EIGHT

YOUR HAPPY BIRTHDAY

This month is such a special one;
It’s birthday-time for you.
We’d really like to celebrate
Your happy day with you.
Zip-a-dee-ay and heigh-dee-ho,
Here’s something we can do.
We’ll sing a song that we all know,
Happy Birthday to you!

Children’s Songbook, 283 

Words and music: Charlene Anderson Newell, 

b. 1938. © 1969 IRI

Winslow - you will be eight this weekend.

That is a very special day - on its own!

You will also be baptized this weekend. 

That is another very special day - on its own!

And when you get baptized you are also given a gift - 

the gift of the Holy Ghost.

God talks to us through the Holy Ghost.

You get to do two special things on one very special day! We will come. We are very excited for you. When I was baptized everyone said I would feel very special things in very special ways.  I didn't think I felt anything different or special. I did not really feel like anything happened to me except I got wet (and we all got to go to town and we had a treat - our large family did not all, together, go the 15 miles to town unless there was a good reason to do so).

Many, many years later I heard a talk about the many ways we feel or hear the Holy Ghost. We were told that if we would think about the day we were baptized and confirmed and try to remember how we felt that day that we might know one way that the Holy Ghost speaks individually and specifically to us.

I thought and thought about my baptism day.  I thought and thought about the Sunday I was confirmed.  What  I could remember most for both days was that I thought I felt nothing - I wondered at how I could have felt so absolutely empty and void of thoughts or feelings - I did not feel bad or afraid and I did not feel the burning we hear so often about or even a nice warmth.  I did not understand what I felt until I tried to describe the way I felt to Papapa - then I knew that what I had felt was a deep quiet stillness - a stillness and quiet so profound that I thought I felt nothing at all.  

There are several scriptures that say
 "Be still and know that I am God".

I have learned that when I feel that certain quiet, empty stillness that I am feeling the Holy Ghost and that God is talking to me.  There are many ways to feel the Holy Ghost.  Each person will have their own unique way and understanding - and it may be different from anyone else.  

As you enjoy your special day think about and observe how you feel (and what happens to you) and if possible, write those things down.  It will help you when you are older. I am older ... I have lived 8 years seven times.  I can hardly wait until I can say I have lived 8 years 8 times - that is only 7 and 1/2 years from now. You will be almost 16. 

My father and mother have lived 8 years 10 times! 

When I am that old how old will you be?

We hope you have a terrific day Winslow -
Love Papa and Grandma