Be true to yourself,

or else you’ll be messed up in your head.

So I guess, popularity, isn’t what it seems to be,

Because most popular kids don’t have much individuality.

I have individuality and I think a nice personality,

So why then do they usually ignore me?

Oh well, I still want to be me. I want to do what is right.

I want to be a good example and let my personality shine bright.

            I believe that with faith in God, trust in His will and in His timing, and with hard work and effort on our part, that goals can be accomplished and dreams can come true more than just once in a lifetime.

Once in a Lifetime

It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack,

Or a ruby in beach sand.

It’s like trying to move a mountain using mostly your hands.

It’s like traveling over the world across the seven seas.

It only happens once in a lifetime to people like me.

It’s like being one of the world’s greatest athletes, the best of the best.

It’s like being a great dancer or musician who puts their skills to the test.

It’s like being an astronaut, unlocking mysteries.

Those things only happen once in a lifetime to people like me,

But unlike those once in a lifetime things, dreams can come true more than once,

As long as you work hard and have diligence,

But remember to have patience. Most dreams don’t come true right away.

Just try to achieve you goals day by day.

You don’t have to find a needle in a haystack

Or a ruby in beach sand.

You don’t have to move a mountain using mostly your hands.

You don’t have to travel the world across the seven seas,

But you can still be great by achieving your dreams.

You can do what you want to as long as it’s good.

Just remember people have achieved great things by doing all that they could.

             In this world we are governed by time. There are some who believe that time is a curse, but we learn in the Book of Mormon in Alma chapter 34, verse 32, we learn that the time we are appointed is a gift in that it allows us to be able to have the chance of preparation before we meet God again.

            “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform all their labors.”

            And though time is a gift, we are counseled to use that gift wisely and to make good use of the time we have been given. Alma directs  “…Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end: for after this day of life, which is given for eternity, behold if we do not improve upon our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness, wherein no labor can be performed.”

If It Weren’t for Time

They say: Time, it flies through the years.

They say: Time, it always brings new fears.

They say: Time is a curse a reason for stressing,

But I say: Although time can be a curse, it can also be a blessing.

For, if it weren’t for time, I wouldn’t have grown.

I wouldn’t have learned, and I wouldn’t have know all the things that I do,

And I wouldn’t have met anybody like you,

And I wouldn’t have gived, and I wouldn’t have loved,

And I wouldn’t have known of the God up above.

If it weren’t for time, I wouldn’t have learned to care about anyone else,

And I wouldn’t have a chance to better myself.

If it weren’t for time, I wouldn’t have done the things I did,

And if it weren’t for time, I wouldn’t have lived.

Oh they say: Time is a curse, a reason for stressing,

But I say: time is precious. Time is a blessing.

Time is a reason to learn and to grow,

To gain knowledge, to share, and to show kindness to all that I know.

Time is a reason to improve the things I’ve did,

And time is a reason, a reason to live.

So live life with a purpose, perhaps stop to wonder why,

Just don’t let time pass you by.

            In the King James Bible in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 5-6, we are reminded that “Ye are the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

            In thinking about this scripture, I am reminded of how the choices that I make can either “make me stumble or grow…” As I sat at another graduation, not mine, but a friend’s, I thought about those things that would make me stumble or grow and what I was going to do with my life. Would the choices that I would make, make me stumble or make me grow? I decided that I wanted to make choices that would help me to remember my divine nature as a child of God and that I wanted to remember and keep my covenants that I had made with God. I also wanted to be positive and faithful and to try to keep God’s commandments.

In Life

There’s so much that has been happening; there’s so much that’s passed my way.

There’s so many things I’d like to do; there’s so much that I’d like to say.

There are so many choices I have to make; there’s so much that I have to know.

There are so many things in life, I guess, that make me stumble or grow.

With all that has been happening, I sometimes stop and wonder why.

Oh you never know what life really means until it almost passes you by,

But through it all I will be strong.

I will keep holding on.

I will remember who I am,

And I will be a witness of God’s plan.

I will do I can do and be all that I can be,

And I will show the world that I am happy just to be me.

