Dinner is Served

by Shauna Brown

     A couple of days ago my son asked an interesting question, “If you could have dinner with anyone famous, who has passed on, other than Jesus Christ, who would you invite? 
    My mind was instantly set to thinking. Who would I want to invite? What questions would I ask?  Would I be able to carry on a conversation with them?  At first I thought of women: Helen Keller, Anne Frank, Emma Smith, Abigail Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Florence Nightingale, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Miriam - sister to Moses, Corrie Ten Boone, were among the top of my list. Then I considered the men: Joseph Smith, Walt Disney, George Washington, Beethoven, Ronald Reagan, CS Lewis, Wilford Woodruff, Parley P. Pratt and that list continued to grow. 
       “That is so difficult,”  I said in response.  “As there are so many I would love to visit with.  But, I must admit I felt a little uncomfortable with even the thought. Oh, I had read a few books on several of them, and studied a handful of their lives, but to have them sit at my table?  What would we talk about?
         One Christmas our family got a book case as a gift from Santa. I was surprised at the number of books that found a home upon the shelves. Among them was an old worn book by Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People.
        As I opened the book I immediately saw pages dog-eared, sentences underlined, and jotted notations in the margins. I assumed my parents must have read it several times. Clearly, impressions had been generated in both of my parents as I remember being taught that Dale Carnegie had said ‘that everyone has a special gift or talent that makes them outstanding.’ He said ‘if you want to make friends and influence people, look for their special gift and then tell them about it.’ Give them a compliment. 
         Compliments. One word - yet it seems we compli-cate it. Why is it that so many people receive so few of them?  Are we so busy, so preoccupied that telling someone a simple thoughtful compliment isn’t necessary.  Will it go unappreciated? Does it make one feel lesser?  
             So, I pondered how it might be sitting at the table with Corrie ten Boone, and imagined how I would express my appreciation for her sweet words and influence left upon my heart. How touched I was by her testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and her messages of forgiveness.  Within a matter of moments I thought of a pocketful of compliments I could express. Just thinking about it makes me smile.  I hope she knows, as I just blew off a few kisses to heaven.
    Thank You, Dale Carnegie, for seeking to guide our thoughts and see the value in a genuine compliment, and expressing words of appreciation.
        Oh, I would welcome a visit, a simple dinner, with everyone listed, as I believe I would leave the table filled with greater appreciation for their experiences, insight and  wisdom. Even though, most of my chosen few didn’t breathe within the same period of time, our hearts have touched through words and their acts.  Because of them I have been allowed to open my eyes, and enlarge my heart by their living.  

        Listen, this is perfect: 
        “This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person 
        He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only
        He can see.”    Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

        Have a good Sabbath

        Love Always,
        Shauna

My table is set and ready for a visit.

by Shauna Brown 

Placed upon the window seal in my office rests a wooden plaque with one simple word, Believe. 

I shall for ever remember the day my mother returned home from the music store. I was pretty little then, maybe five or six years old.  Mother was eager to play some new songs that she had recently heard on the radio.  I’m sure I was excited, as I loved to sit beside her and sing. She pulled out the bench and invited me to come and sing it with her. I watched her as she opened up the sheet music and placed it on the piano.   I know I wasn’t old enough to read, so I listened as she sang the words aloud. 

I believe  for every drop of rain that falls,

a flower grows.

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night,

a candle glows.

I believe for everyone who goes astray,

someone will come to show the way,

I believe, I believe.

I believe, above the storm, the smallest prayer will still be heard.

I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word.

Everytime I hear a new born baby cry, or touch a leaf, or see the sky,

then I know why I believe!

     I fell in love with the song, I Believe. I would have her play it again and again, until I recall her having to say, “That’s enough Shauna for one day.” 

Evidently, “I Believe,” spoke to my soul, as I know from that day on I didn’t look at rain in the same way.  I tried to pray more often even though I couldn’t hear God answer me, yet, I felt he listened, even the ‘smallest prayer would be heard’. 

I love the simple phrases that make me look around and realize that what I believe in --is essential.  I believe in Jesus Christ, and that He came to this earth to bless lives and make eternal life possible for all.   I believe our Father in Heaven is very interested in each and every person. To some, that might sound impossible, but I have learned for myself that I have been placed here and now for purposes beyond my understanding.  

