So, we got an invitation a couple of weeks ago for a birthday party for a little girl in Grace's class. I showed it to Grace and she was really excited-it was at a gymnastics place and it looked like it would be really fun. I thought the date of the party was yesterday, Saturday. Upon further examination I discovered that the party was actually TODAY, Sunday. I went back and forth internally over this. I discussed it with Ray, trying to rationalize a reason to let her go-I already told her about it, it's just a birthday party, she won't have to miss church-it's at 3:00, etc.
By the time I left for church I had pretty much decided that I would let Grace go to the party. I hadn't discussed this with her at all and I really think she had forgotten about the party. I was going to tell her after church. Well, Elliot is coming down with a cold, so he and Maggie stayed home with Ray today for the first half of church (I went home after my primary class so Ray could go to young mens), so I could really pay attention in sacrament meeting. The first speaker, youth speaker, was supposed to give a talk about one of the commandments. She chose "Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee". Okay, I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable, but still talking myself into it. The next speaker gets up and talks about, guess what, keeping the sabbath day holy!! She spelled out exactly what that means and I couldn't rationalize any more. Grace couldn't go to the party.
As I sat and thought about this, I realized that a lot of this was coming from my own insecurities. I want Grace to have lots of friends. I did not have a lot of friends growing up, especially in grade school, and it was really painful for me. I don't want my kids to go through that. I was afraid that by denying Grace this opportunity she would be left out of some special club, or something. I was comforted as I was going over all of this in my mind by the fact that Grace has an unusually large amount of little girls her age at church who are all her friends, and I know that she and I will be blessed if we are obedient to this commandment. So, when I got home I called Sierra's mom and let her know that Grace couldn't come, but that she has a present to give to her at school tomorrow. I considered just not mentioning it to Grace, but knew that it could be a very good lesson for her. I explained to her why she couldn't go to the party and she was really upset...for about 2 minutes, then she was fine. Then we sat down and Grace made a birthday card for Sierra. I felt much better after all of this was taken care of, and I know that Grace and I both learned a powerful lesson about being obedient to all of Heavenly Father's commandments.
HISTORY
A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.
From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.
In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.
Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.
Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.
We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.
As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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4 comments:
do you remember when leslie was in 7th grade, i think right before 7th and penny was having a party at lagoon and invited leslie and it was a sunday. very painful. i let leslie decide, and she decided not to go. i think it was the beginning of the end of their friendship, but it was a very hard time. then 7th grade was probably leslie's worst year in school. how do you feel about this now les? i know that penny knew you couldn't go because it was a sunday. maybe that example went into heaven with penny. those are hard choices to make, and not always immediately rewarded with warm fuzzies. i am proud of both of you. at least you recognize why you are feeling like you do becky. that is very insightful. you are blessed by obedience to the commandments, and grace is blessed by a mother with integrity.
I had a similar experience growing up. When I was 12 (I think) David Prohaska invited me to go fishing to Devil's Creek Reservoir on a Sunday. So I went and asked Mom if I could go. She probably told me it was my decision. So I decided to go. But before I went Mom or Dad sat me down and talked with me about Sunday activity, especially since I was 12 and had the priesthood at that point. If you know me you know I have a pretty guilty conscience. Anyway, they inadvertently made me feel really guilty. I think this was literally within an hour of the time we had to leave. So I felt guilty about going and felt guilty about telling David I couldn't go. I ended up going, but since then I have never had to think twice about the decision if it ever comes up. Ironically, I have to work half the weekends probably for the rest of my residency.
Colin
I'm a codger, so I don't remember that occasion Colin, but I'm glad you do, and that it made an impact. Actually, it wasn't Mom and I making you feel guilty, it was your buddy, the Holy Ghost. As for now, I don't think that working to save lives constitutes Sabbath breaking. I suspect that Apostle Nelson has worked his share of Sundays, and look where it got him.
Dad
Yes, I remember the time I didn't go to Lagoon. Quite honestly...at that time I do believe it was potential parental disappointment that kept me from going. You know how I like to please...
I now recognize it for the great teaching opportunity that it was. I think it's great you left the decision up to me. At a certain point, kids really do need to have the opportunities to make those kinds of right/wrong decisions.
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