              My high school graduation was soon approaching. My mind was swirling with questions. Where would I live? What would I do? Who was I going to be? As I thought about this, I came no closer to determining an answer for any of the questions, so I decided to set aside the questions for a while and to wait and see what the rest of my life would bring. I was going to cross those bridges when I would come to them, and to take my life a little at a time.

             I have realized now that life doesn’t get any easier. There will always be questions and decisions that you have to make in your life and there will be challenges, but I firmly believe that if we put our trust in the Lord and seek to obtain His counsel and guidance, then He will direct our lives and make it so all things will work together for our good.

When I Start the Rest of My Life

I’m 18 years old. There are so many memories now behind me.

There are so many things I’ve yet to do, so many places I’ve yet to see.

It’s so strange to be somewhere in between an adult and a kid,

But it’s nice to look to the future and still remember things I did.

Everyone says we’ve got the rest of our lives ahead of us to figure everything out.

They say with our bright futures, there should be no room in our minds for doubt,

But life doesn’t seem to be that simple to me.

My life is so complicated. It seems anything but easy.

On so many things, I think I’ve run out of time,

 And I have so many questions that pop into my mind

Like what should I do when high school is through,

And where in the world should I move to?

I wonder if I’ll get everything all figured out.

I wonder if my mind will ever be full of less doubt.

When I graduate and leave my home,

Will I walk with friends or will I stand alone?

Will the world treat me kind, or will I only get pain and strife?

I guess these are all things that I’ll find out when I get ready to start the rest of my life.

            After high school, I went away to college. During one semester, I had grown close to my roommates and my roommates and I had become great friends. I was thankful for the chance that I had had to meet them and to learn from them and be friends with each one of them, but I was torn that I would soon have to let them go. I knew shortly that we would all be going different directions and that our lives could never be the same. Still, I knew I should value what time I was given to be with them, because I could always cherish the memories that we made and the friendships that we had shared, and my friends can always hold a place in my heart.

           

A Place in my Heart

Everything changes just like I knew it would, but I didn’t want this to end.

I wanted my friends to still be my friends.

It felt like they were more than friends, like my family.

I know I will never forget them and I hope they never forget me,

But I guess it’s time to move on. We’ve got our own lives to live.

Still, I always will remember the kindness that they had to give.

I’m grateful for the chance I had to know them, even just for a while.

I’m grateful for the memories we’ve shared and all those times they made me smile,

And now I miss them. I hate that we had to depart,

But even now things aren’t the same; they will hold a place in my heart.

            President Dieter F. Uchdorf has said “We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. This is the day which the Lord hath made … Rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24).

           Harriet Uchdorf, wife of President Uchdorf has also counseled us to remember that in life “it’s not a race; it’s a journey” and we should “enjoy the moment” Of Regrets and Resolutions, Ensign, Nov. 2012.

Slow Down and Enjoy Life

I’m so busy thinking about what tomorrow may bring

That I forget about today and so many other things,

And then, all of the sudden, before I know what’s been done,

Life passes me by, and so many chances are already gone.

I need to wait; stop for a moment; think of how things got this way.

Something tells me that I need to slow down and enjoy life today!

Everyone else seems like they’ve done so many things,

Seen so many places, and made so made memories,

Everyone except for me that is,

And I want to do these things, too; I want a chance to more fully live!

Sometimes I wish I could be someone besides me

Just so I could experience a few of these things.

But then I realized that if I would just slow down and enjoy life more than I have been,

And if I would think about all the blessings that I have been given,

Then I could make memories now and learn things I need to know.

I could gain all those experiences that I need to grow.

Then life would take care of itself, in the end,

And I wouldn’t miss out on the good times I have now to spend with family and friends.

            President Henry B. Eyring has said that “Considering the attributes of Jesus Christ should squash the pride of the self-satisfied person who thinks he or she has no need to improve. And even the most humble person can take hope in the invitation to become like the Savior (Our Perfect Example, Ensign Nov. 2009).

           Live a Little Deeper was written as a reminder to all, especially myself, that we can all be a little bit better and improve a little bit more. We all have something that we could be better at and some aspect of our personality that can be changed for the better, so that we can become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Live a Little Deeper

Live a little deeper.

