The Whole Truth and Nothing But

Most of us consider ourselves to be people of integrity—living a life of honesty with strong moral convictions, striving to always tell the truth. We consider ourselves a step above the occasional politician or celebrity, revealed to be leading a secret life of corruption and deceit. But what would our world be like if everybody ALWAYS told the truth? What if we simply blurted out every single thought that popped into our heads, without editing the content—the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Recently I saw a movie called, “The Invention of Lying.” It’s not a movie I’d particularly recommend, as it was slow and poorly written, occasionally resorting to sexual humor to get a laugh. But the idea of not being able to lie—EVER, is an interesting concept to explore. How would it change our world?

The movie takes place in a fictionally based world where “lying” has not yet been invented. People openly express all their thoughts and ideas, living life on facts—things seen. Faith—belief of things not seen, is not a hypothesis yet perceived. For example when main character Anna, played by actress Jennifer Garner, is asked on a date, she says something like, “I’m not particularly attracted to you, but I’ll go because I know one day I’ll lose my looks and I’m terrified of living my life alone!”

Mark, played by comedian Ricky Gervais, is a quirky, sexually unattractive, screenwriter, about to be fired due to his boring script writing—much like this movie he wrote. He is of course in love with Anna, who judges him by his outward appearance and considers him a real loser. However, everything changes when Mark tells the first fib—an invention that he soon discovers can open doors for him that were formerly closed. He finds power and influence that he’s never experienced!

One of the interesting moments of the movie occurs when Mark’s mother is dying. Because their world is based on absolute fact and truth, the medical personnel caring for his mother, along with his mother, have no belief in an afterlife. The doctors are brutally frank when explaining the situation and make no attempt to soften the blow. Mark is distraught watching his mother suffer, who is fearful of her impending death—terrified of the unknown. So Mark calms his mother by telling her she has nothing to fear. He tells her that she is going to a beautiful place where she will be greeted by all her loved ones who previously died—a place where she will be young again, able to run and move freely. His mother relaxes and peacefully passes away. Meanwhile the doctors and nurses are completely astounded with this “new truth” and beg to know more. Soon Mark is mobbed by television reporters and crowds of people desiring the whole truth.

However, with this new theory of God—a man in the sky that can make good things happen, comes the realization that God might also be responsible for the misfortunes that also occur in their lives! No one is prepared to except the complete truth, and they quickly reject God as truth.

The movie does make you ponder the good of living in a world of complete truth. Do we really want to know the answer to, “Does this dress make me look fat?” Or are we happier living with a little less reality—a world where we decide what truths should be shared?

Perhaps when all is said and done in this world we presently live in, where integrity is constantly at risk of becoming extinct, we must first be honest with ourselves—accepting responsibility for our own choices. We may ask for advice or be given counsel from others, but ultimately we have the free agency to choose for ourselves. It has been said that, “The truth will set you free—because living a lie is no life at all.” I have great respect for all those who choose to speak the truth—the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We are inspired by their truth. They make us want to be more—become better than we are. They are life’s true heros!

* * * * *

“Memories inhabit our stories, make them breathe, give them life. So we learn to live with the reality that what we remember is an imperfect version of what we know to be true . . . Her counterfeit identity gave her a new life, but it also took its toll, requiring her to nurture the deceit, to learn the art of lying—not merely how to tell a lie, but how to live a lie, because lying was the route to survival, lying was safety. But always, always, she lived with the fear of being discovered.” ~ Quoted by author, Steve Luxenberg, in his novel “Annie’s Ghosts,” a true story

“Mom never shed her secret, and it also defined her. She did what she had to do. I suspect that Mom never intended for her secret to last a lifetime. Most of the time, we make a decision based on the circumstances at the time . . . [But] just as a cure can be worse than the disease, revelation can be more devastating than reticence. That’s the fear that seems to drive many of us to embrace silence or deception. But too often, we’re just telling one more lie, this one to ourselves.” ~ Quoted by author, Steve Luxenberg, in his novel “Annie’s Ghosts,” a true story

Definition of a Hater

The word “hate” is associated with an intense feeling of dislike. It may occur in a wide variety of contexts—hatred of inanimate objects, hatred of oneself, or hatred of other people. But a “hater” is a person that simply cannot be happy for another person's success. Hater’s might not even desire to be like the person he or she hates, but taking them down a notch, with a derogatory comment or two, somehow makes a hater feel better about themselves. Rather than being happy for the other person’s achievements, a hater makes a point of exposing another’s flaws.

