FATHERING LEADERSHIP
Develop a Healthier Personal Behavior PatternDAY 9 | TEN DAYS
Seeing Color | When Things Aren’t Perfect
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: SEEING COLOR
- Pray | To Heavenly Father
- Sing/Listen to Hymn
- Lead Me into Life Eternal
- LDS Hymn #45
- Read Scripture | Matthew 5:33-37
- Serve | How can I serve today?
- Read Story | Seeing Color
- Ponder | Answer
EVENING DEVOTIONAL: WHEN THINGS AREN’T PERFECT
- Read Story | When Things Aren’t Perfect
- Journal | Write in your Journal
- Read Scripture | Matthew 5:38-42
- Sing/Listen to Hymn
- Come, Let Us Anew
- LDS Hymn #217
- Pray | To Heavenly Father
- Ponder | Answer
MORNING DEVOTIONAL | SEEING COLOR
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.”
READ | SCRIPTURE
NEW TESTAMENT | MATTHEW 5:33-37
CHAPTER 5
33. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
NOTE
Don’t promise to do something you aren’t willing to do… especially for the Lord.
SERVE | HOW CAN I SERVE TODAY?
READ STORY | SEEING COLOR
What has she done this time?, thought Harry, as he and Tommy hurried toward the rainbow of color streaming from Miss Brown’s classroom onto the school hallway’s tiled floor.
Curious students from other classes were taking turns peering into Harry’s classroom to see what was making all the bright colors.
There, set on Miss Brown’s desk, was a bright light, surrounded by triangle shaped pieces of clear glass. A flood of color was coming from each triangle, painting the floor, ceiling, and walls. A large poster in the front of the class read:
Tommy sat in his assigned chair and read the words written on the front board:
Miss Brown handed each student a paper and then asked, “Matthew, will you be today’s reader?”
Matthew eagerly agreed and began to read the paper entitled Light Basics. Miss Brown helped with a few difficult words.
He’s a good reader, thought Tommy.
Electromagnetic radiation, thought Harry. And raised his hand.
“Harry, do you have a question?” Miss Brown asked.
“Isn’t radiation dangerous?” asked Harry.
“That’s a very good question. Light is called “electromagnetic radiation,” but this kind of radiation is not generally harmful. However, what happens if you stay out in the sun too long?”
“You get sunburned,” answered Harry.
“Correct,” said Miss Brown. “There are other kinds of electromagnetic radiation, too, such as radio waves, microwaves, and x-rays, but light is the part we can see, the part that makes the color of a rainbow.”
Miss Brown divided the class into five groups and then said, “Your assignment is to learn all you can about light and next week make a group presentation about what you have learned. You may begin your planning.”
PONDER | ANSWER
As a child, you were probably afraid of the dark and light quickly brought you comfort. Darkness must flee from light. Light brings clarity, discloses hidden dangers, and reveals a spectrum of color.
Light is more than electromagnetic radiation. The scriptures teach: “God is light, and in him is no darkness.” (1 John 1:5.) God’s light is truth and shines on the path of life so we can walk with confidence. It clearly reveals good from evil.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14–16.) Heaven’s light shines from happy eyes, kind words, and acts of service.
QUESTIONS
- What has brought light into your life?
- What kind of music brings light into your life?
- Commitment: I will avoid images, stories, and thoughts of darkness.
- Commitment Kept:
- Signature: ________________________
EVENING DEVOTIONAL | WHEN THINGS AREN’T PERFECT
READ STORY | WHEN THINGS AREN’T PERFECT
With their evening journal, prayer and scripture reading completed, Harry and Tommy hurried to the backyard and rolled out their sleeping bags. This was Tommy’s first time to sleep out.
Tommy stared up at the stars. Then, after a long pause, he turned his head toward Harry and asked, “What’s it like – not having a mom?”
“Sometimes it’s hard,” Harry answered. “I miss her when I see moms pick my friends up from school or when I come home and she’s not there. But most of the time it’s not so bad. Even if your mom and dad get a divorce, at least you’ll be able to see both of them. I haven’t seen my mom for over two years.”
“I can’t believe she died that long ago,” said Tommy. Then a great idea came to him. “Hey, maybe you could come and stay with me for a while. When school is out you could stay the whole summer if you want.”
“That would be great” said Harry. “I couldn’t stay that long though. We’ve got too many chores to do. But I bet my dad would let me come for a while.”
“I’ve had fun here,” said Tommy.
“I wish you could stay longer,” said Harry.
“Me, too,” said Tommy.
“Hey,” asked Harry, “do you know the story about the stars and the boy who broke his dad’s good wagon?”
Tommy shook his head.
Harry pointed to a prominent star in the night sky and asked, “See that star? I’ll tell you the North star story my dad told me.”
THE NORTH STAR
A young man went to his father and asked if he could drive the family wagon to town. His father agreed to let him but warned him to be careful and to stay on the main road. The young man agreed.
On the way to town, he decided it would be great fun to show his friend he was driving the family wagon, so he turned off the main road towards his friend’s house. It was only a short distance.
Suddenly, from the forest appeared a giant snake that frightened the horse, tipped over the wagon, and would have eaten him if a brave hunter had not heard his cry and come running and killed the snake. Although the wagon was broken beyond repair, the hunter helped the young man return to his father.
Of course his father was grateful to the hunter and happy to see his son home safely, but the loss of the big wagon would make life difficult. Thankfully, the father still had the use of a small wagon and the return of his son.
CONSTELLATIONS | BIG & LITTLE DIPPER | NORTH STAR
Search the Stars:
-
- Can you see the upside down big wagon?
- Can you find the snake?
- Can you see the small wagon?
After Harry finished the story, they tried to see who could count the most shooting stars streak across the sky. It wasn’t long before counting gave way to sleep, and Tommy was so tired he didn’t even notice the mosquito land on his nose.
JOURNAL ENTRY | DAY 9
Record your activites, feelings, thoughts, and/or questions.
READ | SCRIPTURE
NEW TESTAMENT | MATTHEW 5:38-42
CHAPTER 5
38. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
NOTE
Behaving like Jesus is frequently inconvenient and always humbling.
PRAY | TO HEAVENLY FATHER
“Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank Thee for the beautiful things in our world.
We thank Thee for creating them for us.
We thank Thee for the sunshine and light it brings.
Help us to love our enemies, even though it’s so hard.
Bless us to repent so we won’t have to suffer and bless those that hurt us to repent too so they won’t suffer either.
Help us to have a good heart.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
PONDER | ANSWER
This life isn’t perfect. Sometimes bones break, old age follows youth, and family relationships are painful instead of sweet.
Hope, for a better life, is centered in Christ. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise.” (see Hebrew 6:10-12)
“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” ( Doctrine & Covenants 14:7)
QUESTIONS
- Why is enduring to the end so important?
- What can you do to help someone who is struggling?
- Commitment: I will help someone in need.
- Commitment Kept:
- Signature: ________________________
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
TEMPLES
FATHERS