Love a little sweeter.

Laugh more genuinely.

Speak a little kinder,

Say a sweet reminder,

To show how much you care.

Talk a little less.

Observe a little more.

Listen carefully.

Live in the present,

Long for the future.

Cherish past memories you share.

Hope a little stronger.

Pray a little longer.

Act more charitably.

Dream a little bigger.

Wish a little brighter.

Believe there’s someone there.

Be humble. Be grateful.

Learn to forgive.

Act more patiently.

Learn to know of your true worth.

You are a child of God,

Remember He will always be here.

            Sometimes we all have moments that we may feel down and discouraged and that we may lose sight of our own worth and purpose. When I wrote this, I was feeling a little down and discouraged and I was wondering if I could have the faith and the determination that I would need to live my life with no regrets and to do everything that God had sent me here to do. I wanted to follow Him and to do my best and I was trying to exercise my faith to do as God would have me to and to be as He would have me be. Even though my heart had been troubled and weary, I still wanted to do my best to make things better and to try to stand up for what was right in God’s eyes and to do so even if I stood alone.

Will I Have Lived My Life with No Regrets?

Am I broken? Am I damaged, or am I just defected?

I don’t know, but I just feel like I am so rejected.

Am I invisible? I wish I could see,

Is this what they really think of me?

There seems to be more questions than answers in my life right now.

I’m not sure where I’m going, much less I don’t know how.

I feel like I am lost in a sea with so many other people.

I only feel at home with my family or in a church with a steeple.

I guess that’s all that matters, but I wonder is this all there is?

There has to be more to life than this.

Seventy years from now, when my life is almost through,

Will I have lived my life the way I wanted to? Will I have done all I came here to do?

When people look back on my life, will I be remembered for good?

Will I have been all I could be? Will I have done all I could?

Will I have done my best? Will I have taken the right steps?

Will I have lived my life with no regrets?

  

            What matters most in life? What are our priorities? Are our priorities in line with what the Lord’s priorities are? Love Life and Live was written long before I ever met my best friend’s father, but when I think of this poem now, I can’t help but think about how I always learned from him to set in order my priorities and to focus on the simple and joyous things of life and to focus on what really matters most.

Love Life and Live

Enjoy life’s little moments. Treasure them day by day,

For one day they will just be memories of a time far away.

What is life really, but just a small instance,

A drop of water in the ocean of all existence?

Life is so short. We can’t let it pass us by.

We can’t waste time on what won’t matter. We can’t afford to lie.

We have to move forward and learn from the past.

We must find joy in the journey to make memories last,

So take time to slow down from the fast moving cars;

Pause for a while, perhaps to look at the stars;

Study, ponder, learn, pray, and give.

Don’t just endure life, but love it and live!

            I have always liked the saying by Eleanor Roosevelt “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.”  And what good is a present or a gift if it is not used? The gift, of course, is of no value if it is not used, so the poem A Few Moments focuses on how to make the most of our gift of Today.

A Few Moments

Here we are together, because our lives have crossed paths.

We’re only here for a moment, so let’s make it last.

Let’s treasure each day. Let’s love and forgive.

Let’s learn and let’s grow. Let’s all fully live.

We’ve only got a few moments here.

Let’s cherish those moments with those we hold dear.

Let’s not waste as single day.

Let’s live in the moment and endure come what may. 

             “Now you may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” Book of Mormon, Alma 37: 6-7.

The Things that Can’t be Explained

The best things in life are the ones you can’t explain,

Like how it feels to be loved or the smell of the rain.

You can’t explain the things you know in your heart to be true,

Even though these things are real, just as real as me or you.

There are certain things in life that can’t be explained through science, math, or reason;

These things require faith, hope, and charity to understand while in each time and season.

There are some things, like the laws of God, which aren’t made known to man,

Because He wants us to believe, to learn, to grow, and accept what is part of His plan.

I always here the saying, don’t believe what you can’t explain or see,

But I say that these are the things that have the most reality.

No, I can’t explain how the universe began, and with it, our frail existence.

I can’t explain pre-mortal life, what some call pre-existence.

