Personal Change Archives - Called to Learn

Love Without Understanding is Dead

Tresta Neil — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:39:09 +0000

When Children Feel Understood They Listen to Advice

Have you ever felt excited to share something with a friend just to have her “one up” you with what she felt was better or worse?

This very thing happened to me last night when a friend of mine came over and I shared a miracle that had happened for me recently. She brushed it off like it was nothing to tell me something she was working on.

I did not feel like she understood me or that she really cared. I pondered, “What was missing from that conversation?”

Stephen R. Covey said, “Seek to Understand before you seek to be Understood.” I didn’t feel understood by my friend. I wondered if I treated others like that too. Did I allow my children to feel understood?

My study began with this question: what was understanding?

The scriptures often associate understanding with the heart. Here are some examples:

Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people? (Mosiah 12:27)
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? (Job 38:36)
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (John 12:40)

And heart is also associated with love. My conclusion: Others feel love when they feel understood. When they feel understood they trust you. When they trust you they will share more with us and possibly listen to our advice.

How can we help them feel understood?

First we have to get them to talk, this can be done in an interview style.

Instead of asking, “How was your day?” where they can answer in a one word answer, say, “Tell me about…” something specific, so they have to answer in more words.
Pay attention to “sign posts” - Topic words that will lead you to another question related to what they are saying.
- Keep them talking.
- You are also looking for clues from their subconscious mind (tone, body language and words) to guide the conversation.
- Be present - no distractions.
Remember to add brief inserts while they are talking. Words like, “Oh,” “wow,” “I see…”
- These show you are paying attention
- Encourages them to keep talking and
- Allows you to listen for more sign posts
Remember "the pause" - say nothing when they stop talking, just look interested. This causes a slight discomfort and they will start talking again.
- This is your greatest ally - they answer the questions that you didn’t know to ask; they tell you things beyond what you are asking about.
- The child will feel uncomfortable and start talking again and reveals more about their thoughts and feelings.
- This is where the trust begins, they begin to feel understood when you listen.
Recognize the Clues
- The goal is to help them feel understood
- This is a good place for questions that bring in their feelings and lead them to find their own answers, feel the spirit, and/or know the next step.
- Acknowledge their best quality. (the connector)
- This is a review, where you show them you are “getting it.”
- “I can see that you (fill in with their effective qualities)”

When we understand our children they trust us more and we both feel loved. God showed us love by understanding us.

My conclusion: Do whatever it takes to make others, especially my children, feel understood.

When your children feel understood they trust you and when they trust you, they open up more and often listen to counsel.

The post Love Without Understanding is Dead appeared first on Called to Learn.

Christlike Characteristics

Tresta Neil — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:10:56 +0000

The post Christlike Characteristics appeared first on Called to Learn.

My Conversion Story

Tresta Neil — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 22:12:50 +0000

(talk given by Tresta Neil on November 9, 2014)

I was born into a very religious family. They are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ and I’d like to share with you my conversion story!

First and foremost it was my family who taught me the gospel of Christ. Today, I’ll share with you things that happened outside my family.

It all began with a missionary.

When I was 8 years old I sat about half way back in the middle row next to the end. I remember a sister missionary, the first I’d ever known bore her testimony and I knew I wanted to be just like her and go on a mission.
At 14 years old another sister missionary came and did a fireside for us. She had gone to Canada on her mission and I felt the spirit and knew I wanted to be just like her and go on a mission.
At BYUI I lead the perfect life, everything was great, good grade, wonderful roommates, fun callings, member of many groups, etc. Etc. I felt my life was going great and decided that it was too perfect and so I did exactly what we are told from this very pulpit not to do. I prayed for trials. I wanted so much to prove to God that I could handle anything.
I graduated and moved to Ogden a few months later. There I had received the trials I prayed for. I got into the very strenuous nursing program, my professors were not kind, my classes rigorous. Church was foreign and I had a difficult time convincing myself to attend. I was working full time to pay for school and housing. my roommates were unkind and even mean and I moved over ten times in one year. I got to the point where I didn’t feel like my life was worth living. I had failed God and myself. I remember running up a hill and falling under a tree. “Father, I pleaded, I don’t want to live any more, please help me see.” I then heard these words, “You have a work that no other can do.” I finished the statement out loud, “do it so bravely so kindly so well that angels will hasten your story to tell.” I knew I could make it through this and I knew I had to, because no one could do the work God wanted me to. And I also knew God still loved me, I had not failed completely.
I graduated from nursing school and moved to Provo. By this time I was old enough to go on a mission but was now not worthy. Should I give up on that dream, was it worth it? I often asked myself. The answer? Always, “YES!” I wanted to be a missionary mommy! You know the one who knew the scriptures so well that she would quote them when disciplining her children. A mother that was so close to God that everything she did was what He would do if He were here. I wanted to be the perfect wife and mother and in my mind going on a mission was the only way I could achieve that – I could not bare to think of being a mother without first being a missionary. So, I spent a year getting worthy to serve and working, saving everything so I could pay for 100% of my mission.

