Sister Patti Tippetts
Primary Music Leader
From the time I was just a little girl my mom taught me to love the beauties of the world. No matter where we were, she would find something to be amazed by, and she would share that wonder with her children. We often had to stop abruptly on dirt roads when she would suddenly chirp, “Wait, wait, wait! Did you see that?” Dad would pull over and we would all get out to see whatever it was she deemed worthy of halting our adventure. We stopped to put our feet in streams; we listened to bird calls; we smelled fresh rain on sage and sand; we looked at tiny flowers and plants; we all stood around a curious hole in the ground and contemplated what lived inside; we studied the footprints of some critter that had recently passed by; we looked toward the heavens at rainbows, clouds, sunsets and sunrises, falling stars, moon doggies, eclipses, constellations, all phases of the moon, and even an occasional comet. I remember rubbing my eyes and trying to focus on some rare and wonderful experience because she had woken me in the middle of the night to share with us the fascinating beauties of the world—and the universe.
All of these experiences were accompanied by microlessons as she related her own stories, or facts about the event we were experiencing. She knew the song of every bird in Southern Utah. She knew why colors filled the sky when it rained. She knew the name of each flower we encountered. And she would say that if we didn’t stop to appreciate this little flower, no one else might be along to do it either, so we better do it now.
Now, I’m sure she didn’t know everything, but I thought she did. All of these wonderful experiences and little lessons usually ended with something like, “Our Heavenly Father must really love us!”
She had a knack for finding and recognizing the gifts of God in everything around us. And she was adamant that we appreciate and enjoy every little thing because, well, God had given it to us to do just that…make us happy.
In the scriptures it tells us that God created this world and made it beautiful for us and that all of the wonders of the world and heavens testify of His power and His might…and I would add His love.
We need to make certain that we show appreciation for all of the wonderful blessings our Heavenly Father showers on us, and thank Him reverently and often.
We should also remember that He also gave us the gospel because he loves us and it will help us be happy while we are here on this beautiful Earth. He DOES know everything. And He knows what will lead us back to Him. He loves us all, and wants us to return to Him someday.
I love and miss you all. Keep singing and smiling!
Here are some more songs you could practice:
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