I can’t explain all the miracles that have happened to me.

I can’t explain what it means to have kind friends and a loving family.

No, I can’t explain all the things that I know in my heart to be true.

I just know I know these things, and they are as real as me or you.

            I was at my friend's senior college music recital. I was able to experience the beautiful music and feel the Spirit through the music. I saw how his face lit up as he sang for his family and all of us. It was such a neat experience! At the end of the recital, my friend was filled with emotion as he expressed gratitude for those who had touched his life for good. When this happened, I was able to see what I call a glimpse of heaven. I saw distinctly in my mind that in heaven, we would all be surrounded by our family and friends. They would all stand there waiting with open arms, like we all did for my friend at his recital, and just as his emotions were filled to overflowing, so too, in heaven will our emotions overflow as we meet with loved ones that we have been separated from for so long. Truly, heaven wouldn’t be the same if the ones we loved were not near with us.

A Glimpse of Heaven

As I sat in that room, I heard the beautiful songs.

I listened and I felt the Spirit so strong.

I looked and I saw so many people there for my friend.

I watched as his face brightened for them.

I thought of all those he had touched for good.

I thought of how he had done all he could

To serve and to lift his fellow men.

I thought how I want to be more like him.

What a great example he is to me

and to all his friends and family!

As I sat there in the room, I caught a glimpse of what heaven is all about.

I saw that we are all God’s children. I know families are eternal without any doubt.

          “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” King James Bible, Isaiah 40: 31.

You Just Have to Wait

Do you ever feel like you just can’t do anything right,

Like the whole world’s against you and nobody’s on your side?

Well, don’t give up. Keep your faith.

Things will get better sooner or later. You just have to wait.

It may not be right now. It might not be in your time,

But if you endure your trials well, everything will be fine,

So just hold on.

Keep moving. Try to be strong.

It won’t be like this forever.

There will come a day when things will be better.

It might not be easy. In fact, it probably won’t,

But these are the things that define you: what you do and what you don’t.

Just remember when you are having those hard days,

There will always be someone to show you the way.

You don’t have to be alone. There is someone who will be there,

Someone who will help you through life, if you turn to him in prayer.

Remember Heavenly Father loves you, and so does his Son,

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten One.

He knows just what we’re going through, because He went through it all,

And though, He was tempted and tried, He came out triumphant, standing tall.

All of his suffering wasn’t meaningless;

He went through it all for us.

We just have to remember to turn to Him in good times or bad,

When we are happy, scarred, nervous, or even sad,

And if you ever feel like you just can’t do anything right,

Like the whole world’s against you and nobody’s on your side,

Remember there will always be someone there for you, so keep your faith,

Because things will get better sooner or later. You just have to wait.

            “And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world. And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which lead unto the tree. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.” 1 Nephi 8: 21-23, Book of Mormon.

            Sometimes, whether through trials of our own making, or other trials and hardships of life, we may feel like we are lost and wandering on a long and dreary road. Sometimes we might even feel like these trials or hardships that we are experiencing represent our own road of life; but we need not fear. The Lord is always loves us and will be near us as we seek Him through humble prayer.

 Lehi says that “And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to his tender mercies. And it came to pass after I prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field. And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy…” (1 Nephi 8: 8-10, Book of Mormon). I know that even when it may seem hopeless and even when it may seem like we have been wandering a hard and difficult road, that the Lord can and will be there to help us through, and to bring us back to the tree of life and back into His light and joy of the gospel, if we will only seek Him and have faith in Him.

Life’s Long, Dreary, Road

Sometimes on life’s long, dreary road,

We wander the paths of the unknown and untold,

Where dangers are many, friendships are few,

And we straggle along, knowing not what to do.

Though, we search and we search with all our might,

We still cannot find the one that is right,

So we follow our instincts, venturing into the great unknown,

Hoping and praying that we are alone.

Then suddenly, out from the bushes appears, a terrible monster, a ferocious beast,

Who looks at us like we’re one giant feast.

We’ve got to stand up! We’ve got to be strong!

We can’t let these horrible evils prolong!

We must fight for ourselves as well as others,

Just like we’ve been taught by our fathers and mothers.

