FATHERING LEADERSHIP

Develop a Healthier Personal Behavior Pattern

DAY 10 | TEN DAYS

Plants Know How to Grow | Saying Goodbye

PURPOSE OF THIS 10 DAY COURSE:

LEARN profound lessons through daily stories & reflection
Gain MOTIVATION to change behavior through understanding
TRACK your progress | ACCOUNT for what you’ve done
RECORD your thoughts & impressions
REPEAT good behavior until healthy habits are formed

WHAT TO DO:

MORNING DEVOTIONAL: PLANTS KNOW HOW TO GROW

Pray | To Heavenly Father
Sing/Listen to Hymn
1. For the Beauty of the Earth
2. LDS Hymn #92
Read Scripture | Matthew 5:43-48
Serve | How can I serve today?
Read Story | Plants Already Know How to Grow
Ponder | Answer

EVENING DEVOTIONAL: SAYING GOODBYE

Read Story | Saying Goodbye
Journal | Write in your Journal
Read Scripture | Matthew 6: 1-4
Ponder | Answer
Sing/Listen to Hymn
1. O My Father
2. LDS Hymn #292
Pray | To Heavenly Father | Harry’s Prayer

Flying Snowy Egret | by Scott B. Froerer

MORNING DEVOTIONAL | PLANTS ALREADY KNOW HOW TO GROW

PRAY | TO HEAVENLY FATHER

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank thee… [use your own words]

I ask thee… [use your own words]

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

SING | LISTEN

INSTRUMENTAL

MUSIC & VOCALS

LINK: LDS HYMN | FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH | #92

READ | SCRIPTURE

NEW TESTAMENT | MATTHEW 5:43-48

CHAPTER 5

43. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

NOTE

Being a child of your Father in heaven is better than being a man or women of the world.

SERVE | HOW CAN I SERVE TODAY?

READ STORY | PLANTS ALREADY KNOW

Tommy was angry. He threw his hoe to the ground, began walking back and forth, and yelled, “I give up!”

He didn’t care who heard him. Perhaps it was the hot sun or the hard work that he wasn’t used to, but he had had enough.

Tommy continued his angry display until Harry came over to see what was bothering him. “Why are you yelling? Are you hurt?” asked Harry.

“No,” said Tommy. “It’s these stupid plants. I hate gardening. No matter how hard I try, your garden is always better than mine. Look how green your garden is and how brown mine is.” He scowled, “I hate gardening!”

“I thought you liked seeing things grow,” said Harry.

“Well, I used to,” said Tommy, “but look at your garden, everything is a mile taller than mine. What’s wrong with my stupid plants!”

“Let’s take a look,” said Harry.

They walked closer to the first row of plants and knelt down. Harry began to study each leaf. Then he reached down and took hold of a plant near its base and let it gently pass through his hand until he could spread out the last leaf flat against his open palm. The leaf was noticeably small and pale; aphids were unusually numerous on the fragile plant. Letting go of the leaf, he reached for a handful of soil, squeezed it, and let it drop to the ground.

Tommy watched Harry more intently than ever. “Why don’t these stupid plants grow for me like they do for you?” Tommy asked.

“Your soil is too dry.” Harry answered confidently. “Look how the soil breaks apart and doesn’t hold together. While trying to care for your garden, you haven’t made sure water reached the end of the row.”

Tommy took a handful of soil and squeezed. It was dry and easily broke through his fingers.

At Harry’s suggestion, they walked to Harry’s garden plot and knelt near the first row of dark green plants. The soil was cool and moist.

“Can you feel the difference?” asked Harry.

“Yes,” responded Tommy.

“If you watch how much you water your plants they’ll be just fine.” Then remembering what his father taught him, Harry added, “Plants already know how to grow! If we provide for them and keep out the weeds, they’ll do the rest.”

Harry’s father had been watching them for a few minutes and finally decided to join them. After hearing what they had been talking about, he said, “Let me tell you a story I think you might enjoy.”

IS THERE A CREATOR?

Two men, one named Thomas the other Jonathan, were returning from a long journey. The path was easy to follow and they were not concerned about finding their way. Many travelers had come this way before and undoubtedly many would follow.

