Just as the extension of the Spirit which accompanies the Christmas season lightens the struggles and heightens our kind acts during those portions of the year, likewise, when the Spirit of Valentine’s Day is extended at least by 27 days we have a tendency to be more loving and friendly for that extended period of time.
If I were in that philosophy class today, I would probably argue on the side of inanimate objects having the ability to reciprocate in very powerful ways. Therefore, it is an easy thing for me to express my love of cherry cream cheese pie and many other inanimate objects because of the warm and fuzzy feelings they fill me with.
I offer the following schedule only as a suggestion of some of those areas where we might practice love and friendship during this wonderful month of Love and Friendship. I know your personal calendars could be filled with many meaningful things to practice during the 28 days of February. Whatever will we do during leap year?
DAY 1 – Remembering with fondness the warmth of the sun and sweetness of rain freshened air which made gathering with friends and loved ones even more pleasurable.
DAY 2 – Remembering with a grateful heart the developmental years spent with parents who demonstrated love for one another and extended that love to their children.
DAY 3 – Remembering the marvelous learning years spent encouraging offspring through their tumultuous teens.
DAY 4 – Remembering the joyous hours filled with laughter, happiness and companionship with friends who filled life with abundance.
DAY 5 – Remembering the times spent with extended family filling my mind with lasting memories.
DAY 6 – Remember the innumerable classes where words and thoughts were shared with students and teachers.
DAY 7 – Remembering Spirit led moments which guided while countless lessons were prepared which would strengthen bonds of friendship and love.
DAY 8 – Remembering the times of inadequacies when Spirit inspired words were given in the very moment they were needed which linked friend spirit to friend spirit.
DAY 9 – Remembering the continual comfort and warmth of homes where were have advanced the feelings of love and friendship with family and friends.
DAY 10 – Remembering a life spent enjoying satisfying meals with loving company.
DAY 11 – Remembering a life filled with days where the hunger and thirst of a curious mind was satisfied by friends of years long passed.
DAY 12 – Remembering the romances of youth and the rush which accompanied the affirmation of true love.
DAY 13 – Remembering the struggles and accomplishments which bound two hearts as one in the pursuit of mastering the mysteries of marriage and parenting.
DAY 14 – Remembering to make this a day of appreciation for a special love which has filled one’s life with joy and fulfillment.
DAY 15 – Remembering those attributes which strengthen love and friendship with a determination to apply them more energetically in the future.
DAY 16 – Remembering the marvels of communication and travel which shorten distances between friends and loved ones.
DAY 17 – Remembering the blessing of having been able to extend the borders surrounding meaningful friendships.
DAY 18 – Remembering with gratefulness the concept of universal friendship instilled in our
souls.
DAY 19 – Remembering the contributions of past family and friends who have taken the time to record their thoughts about the world as they understood it in the days of their earthly sojourn.
DAY 20 – Remembering the overpowering feelings as inspired truths of friends who wrote as revelation was received are meekly read and haltingly understood.
DAY 21 – Remembering the days when universes were spanned as love was exchanged with a loving Heavenly Father during moments of sincere prayer.
DAY 22 – Remembering the friends who relate constant reminders of the fundamental goodness of strangers and acquaintances.
DAY 23 – Remembering the calmness and peace which comes as a gift from friends who have blessed all with their melodious music.
DAY 24 – Remembering the marvelous times spent watching friends who have paid the ultimate price to be able to demonstrate the wondrous capabilities of a well train body.
DAY 25 – Remembering the continual variety of vistas provided by a Creator who brought us the beautiful blues of the sea and the gorgeous greens of the meadows which were always enhanced when shared with friends and loved ones.
DAY 26 – Remembering with appreciation the magnificent variety of personality and gifts of those friends and loved one’s who make life a continual exciting adventure.
DAY 27 – Remembering a life filled with love and friendships.
DAY 28 – *
*I leave this day blank with the hope that you will write and share those parts of your life made more meaningful because they include experiences of `love and friendship…
Recuerdo cuando en barranca le enseñamos a una persona subersiva y en las charlas el fumaba y tomaba,pero este hombre amaba sus hijos y estaba cansado de esa vida,tenia hasta armas en la casa, y despues de un tiempo volver a encontrarlo en el templo de colombia vestido de blanco,afeitado,nos fundimos en un abrazote de amistad y hermandad celestial de alegria que lloramos,amistad que despues de tanto tiempo y grasias a la tecnologia nos hablamos por celular...
ReplyDeleteCarlos Arevalo Gonzalez
Queridos hermanos Bill Kathy Riley:No he traido mi computador a Colombia y estoy
ReplyDeleteusando uno muy viejo con comandos antiguos ctrl y alt para poner tildes,etc.No
obsatnte he leido los pensamientos cada semana.Para el 28 de Febrero solo quiero
agregar el recuerdo grato del dia y año que conoci a mi esposa ,mi compañera
eterna y el dia y el año del nacimiento de cada uno de nuestrros hijos y el dia
de nuestro sellamiento en el templo de Washington D.C.Fechas inolvidables que
marcaron nuestras vidas para siempre.Igualmente recuerdo el dia y el año de
nuestro bautismo en la Lds Church.
Desde Colombia los recordamos con inmenso amor.
Gracias por sus bellos pensamientos.
ARMANDO GOMEZ R
Presidente, se me olvidaba contarle que estoy coleccionando todos sus mensajes; cuando edita un libro con ellos? Por lo menos una edición por año sería una buena idea, qué piensa? Ah! otro asunto, presidente, no encuento la foto del día en que me recibieron en la misión, qué ocurrió en ese entonces? el rollo se veló? o si la tiene, la espero (ja,ja,ja,ja) gracias. Chao Qué bueno sería escucharlo y también a la hermana.
