ICS Devotional

Last night Jimmy had an Information Computer Systems department appreciation devotional and spouses were invited. Grandma & Grandpa Price were willing to watch the barnlings so I could go with Jimmy. It was in a small theater in the conference center and Elder Holland was the speaker.

Quoting George Macdonald (who greatly influenced C.S. Lewis) he shared this thought, "Is our life then a witness to the truth?" He also reminded us to "resist the tendency to become secularized... to remember the spiritual... to remember to be humble... to put things in the context of the ETERNAL." Especially if you think about in a job interacting with others in the workplace who may tend to be arrogant, selfish, or caught up in climbing the corporate ladder, I think his 'be humble' counsel is wise.

Elder Holland also talked about the scripture parable of the talents. He compared talents to our calling or our position (job at the church). He emphasized that there is no little calling or position (job) in the church. If we shirk our calling, we will lose the blessings that come from doing our best with what we are given. It wasn't really a new idea, I suppose, but a good reminder that even if we feel like a peon, we need to remember that all the small things we do make a big difference.

Which leads to his next scripture story about Haman and Elisha. He taught about the 'little people' (the young servant girl and humble man servant) who had faith and encouraged Haman to believe and go and do what the prophet had said so he would be cleansed from leprosy. "The simple, humble, pure believing make all the difference."

So overall, it was a fun event and great to have a date with Jimmy.
The kids had a splendid time with Grandma and Grandpa having a little Valentine's party. We are so glad to have them close by. Hopefully we won't drive them crazy with rambunctious and crying kiddos. They live up on the mountain in North Salt Lake and their view is lovely... especially at night with all the city lights and the Bountiful Temple lit up. We are glad to be in Utah. Yesterday was an especially lovely winter day with temps in the low 40s and sunshiney skies.