I lounged a little too long in bed this morning, and the thought ran through my mind, I could miss church today (hubby dear is out of town) — but as the hour approached, and it was 30 min. before the start of Sacrament meeting, I remembered my words to my kids. “You need to take the Sacrament weekly, start anew, repent, have the Spirit of the Lord with you, and remember your covenants.”
I got dressed, in my $7 black skirt from Target and found a white eyelet blouse to dress it up, quickly shaved my legs, washed my face, brushed my teeth, put some makeup on, fixed my hair into a pony tail/bun, grabbed my scriptures/iphone and my soon-to-be 16-year old son, and drove to church.
Sometimes it’s alot like working out. If I put my clothes on, first thing, and just start the motions, I will follow through.
Mormons dress up a bit for church. Women wear dresses or skirts, no pants, no shorts. You don’t go in Hawaiian shirts and casual slacks or shorts. If you are a man, you wear a shirt and tie, slacks, even a suit. Twelve year-old boys wear a white dress shirt, tie and slacks, because they will pass the Sacrament as Deacons. The men and boys hold the Priesthood from age 12 up so, I guess you could say they dress accordingly.
Our Sacrament is like the Eucharist or Holy Communion. We renew our covenants to remember our Savior. We silently repent of all those “not so nice, not so pleasing” things we have done the previous week. We promise to remember Him. Mormons do this weekly — in a church meeting, called Sacrament Meeting — we need to repent often. 🙂
So, I made it.
And of course, there was a message for me. There is always a message, specific to me, when I go with an open heart, and not look too critically at Sister So-and-So’s funky earrings and 80’s hairstyle. Either a song, prayer, or talk has a message — even an answer to a concern, or fear, or freak-out I may be experiencing.
The rewards of the workout are good and the rewards of going to church are good.
I know this, even though somedays I find it difficult to get my feet moving. So, I am reminded in the words I have so often use with my kids, just get dressed…
then show up.
Funny, but the saying is true: “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
Guess who said that? Woody Allen. See you can find truth in so many places, even Woody Allen who seems to have a problem with religion and God.
One my sons, getting ready for Church:
Glad to see your son getting ready to put on his shoes, I once left the house with my slippers on and had to go back and get my shoes!
Good girl for getting up and getting after it!!
So true, Delia! And if you do miss a meeting, even for a good reason, it is harder to go the next week. We always told our kids that you make the decision to always go and then you just do it. No rethinking it each week. Making decisions in advance on important issues can save the day. But it is tempting when you know your testimony is strong and you just need a break. When that happens to me I remind myself of another one we use to say to our kids,
“Just be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, doing what you are supposed to be doing and things will be so much better for you.”
True enough. Glad you made the effort, it does always pay off.
O, I think we all go thru this. Sometimes, I admit, we do stay home…and my week is never as good. We seldom miss our home fellowship gathering each Sunday night, along with a great meal shared by all.
xo bj
So true! I felt the same way this morning, and got up and went anyway. It is so soothing to my spirit, and really makes a difference in my week.
So true! I felt the same way about fasting today. But I did and the rewards were great!