I believe living in the spirit is like standing on a ball. When you are at the very top, balanced and stable you are in the spirit, in control able to think. When you are tipping off the ball is when you no longer have the spirit, you are concentrating more on not falling than on the beauty given you. You believe Satan’s lies of being unworthy, not good, ugly, etc. Stand back up, know who you are and what you are here to accomplish.

One scripture keeps me going D&C 4:2 If you have to desire you are called to the work. I had the desire to serve God and I knew I was called – I would make it on a mission.

I served a mission in the Netherlands and I was a go getter, I was there for three reasons:

1. to learn as much as I could including memorize scripture,
2. have amazing experiences and
3. learn to be the best mommy ever.

One experience, we were tracking and I felt the spirit so strong about an area. So a few days later we tracked the area, it was hard, no one would answer the doors, we had several slam the door in our face, but I was still happy, I knew we would find someone in this area. Sure enough. There was a door and I could see a guy sitting on the couch, but he didn’t come to the door, I knocked louder, nothing, so I knocked on the window. Finally he came to the door and yelled through the door telling us he couldn’t open the door to come around the back. We ended up teaching him and he was later baptized. God led us to him.

Other missionary experiences.

1. Amanda – “even I can be forgiven”
2. Children – “What happens to our bodies when we die?…Resurrected bodies, can we eat, what happens to the food… tangents are good.

I did become a mommy – it isn’t as easy as I had thought it would be before my mission. And I haven’t raised only Nephi type children. I sometimes tipped on the ball and make mistakes. But there is one thing I know for sure! My children were sent to me not just for me to help them, but for them to teach me and to make me into a different person. I love the plan of God.

9. Blessings our family has received for having a missionary out:

1 – Etienne- I told him he had to stay with me forever and give me hugs and kisses every day of my life. He said, “I can’t do that, I have to do what Teo is doing and go on a mission.”

2 – Tirzaan- I asked him, “why do I love you?” “Because I’m cute!”, “Sometimes you are not cute, so that is not the reason.” After talking with his big brothers and sisters, he came back with “You love me because I’m a child of God.” “yes, but if that were the only case I would love everyone as much as I love you and I love you more than some others.” He consulted with his big brothers and sisters again and that night he came to me and said, “Mom, you love me because I am your son and Jesus sent me to you so you can love me.” “Yes, Tirzaan, that is exactly right, I love you because you are mine!”

3 – Matteo – relationship to God, read the quotation about his relationship with God.

4 – FHE – we are having FHE much more regularly and enjoying and even look forward to it.

5 – Izaak has been turning back to God. His institute class is changing his perspective and life.

6 – All of our testimonies increased greatly… on and on

I know that this church is the living church of the earth. I know God lives! I know Christ died for me and you so that we may return. I know that we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, on the earth today. I know that I am a child of God and of Christ and that by always learning more about them I can become like them and achieve my goal of being able to act exactly like they would in every situation.

The post My Conversion Story appeared first on Called to Learn.

Mothers Make the BEST Mentors

Tresta Neil — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 21:50:04 +0000

5 Homeschooling Truths

(written by Tresta Neil in 2016 for a friends book on homeschooling)

“I think we should homeschool our children.” These are the words I heard my husband say after our fourth child was born.

When I returned home early from my mission to the Netherlands I was told that I would not be able to have children. Thom and I began our marriage prepared to live our lives without children. After several miscarriages, our first child was born. We named him Izaak, the Dutch name for happy, because we were happy for an actual birth. Eleven months later (you can get pregnant while nursing) came our second. Twenty months later came number three. I was beginning to panic. I was still working as a nurse at night and while Thom worked during the day I tried to watch my boys and sleep. I would often wake up to torn up books, painted the couch, mice chasing or egg throwing. My fourth and first girl came twenty-two months later and I began to seriously wonder if motherhood was as wonderful as everyone had said it would be. Honestly, there were many days I wanted out, four children in diapers and too tired to clean or cook, let alone read or visit with friends. Now Thom thinks we should homeschool! Forget it!