Don't worry about your haters or why they hate you. It’s not your problem . . . it's theirs! Just pray for them, that their life can be fulfilled. Watch out for haters . . . but most of all—don't let yourself become a hater!

Maya Angelou, an American autobiographer and poet, has been called “America's most visible black female autobiographer.” She is a new kind of memoirist—one of the first African American women to publicly discuss her personal life. Maya Angelou has became highly recognized and respected as a spokesperson for women of all races. In discusing her road to success she said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ~ Maya Angelou

Here is Maya Angelou’s famous poem depicting the definition of a “hater.” Let it be a reminder to us all to remember who we are—divine children of God, discovering our true purpose here on earth. Fulfill your dreams!

Hater
By Maya Angelou

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall. They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good enough!

When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters . . . That's why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your dreams, because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed.

It's dangerous to be like somebody else . . . If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right? You never know what people have gone through to get what they have.

The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story . . . If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!

We've all got some haters among us! Some people envy you because you can:

Have a relationship with God.
Light up a room when you walk in.
Start your own business.
Tell a man/woman to hit the curb (if he or she isn't about doing the right thing).
Raise your children without both parents being in the home.

Haters can't stand to see you happy. Haters will never want to see you succeed. Haters never want you to get the victory . . . Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side! How do you handle your undercover haters?

You can handle these haters by:

1. Knowing who you are and who your true friends are—VERY IMPORTANT!!
2. Having a purpose to your life. (Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.)
3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation. Fulfill your dreams!

You only have one life to live . . . when its your time to leave this earth, you ‘want’ to be able to say, “I've lived my life and fulfilled ‘my’ dreams . . . Now I'm ready to go HOME!”

When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters, “Don't look at me . . . Look at ‘Who’ is in charge of me!” ~ Maya Angelou

“When we know better, we do better.” ~ Maya Angelou

Happy Days!

Our Wedding Day

June 26, 1972

Love brought us together . . . 


As husband and wife, 


And gave each of us . . . 


A best friend for life!

Happy Wedding Anniversary!!

“Who says you can’t have your cake and it eat it too!”

“After 38 years in this sacred institution of marriage, I can safely say, ‘There's no one with whom I would rather be institutionalized!’” 
~ Author Unknown

“What's the earth with all its art, verse, music, worth—Compared with love, found, gained, and kept?” ~ Robert Browning

Tuesday dōTERRA Tip!

dōTERRA’s “Balance” and “Serenity” blends have become my best friends—a true love affair of appreciation. My Lyme disease infected arms can suddenly become stiff and ridgid, unable to move and electrically charged—like they could set off an electrical storm of fireworks on the fourth of July!

However when my friend, Balance, is applied, my arms become calm, like crysal blue water on a smooth summer lake. Amazingly this change occurs within 50 seconds after a mere two drops of my magical potion of oil. Two drops of my second best friend, Serenity, applied to the back of my neck, eases the tension of the day, helping me drift away to a dreamlike state of bliss—insuring a night of uniterruped, restful sleep.

"Balance” is a “Grounding Blend.”

We all experience moments when we feel disconnected or have a mounting level of anxiety. The warm, woody aroma of Balance has a calming action on the Central Nervous System, creating a sense of calm and well-being. When applied to the bottom of the feet or the back of the neck Balance(TM) quickly releases its harmonizing effects. It’s a blend of Spruce, Rosewood, Frankincense and Blue Tansy, offers an enticing fragrance which promotes tranquility and a sense of balance. The Balance(TM) essential oil blend can be used topically and diffused into the air.

