I Got What I Wanted at General Conference

I usually go to General Conference with a question or a problem in mind. I also take my own notes, a lot of  notes. Not only do the notes help me to focus on all that I’ve heard and felt, they also serve as powerful memory tool for me.

I had been preparing for weeks what issue I was going to take with me this time. Sometimes there are several issues that need addressing, but this time, I felt that there was an over-arching theme that would put my other concerns to rest. And what is that issue,  I hear you ask? It is simply this: I have a really difficult time liking or loving myself enough to stop putting myself down. Don’t get me wrong. There are many things about myself that I love and cherish. I actually think it’s pretty awesome being me – most of the time. The trouble is, because of abuse throughout my life, I have ‘learned’ to put myself down as a safety mechanism to prevent others from doing it, sorta like ‘beating them to the punch’. I also know that it doesn’t work, but it’s just been how I’ve dealt with it. So, for this General Conference, I wanted to know how my Heavenly Father sees me, so that I can see myself through His eyes and truly embrace myself, no matter how broken I feel. I want to see myself through His eyes.

Imagine my utter breakdown as Sister Elaine S. Dalton, third speaker at the Saturday morning session, began her talk with the first portion of the oft repeated Young Women’s Theme ‘We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.’ As she continued with a powerful talk about our identity and our divine parentage, I was filled with the Spirit and overcome with emotion. Most particularly, I was blown away by the statement:

She understood who she was and whose she was.

I am now determined to make that my personal motto until the truthfulness of it has sunk in. The entire talk, with a renewed call to virtue and her conviction in the scripture calling us to ‘Stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places’ were the very things I needed to hear to bolster my own conviction in these beliefs.

I cannot think of a single talk at Conference that didn’t instill in me a desire to renew my efforts to become a righteous, productive and fulfilled daughter of God. But, it was Sister Dalton’a talk that reminded me that I am a daughter of God and that I matter. Her talk renewed the desire to ‘bloom where I am planted’.

I am ever so grateful to Sister Dalton for her powerful testimony, that through her, my petition for validation from my loving and eternal Father was answered.

As always, my experiences with this General Conference have instilled in me so much anticipation for the next Conference. It just keeps getting better and better!

I want to finish this post by adding my testimony to the many I have heard this weekend. I know that God, our Father in Heaven, lives. I know that His son, Jesus Christ, is my Living Redeemer. I know that the Savior’s miraculous and holy birth, His Atoning Sacrifice and His Resurrection are absolute truths. I know that I am theirs and that I am loved of them.  In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Have Miracles Ceased, Elder Witehira?

Another good friend of mine was Set Apart for his Mission yesterday. I met Elder Shaydon Witehira through his aunt, Tiara, who happens to be one of my closest friends. I was honored to have been invited to attend this sacred event with his family.

There was a beautiful, warm spirit present throughout the entire time. Tears flowed freely as loved ones felt the truthfulness of the work and the divine nature of the calling.

After the ordinance had been performed, our Bishop stood to share a few remarks. There was one significant moment that endeared itself to me and that was when Bishop Curtis asked the question, ‘Have miracles ceased?’. He went on the explain that so long as there was faith in Jesus Christ, miracles will not cease.

I witnessed this truth with the very eventful week and a half before Elder Witehira’s departure. I was invited to attend his Temple Endowment last Friday evening. I found out at the last minute that it had been rescheduled for the following day because there had been health concerns for Shaydon’s dad. In spite of being hospitalized for his ailment, his parents made every effort and were able to attend this sacred moment in their son’s life. Shaydon received his endowment with his cousin, Juwan, who is also leaving for his mission soon.  I was filled with awe as I watched a miracle take place before my very eyes, because even though I didn’t understand the full extent of their adversity, I could see the adversary making every effort to stop this family from being together. I rejoice in my Christ, knowing he knows the righteous desires of our heart and is ever at our side to bring them to pass.

But it doesn’t end there. The following day, his dad was back in hospital. Shaydon was the final speaker in our Sacrament Meeting. His emotional, heartfelt testimony was incredible. I was so proud of him. I remembered asking him if he would serve a mission a while ago and his answer had been a vague, indecisive one. Watching him stand there with so much conviction in what he was about to undertake was such a remarkable experience for me.

A few days later, (last night), I was privileged to witness another miracle as his father, his grandfather, his Bishop, his Stake President and friends laid their hands on his head to set him apart for a holy undertaking. My Bishops words about miracles and faith in Christ were bouncing around inside my head the entire time as I marvelled at the faith of this family to allow these miracles to take place. And I am not ashamed to admit, it went a long way in strengthening my own faith.

When he stood up to bear his testimony after his setting apart, I was delighted that the very first thing he said was a thank you to his parents. He also thanked Tiara and her husband, George, with whom he had been living for the past few years.

I have loved watching this young man’s faith and testimony grow. I know that the people who will get to know him on his mission will be truly blessed to know him, his special spirit and his powerful testimony.

Good luck, Elder Witehira. We’ll miss you!

How Fast Did Your Fast Go?

Since her recent baptism, my little girl has had two opportunities to fast. This Fast Sunday was her second.

I love that she is able and willing to make this sacrifice and is showing her obedience to her Father in Heaven. What makes it even more remarkable is that on both occasions, her motives were completely selfless.

Admittedly, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. She did have moments where she found it really difficult. The way we do it in our family is that when a child turns eight and have been baptized, they are required to participate on Fast Sundays. From age eight to twelve they do a half fast, which means they miss one major meal and from the age of twelve onwards, they are required to do a full  fast which means twenty-four hours or two meals.

By the time we were in Sacrament Meeting today, she was feeling the discomforts of thirst and maybe a little hunger. It was really quite comical to watch her face light up when she realized the bread tray for Sacrament was under her nose and she looked up at me in delight and surprise. It made me think of a meme I saw on the Facebook page Mormon Memes.

And because she just adores Mr. Bean, I thought I’d create this one:

When all is said and done, what matters is that she came through, like the champion I’ve always known her to be. I’m so proud of her. She’s so resilient, yet teachable. Days like this restore my faith in what I have chosen to do with my life.

And as if that wasn’t enough, my other not-so-little little girl bore her testimony in Sacrament Meeting and spoke of how she thought I was the strongest woman she knows, and that she is who she is today because of me. She said many other wonderful and thoughtful things about me that had me weeping. Considering that she and I have been at loggerheads over so many things these past few months, this was the last thing I had expected, but I am so grateful to have heard what she said.

Having my two little girls uplift me and replenish my reserves today with their example and testimony brought to mind a wonderful moment I witnessed recently. I saw a parent bird (I’m going to pretend it was a mother) was flying with two baby birds. The scene, against the backdrop of a steely sky, held me captive as I watched the little birds dip and rise unsteadily, learning how to fly. I can only imagine the fulfillment she will feel when they fly off, borne on the winds by their wings, with skills she lovingly and patiently instilled in them. I look forward to my horizon filled with a similar image of my little ones borne away on their sure wings some time in the not-too-distant future.

This Fast Sunday has been my favorite one so far. I can’t wait for the next one!
What were the highlights of your Fast Sunday?

O, General Conference. How do I love thee? Let Me Count the Ways!

I’m a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it.

Since we get General Conference a week late here in Sydney, Australia, a lot of the surprise is taken out of some of the more notable and memorable talks, but it never changes the impact of the words when I hear them for the first time as the speakers have intended. For the past week, I’ve seen Pins of all sorts of memorable quotes taken from the most recent Conference, the ones that have had the strongest impact on people, and let’s admit it, the ones that sound really pretty. As I have looked at these quotes with  some of the disappointment a child might feel when they realize that it’s actually their parents pretending to be Santa, I have also anticipated hearing them in their entirety, in context, as part of a whole.

Let me just tell you that I was not disappointed. Last Sunday morning (I’m ashamed to admit) that I went to bed at almost 4am because I was attending to some stuff that could not wait until morning (even though technically it was morning – you know what I mean. Yeah?) Anyhoo, as I (literally) crawled into bed, I took a cursory glance at Facebook and saw the announcement on the new ages for missionaries on several friends’ walls. A little deflated that part of the surprise was ruined, I nevertheless celebrated the news. When I walked into the chapel yesterday, the Prophet had just begun speaking. Moments later, he made the announcement. Tears ran freely down my face as though I had never known this news was coming. The Spirit bore such a powerful witness to me that this was, indeed, the will of the Lord for the furthering of His work on this earth. How grateful I was for the witness of the Spirit of the authority and keys of one Thomas Spencer Monson. With all my heart and soul I sustain him as the Lord’s Living Oracle.

This singular event set the stage for the rest of the Conference for me. Each talk left me almost breathless, as they seemed to share a running theme. I couldn’t believe how similar and powerful each of the talks were. My daughter, Zoe, was taking her notes next to me and as we discussed the impressions we’d received, it was enlightening to know that even though there were vast similarities in the things that had our attention, we had also received specific revelations for the questions we had taken with ourselves to this Conference.

Was is just me or were the topics of service, conversion and submitting our will to the Lord, the most prevalent topics? If I didn’t know better, I would have thought that they had all co-ordinated their talks!

Some very poignant questions were posed to us at this General Conference. Some of the ones that had a marked impact on me were:

• Do I understand the first and greatest commandment?
• How did the Savior teach?
• What better place to ‘first observe then serve’ than in the home?
• Would I sell my soul for     (insert choice of short-comings)   ?

…and many many more.

I can honestly say that I left that last session feeling completely rejuvenated and raring to go. I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for the enrichment to my life that comes from attending General Conference. I thank my God for a living prophet and for other moral, intelligent and honorable men that lead us in these Latter Days. I sustain them wholeheartedly and with all the conviction of my soul. Indeed it has been, a ‘beautiful, bright, millenial day’.

What questions did you leave General Conference with? What talks made the greatest impact on you?

p.s. Is it weird that I’m having withdrawals already? 🙂

Covenants and Cake

For the past few months, my little girl has been preparing for her baptism. When asked what she was most excited about for her eighth birhtday, her prompt and enthusiastic response was always, ‘Getting baptized!’

In the lead up to the day, we talked a lot about the Plan of Salvation and our place in it, and the gospel of Jesus Christ – Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. In all of our interaction, she demonstrated so much maturity and awareness that there was no doubt in my mind of the presence of the Holy Ghost in all these interactions. I kept marvelling at how ready she was.

On the day, which was Saturday, 22nd September, she woke up so giddy with happiness that she was almost literally bouncing off the walls! Her happiness was so contagious that I felt like I was floating on clouds, and although there were things that threatened to derail that happiness, I felt consistently buoyed by the sheer joy radiating from her. She could not stop smiling!

This smile is so characteristic of how she was looked that entire day. And I love how the sun’s rays are casting a spotlight on her in this picture.

As we walked into the bathroom to change her into the dress she would wear into the font, she exclaimed, ‘It feels like a dream, but I know it’s real!’ I swept her into a hug because I knew what she meant, except for me, the delight was in knowing my child had a love for and a testimony of Jesus Christ.

She walked into the font (she later told me the water was so cold that it gave her brain-freeze but it didn’t matter because she was so happy!) I went around to watch the ordinance. As I watched her, I was filled with a powerful feeling that she was at the right place at the right time and I felt the Spirit bear an undeniable witness of my Heavely Father’s approval. That moment had to be the highlight of my whole day – that and the squealing hug my little girl gave me when she came out of the font!

She had chosen to sing ‘When I Am Baptized’ at her baptism. She sang with such conviction that I had goosebumps. Her sweet, angelic voice carried to my heart the simple message that a child of God was on her way to live the life he had sent her to earth to live, and it began that day with the very first covenants she would make in this life.

My kids and I have always loved going to baptisms. I jokingly call us ‘baptism groupies’. But seriously, there is such a sweet spirit present during a baptism that I just can’t articulate.

When the congregation sang the closing hymn, ‘A Child’s Prayer’ I was so overwhelmed by the Spirit again. The songs we’d selected had special meaning to us.  They were the songs I’d sung to her as I had put her to sleep as a baby and the songs that she would sing to me in her baby lisp when I would stay up with her on the nights she was sick. How grateful I am for those memories, for music, for motherhood.

The image she had chosen for a cake held a lot of significance for her.

Rainbows, raspberries, Little Ponies and mother-and-child affection all held significance for her.

At the end of that day, I realized that it was one of those days where I could truly say, ‘My cup runneth over.’ I’m so proud of my little girl for making such an important decision with such conviction. I’m so grateful for the example she has set. I’m so grateful for generous friends. Most of all, I’m grateful for covenants and cake and how they all came together on this one perfect day for one perfect little girl.

Set Apart

I know it’s been a while since I last updated this blog, but my explanations would warrant an entire post of its own – for which I have no strength.

I have a few post that were meant to come in the past few weeks, but they’ll come as I take time to gather my thoughts and frame them well enough to unleash on the world. All those posts are on topics that are dear to me so I want to do them justice.

I wanted to do today’s post today because of the sweet spirit I felt as I attended the Setting Apart of a very close friend of mine as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Elder Matthew Snowden (or as we have known him up until this evening, Matt) is headed for the Iloilo, Phillipines Mission for two years. Matt is just one of those rare people that has a powerful, yet warm presence. He has left a lasting impression on me, even though I have only known him a relatively short period of time. He has the makings of a great missionary. He bore a powerful testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ in his Sacrament Meeting talk today and I have no doubt that once the people of Iloilo get to know him, they too will have no choice but to love him as wholeheartedly as I do!

As close friends and family gathered together in a little room, there was talk of how sorely he will be missed. Adored by boys and girls alike, Matt is nothing short of a superstar. When he walked in with the Stake President, we were told that there was a short delay as we were waiting on the Bishop to arrive with another member. Matt took this opportunity to go around the room and squeeze in a last hug from all his female friends. 🙂

The Stake President gave a wonderful talk about how life-changing a mission can be and that all of the returned-missionaries of his Stake, none have ever spoken of those mission years with any measure of regret. And that, to his knowledge, the adjustment to home after mission can be more difficult that the adjustment from home to mission because of the love and attachment you develop for people when you render selfless service to them for so long. You grow to love them with a different kind of love.

When they got to the ordaining part, I felt a great rush of love in the room as Matt asked all his friends that were Melchizedek Priesthood holders to participate. It was a beautiful, intimate and sacred moment as each laid one hand on that precious head, and another on the shoulder of the person standing next to them while the Stake President spoke wondrous words to set apart this remarkable young man to the work of the Lord, sending him out to ‘[thrust] in his sickle with his might’ (D&C 4:4).

set apart v. to dedicate or reserve for a specific use.

My friend, Elder Snowden, has been set apart for arguably the most exceptional work one can ever do – the rescue of souls for his Father in Heaven.

How do sacred ordinances help you feel closer to your Heavenly Father?

Brain Teaser

Ok. I’m about to show you something and I want you to take a good look at it. You ready? Here goes:

MOTHER

Now now. Don’t rush, take a good, long look…. There! Did you see it? No? Look again. No luck? Ok, fine, I’ll just tell you. There’s a ‘ME’ in there. Do you see it now? Ok, good. 🙂

For the longest time, I felt that if I took time for myself, that I would be short-changing my kids. After an afternoon spent at a Power of Moms Retreat, I realized that not only am I doing a disservice to myself with this archaic view, but I am also perpetuating these ideas with my kids.

It is not selfish at all to be joyful, passionate and fulfilled. In fact, I felt a sense of wonder that it’s taken me this long to figure out that I will actually be passing on a powerful legacy on to my children if I assert my right to be treated as an individual with dreams and needs and hopes and feelings. Won’t my girls grow up and crave this same fulfillment? Won’t they wish that I had modelled these values to them so that they, in turn, can then model them to their own children? And won’t my son need to encourage his wife to maintain her identity within their marriage? After all, what I teach them is what they learn! Duh!

What makes me really happy is the fact that my earlier post about being redeemed and restored ties in so beautifully with these new, enlightened thoughts making a home in my mind. I can almost feel the synapses firing up, building new pathways in my mind, pathways that I will strengthen from here on out.

My proverbial cup runneth over today. I am so grateful to be a daughter of God. I am so grateful that I know and feel His love. I am so grateful for every single woman who has influenced me for good throughout my life. I am so grateful for a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ which enables  me to press onward even though I fall short. I am so grateful… to be… Me.

Formulate and stamp indelibly in your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously and never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop this picture.

~ Norman Vincent Peale

Well, go on. What are you waiting for? Find yourself. And if you can’t find yourself, create yourself.

Restores Me When Wandering, Redeems When Oppressed

In my case, it’s mostly true that I sabotage my own happiness through disobedience – or in other words, I think I know better until a consequence reminds me none-too-gently that I have gone off the path. So when I have those moments when I feel a forceful compulsion to change for the better when there seems no obvious reason to be doing so, I recognize the hand of my Savior gently nudging me to the safety of the fold before some unanticipated adversity rocks my foundations.

I woke up at 5 a.m. with my daughter who goes to early morning Seminary. As I was turning off the alarm on my smartphone I saw a notification for a new email. This is what I read:

The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home but that—miraculously—we can feel at home there. If Christ did not require faith and repentance, then there would be no desire to change. Think of your friends and family members who have chosen to live without faith and without repentance. They don’t want to change. They are not trying to abandon sin and become comfortable with God. Rather, they are trying to abandon God and become comfortable with sin. If Jesus did not require covenants and bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, then there would be no way to change. We would be left forever with only willpower, with no access to His power. If Jesus did not require endurance to the end, then there would be no internalization of those changes over time. They would forever be surface and cosmetic rather than sinking inside us and becoming part of us—part of who we are.

~ Brad Wilcox BYU Devotional 12 July 2011

I can’t describe the feelings coursing through me as I read this quote in the still, darkness of my room. I became intensely aware of my Savior’s love – even more than I have been in recent weeks. I can’t describe the gratitute I feel for my Redeemer’s Atoning sacrifice. Would that I could truly fathom what it has meant in the life of a sinner such as I. Would  that I would be more diligent in heeding His counsel. Would that I, too, could cast my worldly net and go straightway with Him every single time He calls on me.

All I can do is my best. And most comforting is the knowledge that that is enough for Him.

What a wondrous start to the day – restored and redeemed!

So what am I going to do with this renewed strength coursing through me, I hear you ask? I am going to ‘try a little harder to be a little better’. Gotta love that President Hinckley :). And what better way than to attend a retreat empowering mothers and encouraging deliberate parenting.

Try to be aware today of how you feel restored and redeemed.

Book of Mormon Stories

As I child, I devoured the Book of Mormon reader every Saturday afternoon. Sometimes, just to shake things up, I listened to the accompanying audio cassette. I found myself lost in a land of long-ago where people just came across as unteachable and, really, when you come to think of it, quite dumb. I confess now that as a child I had no inclination to ponder on how condensed this account was of such a mighty people. I mean, there was really no break-down of the everyday nitty-gritty. So, my untrained mind just saw a bunch of people that I just could not relate to.

Fast forward a few decades, and here I sit with a kind of apprehension when I reflect on just how often my Savior has had to nudge me back into the fold. I can say without hesitation right now that the source of my failures is my refusal to recognize how like the Nephites and Lamanites of old I am. I mean, seriously. If I was being completely and utterly honest, I would say that I am like Laman and Lemuel more often than I am like Nephi. I murmur, I forget the significance of the spiritual gifts that I have been blessed with and I need to be compelled every so often to be faithful.

In some ways, I wish that I could have followed the life story of just one person in the Book of Mormon and shared their trial and triumphs to see how alike and how different we are. If I had a choice, these would be my top 5: (in no particular order)

• Abinadi
• King Lamoni
• Nephi
• Moroni (I’ll cheat here and count 2 as 1 for both Captain Moroni and Moroni)
• Sariah

Shoot! Now I want to make it my top 10… but that would just mean I’d keep going. So, I’ll just be firm with myself and stop there.

I chose Abinadi because I was blown away as a child when I first read his story. One of my favorite (of many) Book of Mormon images is this one of Abinadi in the Court of King Noah

I love studying this picture: the opulence of Noah’s environment, the bedraggled appearance of Abinadi, the expressions on the faces of the priests, the expressions on the faces of Noah and Abinadi… I could just go on and on. I’ve said it a million times before and I’ll say it forever, ‘I wish I knew Abinadi!’. He is one of my first scripture heroes. I would love to have had a glimpse of his childhood, seen how he was molded into a powerful prophet who spoke boldly of his convictions in his testimony of Jesus Christ. Did he have a family? Did he hesitate to go on this mission, understanding what the outcome could have been? What were his weaknesses and how did he overcome them? So much to ask…

I chose King Lamoni for a few reason. One of them being that he was a Lamanite. Then there were his many experiences with Ammon (another favorite of mine), and last but not least, because of the impact his conversion had on the lives of so many people. I would have loved to explore the childhood of  a royal Lamanite and study how it would differ from those of Nephite children. How was the distrust and hatred toward their Nephite brethren ingrained in them? How was he prepared to receive the truths that Ammon was destined to bring into his life? Wouldn’t that be an amazing read?!

Nephi would have to be one of the most obvious choices and yet, what a wealth of experiences we could draw from him. There were the epic journeys, the care and tutelage of Father Lehi, the struggles and eventual emancipation from his older brothers, and so so much more! I also would have loved to see how life in Jerusalem would have been for his family. Can you imagine how amazing it would have been if Nephi had a blog!?

I chose the Moronis because I just LOVE them! I wonder how Captain Moroni’s wife and kids handled his long absences when he was away defending them and their liberty. For someone who is fascinated by all things medievel and ancient warfare, a journal of Captain Moroni’s undertakings would be priceless to me! What were his short-comings? Did he have any short-comings? And Moroni, son of Mormon – the last of a great and covenant people. Ah, to have followed him through his days – the all-consuming warfare, the moral and spiritual decline of his people, the fact that he had Mormon for a father! … I could just go on and on and on and (again) … Was his loneliness as bleak as I imagine it would be? Did he ever consider giving up? What does it mean for someone like me, caught up in my own loneliness, to think of  the crushing loneliness he lived through?

Not much has been shared about the women who shaped the lives of all these amazing men. Can imagine being the mother of Abinadi? I bet she couldn’t be prouder if she tried! One of the few women mentioned in the Book of Mormon was Sariah. She played a pivotal role in the exodus from Jerusalem. Can you imagine being the matriarch of that entourage? My head spins just trying to wrap my head around that idea. For starters, she was the mother of Nephi!! … and Laman and Lemuel and she bore two sons in the wilderness! That, in and of itself, would make a good read! Then there was her life in Jerusalem, a life, which by all accounts, would have probably been a life of relative ease because we know that the were quite well-off in Jerusalem. It would be wonderful to have a woman’s perspective on leaving the comforts of Jerusalem, on travelling for years through the wilderness, on watching your older sons turn on your younger son to the point of almost taking his life, on supporting your visionary husband, and on life in the Promised Land.

So, that’s about all I have to share on that, for now. I bet that if we did have a pervasive look at even one of these lives, we’d find them going through similar highs and lows and everything in between that goes on in our lives. Having said that, I have a profound admiration for these people and their conviction in their testimony of Jesus Chirst.  How grateful I am for their resounding testimony which adds strength to mine. And how grateful I am that no matter how condensed, that they did keep records.

Are you going to keep a record of your trials and triumphs, no matter how brief? Who knows who will draw strength from it?

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

In last week’s lesson, I shared a poem that metaphorically represents our choices and the paths they can lead us down. This was in response to the scripture:

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” – 3 Nephi 14:14

It’s interesting that the poet suggests that when we choose a path our path will present us with other paths to choose from along the way, virtually making it impossible to start again at the beginning. It makes me think of how I sometimes end up at the crazy end of YouTube because I’ve followed too many Suggested videos. 🙂

Here is the poem by Robert Frost:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

What are your thoughts on this scripture and this poem?