Besides all the children and work drama, how could I, who was in remedial reading throughout school and barely graduated high school with a low GPA, teach my children? Plus, what would they do for friends and social life? “Isn’t that what school was all about?” I thought. “Nope, I was NOT going to homeschool my children and have them miss out!”

To appease my husband, I traveled to Utah to attend a homeschool conference where Thomas Jefferson Education was introduced. It seemed to be the best method for many families. Yet, my heart resonated with The Noah Plan created by the Foundation for American Christian Education (F.A.C.E.). The presenter talked about teaching principles, centering all learning on Christ, and the creation of notebooks that become individual textbooks.

This idea stirred up many emotions and questions. “Could all education be centered on Christ, even math?” “Could learning be individual?”

I recalled all the times during school I would be interested in going deeper into a subject and was stopped because it didn’t fit into the curriculum or we had to move on because of time. “Could homeschooling be different?” My professor at college taught me how anatomy and physiology with the knowledge of the restored gospel came alive. “Could my children learn all subjects that way throughout their life?” My reason for serving a mission was to be a great mother who effectively use scriptures in teaching and disciplining my children. Homeschooling could be the vehicle to assist me in achieving that desire. “Oh, Tresta,” I thought, “you’re going to be a homeschooler . . . well, Thom’s going to be happy . . . HELP!”

God was kind and sent me a mentor, LuJean Livingston. She had found The Noah Plan in a hotel drawer while on vacation, she felt it was the answer for Latter-day Saints and began sharing it with everyone including American Heritage School. We would meet together once a month. She opened up the scriptures and showed me how every subject was found in the scriptures. She taught me how to find principles in books, the difference between doctrines and principles, and how my children could come up with their own applications. Her guidance became my life line and the beginning of a wonderful education and experience for my children and for me.

Throughout the twenty plus years of homeschooling I have learned many truths and dispelled many myths. Here are my top five truths:

1. Parents are the best teachers for their children no matter their “schooling”

Throughout High School I believed the lies of my teachers and classmates that I was not smart. After graduating from college, I continued to believe it. In fact, I feared conversations because I might reveal my stupidity. As I learned alongside my children, making my own notebooks and sharing ahas with them, I began to gain confidence in my intelligence and communication. Our love for each other grew stronger every day and nothing can replace the feeling of watching them learn and receive revelation for their own lives.

2. Life’s Challenges are the Lesson

Life is full of challenges and trials from which we get to learn. Our challenges included personality clashes to the point of arguments and everyone complaining at the same time. We started out homeschooling so poor that we used the back side of discarded real estate fliers from Thom’s work for our notebooks. Our seventh child was in and out of the hospital for four years with liver transplant complications and internal bleeding. Two of our sons were in different hospitals at the same time, one with RSV and the other with liver rejection. We have worked through five home births, the loss of our home and other dreams, living in a two- bedroom basement apartment with eight children and major learning disabilities.

Our latest challenge is having Thom at home while he recovers from a virus that attacked his heart leaving it functioning at 25%. Life’s challenges are our homeschool/life lessons, they teach us how to solve real life problems, how to work together and find peace in the storms.

3. Success can be Found in Daily Routines

My son who had a stroke had many physical and learning disabilities. He took a lot longer to learn things than any of my other children. For example, we had to teach him to climb a ladder by doing it with him a few times every day and at first, physically moving him through the process, then talking him through it. Finally, we had him talk himself through it until he was able to do it without thinking about it. This is how he is currently learning to read. When he reviews the sounds of the letters daily he continues to make progress and can read words, but if he skips one day his progress stops and he has to begin again.

Homeschooling is like this, it is successful when we study daily. Consistent learning yields a great education.

4. Creativity Inspires Connection

When we struggled with getting along the learning never happened. One day I was frustrated because no one was listening to the lesson, so I sent them outside to the backyard. I soon joined them and ended up playing in the leaves, creating forts and laughing together. I took a picture of the children in the leaves and put it up on my wall. Weeks later a friend admired the photo and I said, “That was a horrible day!” She said, “I’d love to be a part of your horrible days.” She was right, we had made something beautiful out of a rough day and we returned and completed our assignments happily. When mental learning is not happening, doing something creative inspires connection and prepares the mind.

