Flower:

The Rose

A Rose is sweet, no matter where it grows

But our wild roses, flavored by the sea, and colored by the salt winds and much sun

To the healthiest intensity of bloom--

We think the world has none more beautiful.

--Lucy Larcom

Bird:

The House Wren

I meant to do my work today--

But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,

And a butterfly flitted across the field,

And all the leaves were calling me.

And a rainbow held out its shiny hand

So what could I do, but laugh and go?

--Richard Le Gallienne

When I watch the June dusk, and see the sky glow with the color of moonstone, and hear a farm wagon creaking down the silvery road, I know how beautiful the world is.Surely Gibran was right, and sadness is a wall between two gardens.

From The Book of Stillmeadow

by Gladys Taber

Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you.

I was out watering my lawn today thinking about things in my life that have disappointed me. Sometimes I get feeling so sorry for myself that I never see the problems I can fix! I am guilty of that at times...and all too many times lately. I'm having some real challenges each day and I keep wondering to myself, "what am I doing wrong?" I've been thinking it all as punishment. When instead, I should look at it as POLISH. Polish to help bring out the shine in my soul.

Yes, polish for my soul. If everything was "right" we wouldn't have to work so hard to make it through this mortal life. But what would we learn? How would we ever become good enough again to be able to return to our Heavenly Father someday unless we learn life's lessons firsthand.

I have a lot of lessons to learn. One that I need to pay particular attention to is The Golden Rule. I've been in a "bad mood" and angry over the death of my mother and the unfortunate illnesses of my husband and mother in law that I am not a pleasant person to be around at times. Oh..I'm not an aggressive person in any way, but I withdraw from others and get annoyed easily. And hurt easily. So I also tend to not understand others and haven't too much patience.

This month, I'm going to try really hard to overcome the impatience and break out of the shell. And be more tolerant of others and give more of myself. I'm going pray harder for those that I don't understand and try hard to look at things through their eyes. Perhaps the lesson is to walk in their shoes? Maybe that is not easy to do....but I can pray about it.

--Sadie