Ok, so I actually started this post a YEAR ago. No I am not joking the exact date was Dec. 16th. And this story is mainly for our future entertainment as we look back at this little journal of sorts I have. But I hope some of you will still read it and tell me that we are not horrible horrible people for thinking this is so funny!!
Now before I share this little story with you, let me give you some background. A while ago (3 years) Loyd Newell (Some of you may know him as the voice of the Tabernacle Choir) was doing a book signing at Costco for this book full of stories to read at Christmas. It is called "A Christmas Treasury: for Latter-day Saint Families." I flipped through the book and saw that he had come up with 25 topics, one for each day in December until Christmas. Me in my first year of marriage was so anxious to start our own family traditions I thought this would be a great one! Each night we could read aloud about the true meaning of Christmas and hear wonderful stories and quotes from the brotheren. I decided to get it!
I brought it home and each night we read together about hope, gratitude, love, charity, etc. Well on day 15 the topic was Service and this was one of the stories. It made us CRACK UP for at least 30 mins. Yes we are still silly and sometimes just laugh hysterically for no reason, but this story just tickled our fancy.
Now before I share this little story with you, let me give you some background. A while ago (3 years) Loyd Newell (Some of you may know him as the voice of the Tabernacle Choir) was doing a book signing at Costco for this book full of stories to read at Christmas. It is called "A Christmas Treasury: for Latter-day Saint Families." I flipped through the book and saw that he had come up with 25 topics, one for each day in December until Christmas. Me in my first year of marriage was so anxious to start our own family traditions I thought this would be a great one! Each night we could read aloud about the true meaning of Christmas and hear wonderful stories and quotes from the brotheren. I decided to get it!
I brought it home and each night we read together about hope, gratitude, love, charity, etc. Well on day 15 the topic was Service and this was one of the stories. It made us CRACK UP for at least 30 mins. Yes we are still silly and sometimes just laugh hysterically for no reason, but this story just tickled our fancy.
PLEASE read it and hang in there, the good stuff is at the end but you have to read the whole thing. It is not long.
There are Two Seas in Palestine
Ok, so is it just me? Well, first off, please know that I DO understand the true meaning of the story and that is fine and good. But really, this story, the way it is worded, how dry it is . . . it just makes me giggle just thinking about it! And before you think I am too awful, please know that I do have a big testimony of service and I am always striving to be better at it. And I guess in a way this little story has been a good an fun way to remember to serve. Jeff and I now and forever will always joke about this story anytime we think about service and we will say to each other:
"There are two kinds of people in the world.
There are two seas in Palestine."
One is fresh, and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it, and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters.
Along its shores the children play, as children played when He was there. He loved it. He could look across its silver surface when He spoke His parables. And on a rolling plain not far away He fed five thousand people.
The river Jourdan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men build their houses near it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.
The river Jordan flows on south into another sea.
Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children's laughter. Travellers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its waters, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink.
What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas?
Not the river Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not the county round about.
This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure.
The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously.
It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps.
The Sea of Galilee give and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is named The Dead.
There are two kinds of people in the world.
There are two seas in Palestine.
Along its shores the children play, as children played when He was there. He loved it. He could look across its silver surface when He spoke His parables. And on a rolling plain not far away He fed five thousand people.
The river Jourdan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men build their houses near it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.
The river Jordan flows on south into another sea.
Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children's laughter. Travellers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its waters, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink.
What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas?
Not the river Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not the county round about.
This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure.
The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously.
It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps.
The Sea of Galilee give and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is named The Dead.
There are two kinds of people in the world.
There are two seas in Palestine.
Ok, so is it just me? Well, first off, please know that I DO understand the true meaning of the story and that is fine and good. But really, this story, the way it is worded, how dry it is . . . it just makes me giggle just thinking about it! And before you think I am too awful, please know that I do have a big testimony of service and I am always striving to be better at it. And I guess in a way this little story has been a good an fun way to remember to serve. Jeff and I now and forever will always joke about this story anytime we think about service and we will say to each other:
"There are two kinds of people in the world.
There are two seas in Palestine."
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