“Serenity” is a “Calming Blend.”

Stress is a major contributor to illness and disease, in fact, it is estimated that more than 90% of all visits to health care professionals are related to stress. Serenity is a calming blend designed to accentuate these soothing properties, creating a sense of well-being and improved health through the natural reduction of stress and its related symptoms. Serenity is a blend composed of individual oils with known calming properties. Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood and Vanilla Bean create a subtle aroma ideal for aromatic diffusion or topical
 application. Applied to the bottom of the feet or neck at bedtime, dōTERRA®'s Serenity is an excellent way to induce restful sleep. Added to a warm bath Serenity creates the perfect escape with its peaceful, renewing fragrance.

dōTERRA is the only company in the world that has CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) essential oils.

PURE—100% natural, no artificial ingredients, fragrances, or fillers.
SAFE—Certified to be free of pesticides and other chemical residues.
POTENT—Standardized active compounds.
TESTED—Tested by independent laboratories, not in-house vendors.

dōTERRA is a firm company with a solid foundation. It was built and is run on a daily basis with honesty and integrity. It is quickly becoming one of the strongest and largest companies world-wide!

The Measure of Success

How do you measure success? Is it by the money you have, the clothes you wear, or the house you live in? Perhaps you measure success by the friends you have or where you stand on the ladder of popularity. Do you measure success by the number of “toys” you’ve collected or the advanced technology acquired?

We live in a world in which being successful is held high as the ultimate goal to be achieved. Worldly success is often measured by the amount of power, popularity, control, and achievements we attain. Life can be a game of competition with the underlying motto, “He who has the most toys wins!” It is human nature to want to win!


In a commencement address given at McGill University in Montreal, Rudyard Kipling (author and poet 1865-1936) warned students against having an over-concern for money, power, or popularity. He said, “Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.”

Recently at my daughter’s graduation, a story titled “The Investment Banker and the Fisherman” was presented. It was a powerful parable reminder that success and happiness have little to do with fame and fortune—power or control. Wealth, power, control, and status may momentarily help us to escape emptiness, but they cannot cure it. We run into trouble when the only thing we are living for is success that is self-serving.



True success is only achieved when we find joy in the present—the simple moments spent loving and serving our family and friends, children and grandchildren. Ultimately, love of family and our faith are the only things of importance that bring lasting fulfillment in a world geared toward gain. These are the precious gifts we take with us when we return to our Heavenly home. 



We honor our children—our posterity of whom we have always been proud—through good times and tough. You play together, help one another, and care for each other in times of need. And you lovingly devote your time and talents to us—your parents, as well. In this, we are eternally grateful. You make our lives successful!

The Investment Banker and the Fisherman



An investment banker stood at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.



The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”



The banker then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?

 The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

 The banker then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”



The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”



The investor scoffed, “I am an Ivy League MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.“ The investor continued, “And instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would then sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution! You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”



The fisherman asked, “But how long will this all take?”



To which the banker replied, “Perhaps 15 to 20 years.”



“But what then?” asked the fisherman.



The banker laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions!”



“Millions. Okay, then what?” wondered the fisherman.



To which the investment banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.” ~ Author Unknown



"Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one." 
~ Benjamin Franklin 



“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to learn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a little bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flying High on Graduation Day!

“The tassel's worth the hassle!” 
~ Author Unknown

Mckenzie—May 28, 2010

When Peter Pan taught Wendy, John, and Michael how to fly he sang, “I'm flying . . . Look at me—way up high, Suddenly—here am I . . . I'm flying!” On the night I watched my youngest daughter, Mckenzie’s final school play, Peter Pan, marking the closing months of her high school technical theater days, I was flying high inside with emotion. I couldn’t really explain what was happening to me at that moment in time . . . but as Peter Pan rose into the air singing those immortal words, my eyes filled with tears and I began to cry. Here was my baby—the last of my children—ready to spread her wings of independence and fly away to college. Here she was ending her high school experience by designing and lighting the memorable show of the boy who never wanted to grow-up!

