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Today
By
Vickey Pahnke-Taylor
Editor's
note: If you've always wanted to sail
the Mexican Riviera, you can do it
in the company of Vickey Pahnke-Taylor,
John Bytheway, and Meridian Magazine.
Click here for details.
Today
is a good day. So far. There have
been no major glitches, no major whammies,
no surprises that suck the wind out
of the lungs or cause us to fall to
our knees. We are grateful.
But then,
we have had days when darkness hung
around like low-drooping limbs of
thick, mossy trees, clouding over
our skies and seeming to block the
warming rays of the sun. At those
times, when we were up to the task,
we have felt the warming, healing
blessings of the Spirit. Although
there may have been a glitch or wall
into which we smacked, it was — after
all — a good day.
How do
we navigate so that today is good?
Every single day? Here are a few thoughts
that might assist us in making each
‘today’ count:
- Make
a decision that, regardless of
what comes today, we will “do
good” rather than be negatively
reactive. The following counsel
from President Harold B. Lee is
worth looking at every single
morning: “There is only one day
that you and I have to live and
that’s today. There is
nothing we can do about yesterday,
except repent; and there may be
no tomorrows. The thing for us
to do when we arise from our beds
as God gives us a new day, is
to pray that whatever comes to
our hands, we will do it to the
best of our ability.”
- Pray.
First thing, ask for help in making
today count.
I
love this poem. It makes me smile,
and packs a great message punch:
Dear
God
So
far today I
Haven’t
been grumpy,
Judgmental,
mean spirited,
Or
thoughtless to anyone.
But
I will be getting
Out
of bed in a minute,
And
I might really need you then.
-
Make
service a part of each today.
There is a Hindu proverb that
says, “Help thy brother’s
boat across, and lo, thine own
has reached the shore.”
-
Grit
teeth, bite tongue, count to ten,
or whatever is needed to refrain
from using ugly, hurtful, or damaging
words. In a sea of commotion,
it can be a lifesaver — for the
speaker of the words and the hearer
as well. It may save arguments,
hurt feelings, or rifts that could
turn into canyons. Watch your
words. In Matthew 12:36, we read
the Savior’s warning that “every
idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof
in the day of Judgment.” Caustic
comments, proliferation of profanity,
murmuring mumblings are idle words.
-
Choose.
Choose to create a good day today.
Choose to make it count, regardless
of the life lessons we are given
to learn. Simply, it is taking
the words from Joshua 24:15 and
keeping them in our hearts: “Choose
you this day whom ye will serve;.but
as for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord.”
Okay!
There we go! Just five little things
that we can do. Graphs to
chart that we can work on and
note progress.
So, good
people, today is a gift. Have
a good day!
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© 2006 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
| About
the Author: |
| 
Vickey is a
songwriter/producer, vocalist, and professional speaker, and has
performed and/or taught in numerous venues. Her compositions include
the theme songs for the Special Olympics program (state by state
selection), the Make A Wish Foundation, the Especially For Youth
program of the Church, and the Families In Focus program. She is
a Billboard award winning songwriter, with hundreds of songs to
her credit.
She has enjoyed
participation in the Church Education System’s youth and family
programs for almost two decades, having taught for Know Your Religion,
Campus Education Week at BYU-Provo, BYU-Hawaii, and BYU- Idaho,
Especially for Youth, Best of Especially for Youth, and BYU Conferences
and Workshops.
Studying musical
theater at BYU, she has used that learning experience in the music
field as a way of enhancing the teaching of correct principles.
Her latest gospel works include the collaborative projects "Women
at the Well" with Kenneth Cope and "My Beloved Christ"
with Randy Kartchner. Vickey has contributed to numerous EFY albums
over the years and as a chapter contributor for many yearly EFY
books; and as contributor the best selling LDS compilation, Sunshine
for the Latter Day Saint Teenage Soul. She authored the book K.I.S.S.:
Gospel Guidelines for Better Relationships for Bookcraft Publishing
Company. For two years she was editor and columnist for "Gems
for Youth" on the web at LDSWorld.com, formerly the Church’s
electronic arm.
Vickey’s
performance/teaching experience includes venues from participation
with a nationally touring Repertory Theater Company to Symphony
Halls to corporate conventions throughout the U.S. She has been
commissioned to write scripts for the Faith & Values Channel;
and created and directed the Bi-Centennial celebration for the Hampton
Roads, Virginia area.
She holds a
masters degree in interpersonal communications and currently resides
in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is married to Dean Taylor and together
they have eight children and two grandchildren. |
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