5. Recording Creates Lasting Memories

Creating notebooks has been the single most joyful thing we have done in our homeschooling experience. These notebooks have become a source of memories, of recalling lessons and for teaching and mentoring others. My son asked for his English reference notebook while on his mission so that it could help him learn other languages. Record keeping is fun and the pages become personal textbooks and books of remembrance for each of us.

I wish I had known these principles when I started.

Ten years into homeschooling, I was a happy mother of seven with a hard decision, “Should I put my children in public school?”

My seventh child was born without a bile duct (biliary atresia). He underwent an unsuccessful surgery, was placed on the liver transplant list and continued to get worse. Our “new normal” would be in and out of the hospital therefore I would not be available much. Homeschool had become our way of life, our daily routine and our passion! After a family meeting, three of our children chose to go to public school. After a successful transplant everyone returned home to learn together.

I aspire to teach my children using a system: 1) remember who they are, 2) receive and record personal revelation, 3) relate and act on their knowledge, 4) recognize principles, 5) retain by sharing with others and 6) rejoice in new wisdom and begin again with the new situation.

The wonderful thing about homeschooling is watching my children learn something new and experiencing their ahas first hand. The best thing is watching them confidently make inspired decisions, apply their knowledge wisely and lovingly teach each other.

Homeschooling is an accelerated way to learn patience, tolerance, and true connection. I chose the vehicle of homeschooling to help me develop these virtues. You can too. Christ qualifies those that have the desire. If you have been thinking about it then jump in. You will be lead to your mentors, just as I was. And one day you’ll have your child say to you, as my daughter said to me, “Mom, you are my best mentor.”

Tresta Neil is a veteran homeschool mother of eight. She learned principles and practices right alongside of her children for years and currently teaches them to other parents to help make their journey easier. Her passion is in researching truth and symbols and sharing them with others. To learn more about her products and programs please visit her website at www.KeystoneEd.com. Her unique resume includes sitting on a cactus.

The post Mothers Make the BEST Mentors appeared first on Called to Learn.

My Motherhood Keys

Tresta Neil — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 21:40:25 +0000

4 new beliefs that helped me go from miserable to happy

(written by Tresta Neil 2011, Published in the Prosperity Tribe Magazine)

Mary did you know as a child that you were the chosen one?

Mary did you know of your role in nurturing God own son?…

Mary, mother of Jesus, chosen daughter of God, said,

“Be it onto me, Lord, according to thy word.”

Mary something whispers to me that I have a mission too

Daily I am learning the thing the Savior would have me do…

I would be like Mary, I am a daughter of God.

Then be it unto me, Lord, according to thy word.

(Lyrics by Janice Kapp Perry, Daughter of God)

These are the words to a song I sang as a young woman. I wanted to be a mother like Mary. I had three children within three years. I worked nights as a nurse and I tended to the children by letting them watch a movie so I could sleep. Often I would awake to a mess of torn books or books in the bathtub or eggs all over the floor or whip cream painted all over the lounge chair. If this was motherhood, I didn’t want it! There was no joy in constant clean up and exhaustion.

Today, I still work part time, but I’m happy, I find great joy in raising my children.
What made the difference? you ask. I got educated! I changed! I switched many of my old, incorrect beliefs to correct and energizing beliefs.
I call my new beliefs, MY MOTHERHOOD KEYS, here are a few:

It is only by Grace that we find joy

I had believed that it was only through hard work, service, and doing the best I could that I could be happy. But, the more I did the less happy I felt, so I thought I would never be good enough. New belief: Submitting my will was the only “work” required and all I had to do. I found joy in every moment knowing I was doing what the Lord wanted. Mary submitted her will, her whole life to God when she said, “Be it onto me, Lord, according to thy word.”

What is happening now is what is meant to happen

As my children would make mistakes I would often blame myself: I must be doing something wrong, I need to be better at teaching them the ways of the Lord so they won’t fall. My new belief: God is in control, this is his business I must give my time and worries to him. Remember this is their life and their choices, all I need to do is love them exactly how and where they are. Mary did not spend her time blaming herself when Jesus was being made fun of for being illegitimate.

The Remarkable Meaning of Mundane.

