Lately, I have been called several times to recommend a friend that has been job hunting. In each case, the person has gotten the job.
It made me think about how powerful a recommendation is.
I read in the church news recently about a young Branch President in Costa Rica that was inspired to challenge his small congregation that every adult member acquire a temple recommend.
The problem was, at that time, there was not a temple in their Central American nation.
These people were dirt poor and had no hope of ever attending a temple or having their families sealed to them. Still, this Branch President, felt inspired that every member hold a recommend, even if they never stepped into a temple.
He knew the true power of was found in that slip of paper. It is a tangible symbol of a person's worthiness. It is a recommendation directly from our Heavenly Father through two of his servants. Only a small percentage of the world's population actually can hold a recommend in their hands. What an incredible blessing! This young Branch President often took out his recommend and just held it in his hands. He knew that some day, some way, he would walk into a temple. On June 4, 2000, this Branch President from San Ramon arrived in his weathered van outside the gates of the newly dedicated San Jose Costa Rica Temple. He was not alone. Many of his fellow branch members climbed out of that van with smiles on their faces and well held recommends in their hands. I have appreciated reading this because it has reminded me how incredibly blessed we are. I have set my recommend on my book shelf where I see it every day. It reminds me that I am of a Divine Nature. It reminds me how incredibly blessed I am to be worthy to hold it. It reminds me who I am.
I've got the JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY, down in my heart.
Lately, I have been called several times to recommend a friend that has been job hunting. In each case, the person has gotten the job.
I love the start of a new year. It's a beautiful time to reflect, reevaluate, purge and add. It means that Spring is only a few short months away. But, I know full well that you can't move on without appreciating what you are leaving behind. This picture was made by my sweet Carolyn for me for Christmas. Carolyn's Aunt Jeanie made all of these precious scarves, that Carolyn shared with all of my girls. This picture represents love, support, tenderness and the amazing blessing of having daughters. This brings me to the "leaving" behind part. To me, cancer was like a tornado. There is no warning before a tornado strikes. There is very little time to prepare for the destruction it leaves in it's path. It's hard to find a safe place to hide. It sucks you into it's terrible motion and tosses you about at it's will. When the storm runs it's course, some things are left standing and some things are no longer. Things in your life have significantly changed. Change, is not necessarily a bad thing. 
