Editor’s note: “The Spoken Word” is shared by Lloyd Newell each Sunday during the weekly Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square broadcast. This will be given Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022.
A family recently went on vacation together. The hope was to create lasting memories and opportunities for family bonding. But, as with most family vacations, those high hopes were soon tempered by reality. There were good times, but there were also unexpected delays, noisy crowds and hidden expenses that disrupted the family’s carefully laid plans. Not surprisingly, this led to some frayed nerves, miscommunication and discord among family members. At times, it was tempting to wonder whether the vacation was even worthwhile.
And yet, in spite of all that, the family did create lasting memories and opportunities for bonding. In fact, they seemed to bond most strongly over some of those unexpected struggles. They grew personally and as a family in ways that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
It’s a stretch to say that life is like a vacation, but there are some similarities between the experiences of this family and our journey through life. We may plan for — and hope for — endless joy and comfort. But that’s no one’s reality. Life is wonderful but at times painful; sweet and sometimes bitter. Challenging circumstances don’t disrupt the plan — they’re actually part of the plan — the plan for us to grow and progress. Central to that plan is the fact that we’re all traveling together as a family.
The connection, belonging and refinement that come from family life makes us better people. Yes, family life can be messy at times. But nothing polishes off the rough edges quite like the interactions we have in families — both our immediate family and the great family of God.
Every good family has some family rules, and in God’s family one of the best known is called the golden rule. Jesus of Nazareth put it this way: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). In other words, treat others the way you would like to be treated.
That rule applies even when we’re hungry, tired and frustrated. On vacation and in life, striving to treat others the way we want to be treated makes for smoother travel. More than that, it makes for stronger families. And stronger families make better people.
Tuning in …
The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast is available on KSL-TV, KSL Radio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradio, Dish and DirectTV, SiriusXM Radio (Ch. 143), the tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (must enable skill). The program is aired live on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on many of these outlets. Look up broadcast information by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.