Today is Graduation Day! And while I know there will be other graduations in the future for extended family members and grandchildren, I know there will never be another high school experience for one of our children. This is it—the end of an era, leaving us both joyful and melancholy at the same time. Erma Bombeck, humorous newspaper columnist from the mid 1960s to the late 1990s, perhaps expressed it best when she said, “Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After [eighteen] years of child-raising, they are unemployed!”

So in celebration of your day Mckenzie, I present the following bit of humor, a poem written and performed by Dr. Seuss at Lake Forest College’s 1977 graduation exercises, where he received an Honorary Degree. It is Dr. Seuss’ only known commencement address.

Background Story: Eugene Hotchkiss III, president of Lake Forest College from 1970 to 1993, told the background story about this memorable graduation:

“On Commencement morning, as the honored guests robed in their academic regalia, I asked Mr. Geisel if he would be willing to say but a few words, acknowledging his degree. His silence was penetrating. Finally the time came to read his citation. As Faculty Marshals stepped forth to place the hood over his head, I spoke these penultimate words, for which I must credit my wife, Sue: “We proclaim you not the ‘Cat in the Hat’ but the ‘Seuss in the Noose’.” And then I awarded him the College’s degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa."

"At that moment, fearing his response, I shook his hand in a whisper and asked him if he would be willing to say a few words. He reached under his academic gown, announcing loudly for all to hear that it was ‘a bathrobe,’ pulled out a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and turned to the microphone. And the rest, as they say, is history!”



On Dr. Seuss’s piece of paper were the following words:

My Uncle Terwilliger on the Art of Eating Popovers

By Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss

My uncle ordered popovers

From the restaurant's bill of fare.

And, when they were served,

He regarded them with a penetrating stare . . .

Then he spoke great Words of Wisdom

As he sat there on that chair:

“To eat these things,” said my uncle,

“You must exercise great care.”

“You may swallow down what's solid . . .

BUT . . .

You must spit out the air!”

And as you partake of the world's bill of fare,

That's darned good advice to follow.

Do a lot of spitting out the hot air

And be careful what you swallow!

~ Dr. Seuss


[An original poem composed for the 99th Commencement of 
Lake Forest College by Theodor Seuss Geisel; June 4, 1977
]

“All our dreams can come true . . . if we have the courage 
to pursue them!” ~ Walt Disney

May Babies—Lucky People!

“It’s May! It’s May! The lusty month of May! 
 That lovely month when ev'ryone goes blissfully astray!” 
~ Lyrics from “The Lusty Month of May,” Camelot

Today, on the 24th of the current lusty month of May, it snowed here in Utah! You’ve gotta love the unpredictability of this joyous month.

The saying goes that “April showers bring May flowers,” but in my family May has always showered baby girls! Three out of four daughters born to my parent’s were May babies, including me. Joyfully, my husband and I even had a lusty month baby of our own.

I have always loved being born in May, as flowers emerge beneath their winter coats and crops begin to sprout. There are people who even believe that being born in May is “lucky” because people born during the summer months seem to have a more positive outlook on life than those born during the winter months. My own great, great grandmother, Annie, was born during the summer months and they said she “always looked on the bright side of life!”

Scientists think the difference in outlook in summer month babies stems from the effect that daylight hours may have on dopamine, a brain signaling chemical, and early brain development of the fetus. At any rate, I’ve always considered myself to have a positive outlook and a good sense of humor. So I’m lucky to have been born a May baby, drawing in all that positive summer light and energy!

My daughter, Ashley, was a late May birthday gift to me. She was intended to have been an early present, but her due date came and went, along with my birth date, before she made her anticipated arrival. We’ve always teased her that she has been running a little late ever since!

