In Sunday School this morning we studied Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego. The actual lesson was integrity. These young men were put in a place of great responsibility and honor by the King, Nebuchadnezzar, but he required them to eat the food and wine of his own household. They could not do this because the food was not prepared according to Jewish law and they were bound by their religion and the religious law to not eat certain things. They had made a covenant with the Lord that they determined to obey. To the point that it could have cost them their lives and but for the Lord would have. They were greatly blessed for their integrity in keeping that covenant.
This reminded me of a precious dog that we had while my girls were growing up. He was part Dachshund and part sheep dog. He looked Dachshund but with a much deeper chest. He had a wire that he loved to play with - part of an old coat hanger that had been straightened. He would carry it around the yard, hide it and later go get it again. If we took hold of it he WOULD not let go. We could pick him up several feet off the ground by holding on to each side and he would not let go. This strength and determination is what we each need in this time of great trouble in the world. We will need every ounce of determination, integrity, sheer grit to be able to survive the coming troubles.
Ghandi said regarding taking beef broth after having promised his mother that he would remain a vegetarian all his life, that he would not even to save his life and that a promise was a promise and he would remain true to his promise. That is integrity. May we all have that kind of integrity especially regarding our vows in the Temple and the covenants we have made with the Lord.
A couple of the quotes from RS were - Sow a thought, reap an act,
Sow an act, reap a habit,
Sow a habit, reap a character,
Sow a character, reap an eternal destiny --- E. D. Boardman
When you judge someone you do not have time to love them - Mother Theresa
