Duck, Duck, Goose?

Last week, during a three hour visit to a waiting room waiting to get my two-year-old's finger X-rayed, Lukie got a bit bored with the books and crayons I had brought along to entertain him, so we we flipping through magazines talking about the pictures together.  We saw a picture of two ducks, nudging each other - obviously a pair.  Luke pointed to the ducks and said "Mommy duck, daddy duck."  His words struck me - duh!  Mommy duck, daddy duck.  That is the natural order of things, and a two year old could see that clearly.  It was so obvious to him.  Two ducks are mommy duck, daddy duck.  Not mommy duck, daddy duck OR mommy duck, mommy duck, OR daddy duck, daddy duck.  It is just simply mommy duck, daddy duck.  You know what they say.  If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...?  That is the order of nature, and a two year old understands this.  Why does this world have to be so nutty?

What happened Tuesday here in California was a miracle, quite frankly.  We are living in the eleventh hour, the end of days, and we are witnessing first hand what the prophets have been prophesying since the beginning.  This is it folks.  Unfolding before our eyes.  What happened on Tuesday was that kind of miracle.  And not only were we privileged to witness it, but we had the opportunity to participate in that miracle, to be part of that miracle, and for that we need to rejoice.

When we were read the letter from this first presidency asking the saints in California to do ALL that we could do to help this proposition pass,  I decided to do just that.  My parents have always taught me, and I have tried to teach my children that we always follow the prophet.  But how do we know what "ALL we can do" entails.  I decided that I had to just break it down.  As each opportunity to help came, I decided if I could possibly do it.  If I could, I would, and if I couldn't, then I couldn't, and I wouldn't feel guilty about it.  Can I knock on doors? yes.  Can I make phone calls? I don't want to, but yes, yes I can.  Can we make a donation? yes. Can I put up signs, stuff envelopes, write a letter to the editor? yes, yes, and yes.  Can I come to this rally?  No, I'll be decorating for a youth activity.  Can I deliver door hangers?  Yes, and my kids can too.  Can I go to this sign waving? Yes.  Can I go to that sign waving? No, we have an appointment, but I can drive by and honk on the way to the doctor's office, and show some support.  Can I help at the polls Tuesday night to get out the vote? Yes, because I am lucky enough to have a built - babysitter.  

Looking back I am amazed at how much I was able to do.  It didn't seem like so much, when I just took it one opportunity at a time.  I must say, it wasn't bad, and most of it I really enjoyed (not the phone calls though).   I really enjoyed the solidarity I felt among all the members who were working together in so great a cause.  Maybe I really could have done more, and I saw so many people, like Dayna and Ossil, that did so, so, so much more.  And I also know that everyone has different circumstances (Can I just say I am so lucky to have a babysitter!) and that some couldn't do as much, but still did ALL they could do.  It is wonderful. 

 It feels so good to be able to say I did do ALL I could do.  I think I need to apply this principle more in my life.  Am I really doing ALL I can do in my calling? in teaching my children the gospel? in my visiting teaching?  in my marriage?  Probably not.  Maybe if I take it just one opportunity at a time I can do more. During this whole campaign I just kept thinking that I want to be able to report to the Lord when I see him again that I did do ALL I could do, not just "my fair share".  I know that in my home, when kids protest that they did their "fair share", nothing ends up getting done.   If I could get them to each do ALL that they can do, this place would be in ship shape in no time.  I think the Lord's kingdom needs to work like that too.  

I see what the saints in this corner of California have done, and multiply it by the many wards and stakes throughout this state.  I pray that the sacrifice that the saints placed upon his altar, and my own sacrifice and that of my family, was acceptable to the Lord.  I think it was.  Even if we had lost, that would have been what really mattered.  

It is funny, because with this victory I do not feel a need to gloat or celebrate, but I feel a fantastic sense of relief, accomplishment, and deep gratitude that the Lord loves his children enough to trust us with this work, and that we were able to do what was asked of us.  I am grateful for those who put so much more work and time into this cause that I did, and for the opportunity my children had to participate and watch their parents fight for them.

One day I found my 5 year old busy working on some project.  He was making "Yes on 8" signs, (only he is still very new at the whole writing thing, so they said "Yes no 8" - a bit confusing, I know).  He took them outside and stood in our very quiet cul-de-sac and chanted "Yes on 8, Yes on 8".  Realizing he wasn't getting much of an audience, he brought me his signs, and told me to show them to my friends and tell them "Yes on 8." Will he remember this?  I hope so.  My older children all spent hours hanging things on doorknobs, and delivering and putting out signs, and babysitting so Dennis and I could go and help.  I am grateful that they know that they all were an important part of this miracle too.

I know it is not over.  We won the battle, and rest assured, in the end we WILL win the war, but there are going to be some tough battles to be fought before then, I'm afraid.  There are those who are doing everything in their power to teach my little boy that a duck is a duck, but so is a goose, and maybe an elephant too.  I will fight to make sure that doesn't happen.  What we learned from this battle will help us do ALL we can in the next.  God bless his saints and all his children who love and serve him.