Often I found myself cleaning the whole house after the children did their chores. I felt trapped in the dirty house and felt no one cared. The dishes and laundry never ended. My new belief: Family Work links us together. Daily tasks that are mundane and thoughtless gives us opportunity to connect with each other, helps us help each other. I’ve learned more about my children by just listening to them while cooking dinner than I ever would have telling them to leave the kitchen. Mary had each of her children work by her and Joseph’s side.

The Secret of our future is hidden in our Daily Routine!

The first few years of marriage and having children it was difficult to have family prayer and scripture study let alone have Family Home Evening. So we dedicated ourself to start small. We first began adding a family devotional to our daily routine. We sang a song, read a few verses of scripture, memorized a poem and monthly theme, said our family laws (love, joy, obedience, manners, order, peace and service), had a family prayer and ended with our chant (Have a great day! N-E-I-L Neil’s are Champions!!). This created consistency and unity in our lives. Mary had a consistent daily routine.

As Mary raised Jesus there were many sorrows and disappointments, but she stood strong and firm in her belief. She KNEW who she was: The Mother of the Son of God! I KNOW I am a daughter of God and a Mother of Great Ones so now I can stand strong and say, “be it unto me, Lord, according to Thy will.”

For more “Motherhood Keyz” see Keystoneeducation.wordpress.com or Keystone Education on facebook.

The post My Motherhood Keys appeared first on Called to Learn.

You Are My Hands

Tresta Neil — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 17:10:49 +0000

There is a statue of Christ where the hands were destroyed during the war and they were left off and a description added beneath the statue which read, “You Are My Hands.” How do you demonstrate you are Christ’s hands?

Often the scriptures say that we are instruments in the hands of Christ. There are two types of instruments. Tools to be worked and musical instruments to be played. Tools need to be sharp and charged to be effective. Musical Instruments do not get to chose what they play, where they will be played or how or when they will be played. How do you keep yourself sharped, charged and ready to be used by Christ?

“You Are His Hands” Devotional Guide Available

We have prepared a PDF You Are My Hands Devotional for you to use with your family. Check out the video too.

The post You Are My Hands appeared first on Called to Learn.

Providence

Tresta Neil — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 13:22:51 +0000

What is your lot in life?

Have you ever wondered why things happen the way they do? Why you? I do.

I have a friend suffering with stage 4 cancer and fighting for her life. I keep asking myself why her, why now, why does she have to suffer so much? Is it really her lot in life?

I decided I’d look up the word ‘lot‘ and find out what that meant. Of course, I turned to the 1828 dictionary and read “that which is the determination of providence; the part…that falls to one by divine determination.” What is providence then? Providence is “the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures.” I actually find comfort in that. My friends cancer is providence, a lesson God is teaching her and all the rest of us a lesson that will bring us closer to him. Our job is to find that lesson and grow from it even though it is painful.

I’ve noticed that there are not many movies, books or music that refers to providence as there use to be in the early 1900’s. My daughter and I just watched all the Anne of Green Gable movies over the Christmas vacation. They are filled with the belief in God, that his hand of providence is guiding them. Why doesn’t the world acknowledge and trust in God any more?

I am reminded of the two examples from the Book of Mormon about 200 B.C. One, Amulon is given permission to teach the Lamanites how to read and write in the Nephite language (see Mosiah 24:1). Alma taught the new converts how to read and write too, but he added the reverence of God within his teachings. The consequences are drastically different! They both began to flourish, opportunities were opened up, both increased in riches and wisdom. The Nephites “did multiply and prosper exceedingly in the land” and “they built a city” (Mosiah 23:20) and “Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.” (Mosiah 24:15) On the other hand, the Lamanites delighted in wickedness and plundering (Mosiah 24:7).

So, back to my other question. Why don’t I teach, write, acknowledge and trust more in providence? Why don’t I only entrust teachers of my children who teach providence? Do I not want the results of my children bearing their burden with ease? Be cheerful? Have patience? To prosper and build cities?

I know you are the choir and that you teach about God’s hand throughout all of history, literature, time, music, etc. I am re-committing myself to do better at finding, pointing out and seeking for Providence, evidence of God’s hand in all the details of learning so that my ‘lot’ in life will be one filled with the awareness of Christ’s hand in the little things, in all things.

You miss a lot when you don’t believe
little things mean a lot.

The post Providence appeared first on Called to Learn.

