October Message

Last week I took Kaleb and Kolby to feed the ducks at Klineline. The weather was beautiful - crisp air, blue skies and sunshine. The trees were amazing with the leaves changing colors. The boys had a great time feeding left over pancakes to the ducks. As I watched the ducks swim after the food being thrown to them I couldn't help but notice how any water splashed up on the ducks backs simply rolled right off. It did not penetrate the feathers at all but would just roll off. It reminded me of a phrase my dad has often used, "like water off a ducks back".

The same afternoon we'd fed the ducks I came across an article in the Church News called, 'Let it go'. The article talks about how many of us today allow ourselves to be offended over trivial things. We could and should, like the ducks, let whatever it is thats offended us roll off our backs and let it go. Elder Bednar said: "In some way and at some time, someone in this Church will do or say something that could be considered offensive. Such an event will surely happen to each and every one of us - and it certainly will occur more than once. Though people may not intend to injure or offend us, they nonetheless can be inconsiderate and tactless. You and I cannot control the intentions or behavior of other people. However, we do determine how we will act. Please remember that you and I are endowed with moral agency, and we can choose not to be offended. When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled and mean-spirited things do occur in our intentions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make. It is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else." ("And Nothing Shall Offend Them, Liahona, Nov. 2006, 89-92)

The scriptures teach us to triumph over offense. Psalm 119:165 reads, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Mosiah 4:13 reads, "And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due." When we find ourselves in situations where offense could be taken or has been taken- let's remember the ducks at the pond and like water off their backs, "let it go".

"All of us carry baggage around from time to time, but the wisest one among us don't carry it for very long", said President Boyd K. Packer, president of the Quorum of the Twelve. "Some things that ought to be put in order are not put in order because you can't control them. Often, however, the things we carry are petty, even stupid. If you are still upset after all these years because Aunt Clara didn't come to your wedding reception, why don't you grow up? Forget it. If you brood constantly over some past mistake, settle it - look ahead. If the bishop didn't call you right - or release you right - forget it. If you resent someone for something he has done - or failed to do - forget it. We call that forgiveness. It is powerful, spiritual medicine." ("The Balm of Gilead", New Era, Aug. 1979, 36)

Life is too precious to get caught up in harboring offenses and we have too much good to do. Let's put our energies to use building each other and the Lord's kingdom and let the trivial, offensive things 'roll off our backs'. We can do it, we must do it. Enjoy this wonderful time of year - I love the changing of the seasons. You are amazing women! I love and admire you.

Jennifer Hadfield