So, we’d fought and we’d fought, and we’d fought some more,

Until we could not fight any more.

  

And alas, when we thought there no more hope,

Help came as if by magic.

For the monster, this was ever so tragic.

We watched with great wonder and surprise,

And then began to realize

That when on life’s, long, dreary road,

Wandering the paths of the unknown and untold,

That usually if you do your best,

You will get help to the rest.

               Our view as mortals is small and limited. We have a window to our lives that allows us to see some things, but through our window, we cannot see everything, so we may think that we know what is best for us, but there often is a better way that we just cannot see. Fortunately, there is one that can see all things and whose vision is not limited or obstructed. Our Heavenly Father can see everything. He can see what we do not. Therefore, His plan for us often will be so much better than the one that we could have made for ourselves, because He sees perfectly and He knows perfectly what would be the best for us. I have come to realize that God’s plan is always the one that I want and the one that I should follow, because if I put my trust in Him, all things will work out for my good. They may not happen in my own time or in my own way, but God know perfectly what I need, so I will place my trust in Him.

            “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.” King James Bible, Psalms 116: 1-5.

            “I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” King James Bible, Psalms 118: 5-6 & 8.

The Best Paths to Travel

As I look out my window, I see straight ahead of me.

I can glance from side to side, but beyond that I can’t see.

Some parts of the outside, I can view so well

That sometimes I forget that there is so much more to tell.

I forget that there may be other paths that I might go,

And I forget who could be on the roads that I know.

Because my view is limited, I only see a small part,

But there is one who sees all things and He knows our hearts.

He knows how to best direct us each and every day,

And He will always be there to lead us down the right way.

He will help us and guide us if we ask in humble prayer,

For He is our Heavenly Father and He always cares.

He wants to show us the paths that we can go that would be best,

And if we follow faithfully, it may be hard, but we will be blessed.

Growing up, my bike was my favorite form of transportation. I loved to ride my bike through town when the weather was nice. My bike was a great source of exercise and freedom. I used to pedal as hard as I could and then imagine that I was flying in the clouds and among the birds, where I could be free. Even as I have gotten older, I still enjoy riding a bike, because I get to be outside and think about the great memories that I have of being on my bike and I also get to make new memories that I can now enjoy.

Flying

When the weather gets real nice, and everything’s just right,

I hop on my bike and pedal with all my might,

So I can feel like I am flying, way up in the sky.

Oh, how I wish that I could fly

Like a bird in the air gliding so effortlessly,

Or perhaps, maybe, like they do in the movies.

I’d love to feel the wind in my hair,

And fly through the air. Oh, how I wish that I was up there!

It’d be great to float and soar and just to hang around.

No one would care whether or not I’d make any sound.

I could do as I wished, and hope as I pleased,

Because up there, I would be free.

No one would scoff or laugh at my dreams.

Everything would be fine, and for a moment I’d beam.

Then I’d ponder my thoughts before I’d come back down to reality,

But even back down on the ground, everything would be great,

because flying would have made me free.

              I wrote Soaring through the Air to explain my feelings of growing up and gaining independence from my parents. I love my parents dearly. I know that they sacrifice greatly so that I can have the things that I do. However, I have come to the age and a time in my life where I have to make some of my own decisions in life. I may struggle, but I truly believe that if my parents are supportive and patient with me, that I can do anything. I almost literally feel that I could soar in the air.

Soaring Through the Air

I know that you’re worried. I know that you’re scared.

You think that I’m not ready, that I’m not yet prepared.

I understand your frustration. I know it’s not easy

To raise me up to be all that you want me to be,

But please try to understand that I’m doing my best.

I’m working hard to overcome all of my tests.

I’ve been doing all I can to live a good life.

I’m trying to help others through difficulty and strife.

I’m still in the process of figuring out what I need to do,

So please be patient and supportive with what I’m going through.

I hope you know that I love you so,

But it’s time for me to spread my wings, and go.

Just like a baby bird still learning how to fly,

I will probably struggle, but please let me try,

Because with time and practice and through your loving care,

One day I will be better, and I’ll be soaring through the air.