BECOMMING

Be careful what you think you see
For things seldom are what they seem to be

Being quick of opinion is seldom an art
Often adds to the mountain of wrong on our part

Many a son has been too early judged
Our daughters we might have differently nudged

Many hearts might have been left unbroken
If with greater clarity our words had been spoken

If with Father’s vision we had viewed
And not in ignorance our judgements spewed

Even with the advantage of millennia of study many continue to look back at the decision Adam and Eve made in the garden as a spoiling of God’s Plan. If we saw Adam and Eve more clearly and with even the slightest vision of our Heavenly Father, I am quite sure we would count their choice as a blessing and not a curse.

As Abraham fled the sacrificial knife in his youth, I doubt few with the exception of his Heavenly Father realized he was running towards becoming that father/prophet through whom countless nations would be blessed.

As Moses strolled the paths of the Valley of the Nile in his princely robes, I am quite sure few recognized that this was the man whom God was preparing to lead Israel out of bondage and who would become the revealer of The Law.

Joseph Smith was not even of an age to be accounted significant when he became the prophet of the Latter-Day restoration. Yet, with his brother Hyrum, he had been chosen of his Father to seal his testimony of the reality of the restoration with his blood.

Most significantly, his neighbors saw Him as the carpenter’s son. Surely of Nazareth never could anyone of worth come. His countenance did not mark Him special, yet His mother knew in her heart and His Father proclaimed this Jesus to be the very Christ the Savior of all.

Be careful what you think you see
For things seldom are what they seem to be

Being quick of opinion is seldom an art
Often adds to the mountain of wrong on our part

Many a son has been too early judged
Our daughters we might have differently nudged

Many hearts might have been left unbroken
If with greater clarity our words had been spoken

If with Father’s vision we had viewed
And not in ignorance our judgements spewed

I remember when I was still in that time of life when I was pretty sure Solomon held no advantage over me when it came to being wise and I looked on a young boy and said within my heart, surly this lad will fall far short of any meaningful contribution in life. Now that the years have stripped me of my youthful pride, I am grateful to have lived long enough to view his contributions as husband, father and citizen.

When Kathleen and I were called to serve in Colombia, Elder Perry blessed us that we would love and help bring those with whom we would serve closer to Christ. Even though I was never blessed to be their judge, I am sure I wrongly participated in that activity far too often, branding youthful and unlearned behavior as a permanent condition. I am grateful that over the years I have been able to witness their strength and marvelous contributions to their families and the church.

I have found that even within the framework of my most sacred callings as a husband and a father, I have too often fallen into the entrapment of making premature and wrongful judgements. The pains and strains of growing up and living life often cause all of us to undergo changes which are somewhat equal to those which Abraham and Moses underwent.

Be careful what you think you see
For things seldom are what they seem to be

Being quick of opinion is seldom an art
Often adds to the mountain of wrong on our part

Many a son has been too early judged
Our daughters we might have differently nudged

Many hearts might have been left unbroken
If with greater clarity our words had been spoken

If with Father’s vision we had viewed
And not in ignorance our judgements spewed

What I will be thinking about this Sabbath Day is that you and I are still in the process of becoming and when our headstones have turned to dust we will probably yet be involved in that magnificent adventure.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY
EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY