Learn to Fish for Yourself!

Opening Song: Hymn 143 "Let the Holy Spirit Guide"
Opening Prayer:

Resource: "Finding Answers" pg 29 Ensign Feb 2011

Lesson Ideas: Read through this article and pick out a couple stories and examples to share instead of reading it all the way through (it's a longer article).

My thoughts:
As the title of this post suggests, this article reminded me of that old saying "Do not give a man a fish when you can teach him how to fish". It emphasizes the fact that, although it is good to go to others for advice and with questions, many times it is up to us to find answers for ourselves. After all, the Lord might have a different answer for different people, even if they're asking the same question!
It was interesting that I should read this article after fast and testimony meeting yesterday. There was a sister who shared a powerful testimony about a similar concept: sometimes we need to learn that we can do it ourselves (basically). She shared a couple of experiences about how, as a mother, her young son needed help opening a heavy door. At first she would encourage him and help a little, then she would stand back and cheer him on, but one day she decided that he needed to know he could do it himself, without his mother. It was hard because she was upstairs when he tried going outside. He called and cried for her to come help open the door and she could hear the frustration, but she knew he could do it himself and she knew he needed to know that too. Finally she heard him open the door and the excitement in his voice as he ran outside. He had opened it all by himself! And another story about another son who could not go to sleep without mommy there. So she finally had to just sit outside the door, listening as he called and cried for her until he fell asleep. Eventually he learned to go to sleep by himself. And she mentioned how the same is true for us: sometimes we think we need help and guidance with something and we pray and cry and ask others and cry some more, but we sometimes don't feel like Heavenly Father is guiding us at all. At those times, perhaps he is just sitting quietly on the other side, listening, but letting us learn for ourselves.
I feel like I'm in that position right now! I keep praying for guidance and revelation on where I should apply for work and what I should do. And I hardly ever feel inspired; for the most part the inspiration I do get is something like "Use your time wisely. Just keep going" or something like that. I guess it's just time for me to learn something! Or perhaps, as the article says near the end, I just need to ask the right question.
At any rate, life is all about learning and growing. Sometimes we learn by revelation and guidance from both other people as well as heavenly sources, and SOMETIMEs... we have to learn the good old fashioned way: trial and error.
As we do learn and grow, may God bless us all to stay on the right path and get safely home!

Closing Song: (if you wish)
Closing Prayer

Treats and a game or movie or something. Yay together time! =D

Make Yours a Great Life! (FHE 24 Jan 2011)

Opening Song - Count Your Blessings (Hymn 241)
Opening Prayer

Subject Matter:
"Make Yours a Great Life" - Article from the January 2011 Ensign
May just read or summarize the whole article or a combination

Discussion:
What other examples are there of people who have made the best of their circumstances?
How can we apply this to our own lives?

Our Thoughts:
A lot of times people think that their circumstances are worse than anyone elses, or the times we live in are as bad as they can possibly be. This article is a good reminder that no matter what happens in our lives or in the world around us (for example right now the economic crisis we're experiencing and how everyone in our family is having trouble as a result, as well as health issues and what not), we are the ones who decide how to deal with the circumstances and how we're going to make the best of them. It kind of reminded me of that conference talk "Come What May, Enjoy It" or whatever it's called (since I can only remember it in spanish!). So no matter what happens in life, just remember that we can learn from hardships and make the best of things! Never forget to have a positive perspective. And NEVER forget to pray for guidance on what to learn and what to do so the Lord can help us to the utmost!

Closing Prayer

Treats and Games (In our case tonight I think we may watch one of the random movies we rented and munch on donuts Mimi got for her birthday yesterday.) Lots of love. =D