ReplyDeleteGLORIA PATRICIA MONTOYA CORREA
Hola Presidente, por fin puedo leer sus pensamientos casi de inmediato. Muchas gracias por hacérmelos llegar dedicadamente cada semana. Admiro su inspiración; se que es muy valioso contar siempre con la dulzura que viene del Espíritu y qué bueno que posee esos atributos. Una vez más gracias, lo recuerdo mucho y ya nos podemos seguir comunicando más seguido, pues cuento son internet en la casa donde recién nos mudamos. Un abrazo también para la hermana.
ReplyDeleteGloria Patricia Montoya Correa
Much thanks for your thoughts! Glad u said "inchingly" cause that seems to be as fast as I'm able to develop that attribute!
ReplyDeleteDebbie Woffinden
Day 28 - Remembering the past month and all the wonderful 27 days. Help me to remember them the rest of the year.
ReplyDeleteDolores LeSueur
Lindsey and I would add the following: :-)
ReplyDeleteRemembering the unconditional love of our loyal pets (dogs), who are always overjoyed to see us and want to be with us regardless of ...
Mary Moorhead
Dear Brother Riley,
ReplyDeleteFeliz el Dia de Amor! I hope that all is well with you and your loved ones on this special day and month.
I have thought about the two things I would add to your great list of Appreciation for Valentine's Day.
For one, I would add the beauty of the people here in Indochina. Especially, I have been touched by the beautiful children of Cambodia. Just a few days ago I face painted for 120 children at a ngo school in Siem Ream. The school, ABCs and Rice, was having its first year anniversary, with children happy and carefree. In the sweltering heat and humidity to match, I tried my best to paint mariposas y dragons on their beautiful faces. Admittedly, my artwork was pretty bad, but the kids didn't seem to mind that the paints smeared and we didn't have any other kinds of paints than watercolors. The paint would mingle with the children's sweaty cheeks, but they loved it as they shouted "A coon tom tom" ("Thank you very big") and dashed off for gunny sac relays, which they even put in a sac to be a partner.
I couldn't help but think of their poverty and yet their happiness. If they had been born 30 years before, probably all of these beloved children would have been exterminated under Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge regime.
Related to this thought, I am thankful that our country has never been the pawn of ruthless power-hungry dictator. Many people in the world cannot make such a claim, and we no doubt take our liberties way too much for granted. A few days before my playing with the children I visited the Khmer Rouge extermination centers and Killing Field, with skulls and open graves scattered on high and stacked upon one another in memorials. Then to be able to play with the kids at ABCs and Rice gave me a new appreciation for the laughter, smiles, and sincere love that children have such a naturalness at expressing. I am grateful that we can protect many of them, hopefully growing to protect many more.
Do take care. Enjoy the day of love.
Bonnie Lynn
"Just realized that my golf game is the same as it was when I last played with you. Totally erratic and unpredictable with flashes of raw talent. Nothing good happens without some effort and my efforts are in a totally different direction nowadays. Thank you for the positive influence you had over me. It really helped."
ReplyDeleteSteven Childs
Presidente y hermana Riley:
ReplyDeleteGracias por sus mensajes tan especiales soy muy bendecida de contar con su bella amistad que el Dios de los cielos les de la fortaleza y salud para que`podamos encontrarnos en el reencuentro 2013 será un día maravilloso el volvernos a ver y poder estrechar su mano les amo inmensamente los llevo en mi corazón y en mis oraciones con cariño Adriana Silva.
Gracias por todos los pensamientos que nos envía. comparto uno con usted:
ReplyDelete"EL ORGULLO ES COMO EL MAL ALIENTO, EL QUE DICE QUE NO LO TIENE, ES EL ÚNICO QUE NO SABE QUE LO TIENE".
Familia Cruz
Where do I push "like" ?
ReplyDeletePatricia Proffit
Wow! This is the best yet. Thank you so much for heping us remember this very important month.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Hildt
Bill, As always very uplifting and strenghting to the soul...
ReplyDeleteD. Thomas Borgquist
HI Bill, Spending the remainder of the Sabbath in Venice Italy reading your
ReplyDeletethoughts on love (what makes the world go round)which are good. I do read
your column..thanks for your effort in this regard; and the scriptures
while Pat recovers jet lag in bed. I don't think I have ever met a moresound
sleeper. She truly does that in Olympic portions. We were blessed in
catching our flight to Italy after an hour and a half delay coming into
NYC..thank heavens they held the plane. Will explore Venice for a few days
then hook up with the other 60 members of our flotilla and head to sea and
many ports of stop. Enjoy golf.
Best Dave Farr
As you may expect, your message struck a chord with me. It is clever and thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking about it during the next month.
We hope that you had a good holiday
Martin
Hasta ahorita mismo lo lei gracias por este pensamineto especial saludos.
ReplyDeleteMarcelino Gomes
"HERMANO AUNQUE NO LE CONOZCO QUIERO DESEARLE UN FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS QUE MI DIOS LO BENDIGA Y LE DE MUCHOS MAS AÑOS DE VIDA GRACIAS POR SUS PALABRAS INSPIRADORAS, QUE TENGA UNA LINDA TARDE."
ReplyDeleteYina Cuellar Cuellar Pineda
"gracias por esos pensamientos que edifican al hombre y valga el momento para desearle feliz cumpleaños que el Dios de los cielos le bendiga por siempre un abrazo"
ReplyDeleteOscar Takaruchi
"Felicidades. gracias por sus continuos mensajes de Pensamientos.,Que el Señor le muchos mas años de vida."
ReplyDeleteGloria Patricia Guevara