As they walked, the younger Thomas was explaining to Jonathan his growing confusion. During his travels to a far country, he had met a certain philosopher that did not believe in a Creator. He claimed that there was no proof of such a being and ideas like these were only “silly superstitions that were passed down to control weak minds. People are merely an accident of nature” he claimed.

Young Thomas was becoming more and more perplexed. “What if he’s right?” he asked his friend.

Jonathan listened carefully to his companion as they walked under the tall trees of the forest and he pondered the feelings of his own heart.

Just at that moment, before he could form an answer to his friend’s question, a ray of light caught a shiny object laying on the path just ahead of them. A few steps closer and a beautiful gold pocket watch came to view with an exquisitely decorated cover.

Reaching the watch first, Thomas instinctively opened the cover, glanced at the time, and held it to his ear. It was ticking perfectly.

Jonathan suggested that this would be a good place to stop for a rest and consider what should be done with the watch. They found a fallen log and soon were sitting comfortably. After a few moments, Jonathan thought of a question to ask his friend.

“Tom, I wonder what that philosopher would say about this watch?”

“What do you mean?” responded Thomas.

Jonathan continued, “Surely, if man, who is a hundred times more extraordinary than this watch, could be an accident of nature, as your philosopher suggests, then this pocket watch might also be an accident. Perhaps it has rested here long enough that it’s parts have fallen into just the right places. And it’s very likely, if we leave it here, it may become a grandfather clock!”

They laughed, decided to leave a note in a prominent location instructing anyone who came looking for the watch where it could be recovered and continued their journey.

Then a thought came to Thomas, “Perhaps this forest will transform into a great sailing ship for our next journey.” Again they laughed. “Jonathan,” added Thomas, “I think you’re right. Man is no accident and there is a Creator.”

PONDER | ANSWER

Life appears to be self-directed. ‘Plants already know how to grow.’ But that includes weeds too.

Learning how to cultivate living things that are beneficial to man isn’t easy. Maximizing their potential is equally difficult. Changing seasons and weather create new challenges. Bugs and weeds infest our efforts.

In the end, life is designed to make us work for a living. We should strive to do our best to fulfill the full measure of our creation. We should learn, we should work, and we should pass these treasures on to our children.

QUESTIONS

Why have you been created?

What are your special talents and interests?

How can you contribute to the garden of life?

Commitment: I will try to develop one of my talents, like practice the piano.

Commitment Kept:

Signature: ________________________

EVENING DEVOTIONAL | SAYING GOODBYE

READ STORY | SAYING GOODBY

That night, Harry wrote in his Journal:

“Tommy returned home today on his father’s private jet. Miss Guardiola was happy to see him. I think she is as old as my dad. Tommy said he will call soon. He wants me to visit him. It would be fun to ride in his jet. I hope the tomato plant I gave him grows okay. We had fun. I hope he can come back soon. It is sad his father and mother don’t get along. My dad is great. Sometimes he’s too serious but most of the time he’s okay. I better close before my eyes are too tired to read scriptures tonight.”

Harry’s father hadn’t returned home from irrigating the garden yet, so Harry read from the scriptures alone after putting his journal back on its shelf.

He knew his father would read the same verses later that night after their water turn. Harry still hadn’t figured out why the irrigation water couldn’t come at the same time every week instead of random days and all hours of the day and night. He’d have to ask his dad to explain it.

He was ready for sleep and quickly climbed into bed right after his prayer.

JOURNAL ENTRY | DAY 10

Record your activites, feelings, thoughts, and/or questions.

READ | SCRIPTURE

NEW TESTAMENT | MATTHEW 6:1-4

CHAPTER 6

1. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

NOTE

Heaven can not be bought by acts of pride. A truly charitable person will be the most surprised by their heaven’s arrival.

PONDER | ANSWER

Being with a friend or loved one brings us happiness. Parting from them brings a longing to be together once again and we look forward to our reunion.

Some goodbyes are made more difficult because we don’t know when we will be together again, we will miss their help, or because we fear for their safety.

Some goodbyes are made less difficult because their journey will be rewarding, they will be with loved ones, or perhaps they are helping others in important ways.