I don’t need to wander in the darkest night, as I know who is the Light. 

        Imagine the impact it had upon me when Mother pulled from the brown paper sack another new piece of music, entitled: HE. 

HE

He can turn the tides and calm the angry sea;

He alone decides who writes a symphony;

He lights every star that makes the darkness bright;

He keeps watch all through each long and lonely night;

He still finds the time to hear a child’s first prayer;

Saint or sinner calls and always finds him there.

Though it makes him sad to see the way we live,

He’ll always say, “I forgive.”

He can grant a wish or make a dream come true;

He can paint the clouds and turn to gray the blue;

He alone is there to find a rainbow’s end;

He alone can see what lies beyond the bend;

He can touch a tree and turn the leaves to gold;

He knows every lie that you and I have told.

Though it makes him sad to see the way we live,

He’ll always say, “I forgive.”

       Melodies and memories of music filling my childhood home are sacred to me. Music touches the heart strings of my spirit. If I could step back in time I would scoot a little closer to Mama on the bench, and sing and sing until my voice could no longer render a note. I even would sit still happily  and listen to my brothers play Bless This House, on their trumpets for the umpteenth time, because I truly know how blessed our house was. 

I would want more beautiful music to fill the world and vibrate within the souls of those seeking for the light. 

     I Believe ---  It is God, who does turn tides and calm the angry sea, touches the blind, heals the sick, mends a broken heart, can carry one when it looks impossible to walk on.   BELIEVE - it’s a beautiful word with an eternal purpose and invitation. 

  Oh, the great lessons I  learned while sitting upon a piano bench with Mama. 

Love always,

Shauna   

             Divine Transparancy

by Shauna Brown 


       Somedays I love to sit quietly, and let thoughts cascade through my mind. I smile as I continually marvel that just in that simple act I am filled with more appreciation. I begin to see my purpose more clearly, and then life takes on a greater meaning.  I believe I even love more deeply. Perhaps, it’s because I realize more today how fragile life can be. I see how real the seasons are, and they pass too quickly. 
       I find I need to be more quiet, turn down the music, turn off the phone, and just for a few moments take that much needed pause, and enjoy a conversation of divine transparancy. I have found I am more filled and ready to face the coming days.
     It feels like yesterday, as I sat upon a bench at Thanksgiving Point, surrounded by God’s bouquets, taking time to enjoy and savor the uniqueness of the blossoms. Each pedal so perfect to the touch. I savored the brillance of the colors. God’s palet is incredible!  I must treasure my time. For I realized that with the coming season they would fade and fall.
      While sitting on the bench a little bug crawled upon my stage, and I followed him. I watched as he wiggled under a fallen blossom. The pedal jiggled and twittered with the movement of my little friend. I could not see him, but knew he was there. That moment made me think of God. I cannot see Him either, yet I know He is there, watching me. Gratefully, there are tender mercies and moments in my life that testify of His awareness of me.
       I am taken in thought this very moment to a time long time ago. I was but a child then, maybe six years old. It was late one night.  I had said my prayers with mother, and crawled into bed. I continued to think about my prayer, and how can God know me. I thought of all the children in the world, and their parents kneeling with them and praying. How can he even hear that prayer? Wouldn’t it be so confusing? Would my prayer get mixed up with someone elses? Was there a giant telephone company with operators connecting the prayer thoughts?  It worried me so much. I wanted to know if He could hear me, understand me? I stayed awake for a long, long time.  I remember even crying as I wanted an answer right then. It didn’t come. 
     Looking back, I’m sure God must have giggled, as I wiggled and squirmed under the blankets for comfort that night. Listening to a young girl’s heart who was reaching out to know Him. I can only imagine His smile, but I know it was there. 
    Even now, I don’t know how our Father in Heaven knows to respond to our needs, and answer our prayers, but I know He does. 
      Might we sit more frequently, and ponder upon God’s love and will for each of us.

    “ It is with a pondering heart that one can feel
         more deeply of gratitude.” - Shauna

     Enjoy your Sabbath
    Love Always

        Shauna