My memory never really serves me too well, but when it does, I hold on tight. One particular memory is sweet. A memory I hold it close to my heart. In the backyard of my home growing up, my Mom planted around 8 rose bushes under my parents bedroom window. They were beautiful! Roses of all varieties and colors. My favorite…the yellow ones. My Mom loves those roses. And looking back, I think I know why. As the seasons began to change and pruning was in order, our own personal rose whisperer would come and take care of these beloved flowers. The rose whisperer, my Grandfather. He was strong and handsome. He had the most gorgeous silver thick hair, always smelled of delicious aftershave, and LOVED to sweat! An Arizona native…I quickly learned, you could take the boy out of Arizona, but you can’t take the Arizona out of the boy. Grandpa Burke always greeted his “people” with a kiss on the cheek and a hug so tight, you thought your lungs would collapse. I think he loved us almost as much as he loved those rose bushes. In fact, I know he did. Often times I would come home from school, finding my Grandpa Burke’s white Jeep in the driveway and trunk open. I would smile...knowing the exact reason for his visit and a smile in anticipation for the greeting I would soon get. Tools in hand, Grandpa Burke was tending to the rose bushes. He was smiling, sweating a whole lot, singing as he always did, imperfectly perfecting and pruning the rose bushes. He knew of their full potential. He knew of the beauty they would bring in their full bloom. And that they did! It wasn’t unusual, as my Mom and Grandpa worked side by side, for me to be asked to bring out tall glasses of ice cold water and band aids for all the scratches and scrapes left by the thorns on Grandpa Burke’s tan and freckled arms. I always gladly obliged. It was always a wonder to me why my Grandpa would enjoy, tenderly pruning these bushes, time and time again, when the bushes wouldn’t give him the same affection back? For him, a scratch here and there was worth all that effort. The effort to see this end result flourish and spring forth into beautiful and unique roses gave him joy. My Grandpa Burke has been in heaven now for 3 years. While I miss those lung bursting hugs, he has always been near, This week was no different as I studied Alma and the people he taught, the Zoramites, in the Book of Mormon. Alma, his brothers, and two of Alma’s sons, heard about the Zoramites and their twisted ways of worshiping God. So they went to them: “Zoramites were disenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them. But they had fallen into great errors…neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily…” (Alma 31:8-10) As Alma walked into the city, he saw the fall of once a great people. The people who were wealthy and had much, cast out the poor and the needy. Telling them they couldn’t worship God because of their circumstance. The people came unto Alma asking them what they should do? For they were cast out and had no place to worship. Alma, seeing the lowly state of these people, saw their humility… “Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld them with great joy; for he beheld their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.” (Alma 32:6) Alma taught these people that because they were humble, they could be taught, they could repent, and the would be blessed. The people, in their own understanding, asked Alma to show them a sign of heaven. Then they would surely believe. Alma says, “Now I ask, is this faith?” No. Alma answered. “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, therefore if ye have faith ye hope for the things which are seen, which are true…he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men, but women also. "Ye cannot know for their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.” (Alma 32:21,23,26) Faith is not a perfect knowledge. But a hope and trust… How do we obtain faith? Alma teaches us the tools we need: “AWAKE. AROUSE your facilities (kneel in humble prayer), even to experiment upon my words (read and trust in the scriptures), and exercise A PARTICLE of faith (hope), even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire (Spirit) WORK in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.” (Alma 32:27) Alma goes on… “Compare the word to a seed. If ye give it place in your heart, it will begin to swell…” “…it will beginneth to enlighten understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious…Now behold, would not this increase your faith?” (Alma 32:28,29) “But if ye will nourish the word (use the tools), yea nourish the tree, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward, to the fruit (blessings), it shall take root (the promise). (Alma 32:41) Being rooted brings MORE understanding of God’s word. MORE evidence of God’s love in our life, MORE peace, and MORE hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Faith gives us more. Times in my life, I have felt like my Grandpas scratched and bruised arms. Sometimes getting through the thorns or deterrents of the world and trials of life, have shifted my focus from pressing forward in faith. I forget about the tools, laying in the grass, ready for us to use for our protection. Each day I have come to know and love the tools given to all of us. As I strive to do my best using these tools, they have kept me focused while nourishing my own unique faith. I pray that I will keep the band aids close. Grandpa dressed each and every wound, took a drink of water, and kept on going. He knew the fruits of his labors would be sweet and beautiful. Grandpa Burke never let a prick of the thorn stop him from pressing forward in diligence. In Elder Jeffery R. Hollands words: “Don't you quit. You keep walking, you keep trying…” With the supply of the everlasting Atonement as our band aids, we must keep tending and cultivating our faith. Use the tools given to all of us. Go forward with hope and diligence,.. just as Alma testified to the Zoramites. As we liken these scriptures, our understanding with flourish, until one day, “it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.” Spring forward in faith. Love,
Grandpa Burke.
4 Comments
em warner
3/15/2016 12:39:40 am
Love this ash! You have such a gift.
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Melanie
3/15/2016 01:44:40 am
So beautifully put my friend.
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Em
3/15/2016 05:46:46 am
What a beautiful legacy of faith, passed from one generation to the next. Thanks for sharing!
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Kim Nuttall
3/15/2016 10:18:38 am
My mom passed away just recently.. I needed this! You have an amazing way to touch others, just like your mom! Love you!
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