A Tale of Two Mothers

Tresta Neil — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 06:29:47 +0000

This is a Tale of Two Mothers – Hannah of the Old Testament and Mary of the New Testament.

Hannah and Mary both lived in times of uncertainty and transition. Hannah lived in Israel during the time of Judges. After 350 years the Israelites were looking at other nations and noticing they had Kings at their head and started demanding a King to be their governor.

Mary, a young woman from Nazareth lived a thousand years after Hannah. After the Jews were carried away captive into Babylon a few returned to Israel to rebuild their nation only to see it taken over by the Selecids. A revolt by the Maccabees resulted in a free Jewish nation for a time. But, now the Romans and their appointed king, Herod, ruled over the Jews.

Hannah was the wife of Elka’nah who also was the husband to Penin’nah. She had bore him many children, but Hannah was barren. In Israel having many children was a blessing. Hannah pleaded with God at the temple, “Give me a son and I will give him back to you for all the days of his life.” Eli, the priest, told her that her prayer would be answered. Sure enough, Hannah name the boy Samuel, meaning, “I have asked him of the Lord. As promised when Samuel is weaned, she gives him to Eli to raise. At that time she offered up a song of thanksgiving.

My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.

There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.

The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.

He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.

Mary received a visit from the angel, Gabriel who told her she was to be the mother of the Messiah. Soon afterwards she traveled to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who is also pregnant. Elizabeth greets her warmly. Mary responds with a song of thanksgiving.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Many of the characters and event in the New Testament have types in the Old Testament. Hannah is a type of Mary. The parallels and imagery of the two prayers or songs are blatant. They both reference the poor and down-trodden, the mercy of God, etc. Mary must have studied the scriptures and read Hannah’s song many times. She may have memorized it and applied the words until they became her words, her feelings. What a reunion it must have been in heaven when the two met again. They may have compared stories of how they both handed over their first born sons to God to raise and their thoughts and fears and blessings and testimonies.

Who do you relate to in the scriptures? Who is your mentor and hero?

For me I have liked Eliza R. Snow and love to hear her stories and read her poetry (hymns). I admire her work and feel a connection to her. I look forward to meeting her one day.

The post A Tale of Two Mothers appeared first on Called to Learn.

The Reflecting Octopus

Tresta Neil — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:55:48 +0000

Did you know that octopuses can change their color to match their environment? How they change is most interesting. The outer layer of their skin is made up of millions of small pigment sacs called chromatophores. Nerves within his eyes sense the brightness of the light and contract or expand these sacs. When expanded they give the octopus a dark brown color. When contracted the underlying reflective leucophores are exposed reflecting whatever color of light is most abundant. If the octopus is swimming in an algae-covered pool it will reflect the green color. The octopus’s ability to change color is really nothing more than a side effect of an ability to detect changes in light which adjust its skin to become more or less reflective.

We have the same opportunity to reflect more or less of the influences around us. What are you reflecting away from you? What are you not reflecting enough?

The post The Reflecting Octopus appeared first on Called to Learn.

Reflection is to pause

Tresta Neil — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 13:24:15 +0000

As I have been preparing for my advanced constellation class I came across this statement in the Lecture’s on Faith, lecture seven.

It surely will not be required of us to prove that [faith] is the principle upon which all eternity has acted and will act; for every reflecting mind must know that it is by reason of this power that all the hosts of heaven perform their works of wonder, majesty, and glory.

“Every reflecting mind” stood out to me. What is a reflecting mind? John Maxwell, who speaks on leadership defined reflection as, “Reflection turns experience into insight.” and “Reflection is the pause that gives a person perspective.”

I want to be insightful and gain perspective. So “how” do I reflect?

This thought took me on a journey in my mind. The first thought was the word “ponder.” How often do I ponder on what I study or learn or the people I’ve met. If God orchestrates our lives and the people we meet are no accident then why not ponder and reflect on those experiences to gain insight and possibly even direction or the “next step?” And, of course, this thought lead me to a commitment – to reflect every day before I went to bed. But that commitment fell short because I kept falling asleep so now I reflect every morning.

I have chosen to use the formula Kevin Hall uses in his book, “Aspire.” I reflect on 4 things:

People who help me
Actions I’ve taken on opportunities
Thoughts that help me create meaning or understanding
Happiness moments – random acts of kindness, God’ tender mercies

All of which help me stay on PATH!

How do you Reflect and Ponder?

The post Reflection is to pause appeared first on Called to Learn.