I remember the day Ashley was born—as if it were yesterday. Born in the fifth month of the year, she was our fifth child and our fourth baby girl, born May 24th, just five days after my birthday. Although she was over eight pounds, she looked so little—petite, pink and cute. I couldn’t wait to take her home and go shopping for a “pretty in pink” ruffled blessing dress. For my other children—their blessing outfits were gifted, but with Ashley I was looking forward to picking out something special by myself. After having had twins prior to Ashley’s birth, one baby seemed easy—a piece of cake, and we were relaxed, cool and calm—pros at the wheel of parenting an infant. We sat back, joyously in love with our newest arrival, and just embraced our happiness. Ashley was welcomed into a home of ready made sisters and a brother, and having four older siblings meant her needs were instantly met. I don’t think we ever heard her cry hard until I weaned her at 11 months (she didn’t want to take a bottle).

I remember the day we brought Ashley home from the hospital. We had a shortened hospital stay due to flooding in Utah and water contamination. Not wanting to nurse my new baby with drinking fluids consisting of fruit juice and sugared soda pop, I opted for home. It was sunny and warm—a perfect “May” day, no need for a baby blanket of any kind. Prior to Ashley’s birth we’d built in our basement to make room for more children and because it was a beautiful day and I felt wonderful, we stopped on the way home to pick out brick for our downstairs fireplace! Afterwards we took our baby home to summer vacation and lazy summer days, quickly learning how to manage a household full of five children under nine years old.

Interestingly, the month of May was named after the goddess, Maia. In Greek mythology, Maia was the oldest of the seven daughters of Atlas—the most beautiful and also the shyest. In Roman mythology, Maia was identified with Maia Maiestas, a goddess equivalent to a goddess of spring. Like the goddesses Maia, the month of May represents the beauty of spring as it shyly comes forth to welcome the sunshine after a long winter nap. May also represents national holidays like Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. It is also home to little known celebrations like National Salad Month, National Egg Month, National Barbecue Month, National Hamburger Month, and Fungal Infection Awareness Month—now known as Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

May’s Birthstone is the “Emerald,” representative of “the green of life and enduring love!” Although almost all emeralds contain numerous flaws and cracks, these rare and valuable gemstones are the most beautiful, most intense, radiant green that can possibly be imagined. The green of the emerald is the color of life and of the springtime, but it has also for centuries been the color of beauty and of constant love. In top quality, fine emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds! I like to think that we who are May babies are much like the Emerald—beautiful, loving—rare gems, even with our numerous flaws and cracks! Hopefully—like the Emerald gemstones of May, we are still valuable in God’s eyes, even with our imperfections.

May’s Flower is the “Lily-of-the-Valley,” representative of “Faith, Courage, and Love.” The Lily-of-the-Valley is an old-fashioned delicate perennial, with tiny bell shaped flowers that bloom in the month of May. However, there is not anything delicate about this hardy shade-lover. Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) is a tough-as-nails perennial that will keep going after many others fail to thrive. Throughout my childhood, my dad used to loving refer to me as gentle and loving—”Linda Lamb.” I knew my parents loved me long before I knew I was a child of God—loved as His daughter. Who would have imagined that an unknown disease called “Lyme” would teach me of my true worth in His eyes and make a formerly tiny flower, tough as nails—surviving in the face of uncertainty and personal challenges!

Happy Birthday Ashley! 

 Here’s to my own little tough as nails beauty—a loving, lucky,
child of May!

“The world's favorite season is the spring. 
 
All things seem possible in May.” ~ Edwin Way Teale

It's May!

Tis like the birthday of the world,


When earth was born in bloom,

The light is made of many dyes,

The air is all perfume:

There's crimson buds, and white and blue,

The very rainbow showers


Have turned to blossoms where they fell,


And sown the earth with flowers.

~ Thomas Hood, Humorist and Poet

(May 23, 1799 –May 3, 1845)