Cookies For Sale

When I was thirteen I was in a children's choir. It was a very professional little choir. We performed often and even traveled to venues outside of my home state, Virginia. We had to fund raise annually to provide for these trips. So one year we decided to have a huge spaghetti dinner and a silent auction.

I was completely absorbed with preparations for the event. I worked very hard to invite as many of my friends as I could. I also petitioned them for donations for the silent auction. I envisioned buckets of money and thousands of choir fans in response to my efforts. Over the weeks leading up to auction night, I gathered all sorts of things: snow tires, a dresser, and a dozen or so cookie tins.

The cookie tins were by far my favorite. They had adorable, seasonal themes and were shiny and colorful. Of course, the tins were going to be auctioned no matter what, but it seemed criminal to auction them empty! So, I set to work flipping through my mom's cookie recipes and writing up a shopping list. The night before the dinner, I threw on an apron and got to work. I spent five or six hours baking cookies. Chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, ginger snaps, and snicker doodles flew in and out of the oven. After they cooled, I carefully arranged them in the tins with parchment paper laid in between layers of cookies. By the end of the night, the tins were beautifully overflowing with tasty goodness. They practically glittered.

Auction night came and I anxiously waited until the end of the silent auction. I was positive my cookies would bring in a fortune. However, when the auction had ended, I saw the bids listed next each item. With horror I realized that each of my cookie tins had sold for......1¢.

My face fell. My whole soul drooped. What had happened? I certainly had put more than a penny's worth of work into those cookies! They were perfect! How could someone be so mean! I felt completely distraught. If only those mean auction people understood how much I had worked on those cookie tins.

Heavenly Father has told us that "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God"(Doctrines and Covenants 18:10).

Christ also taught, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7).

I am sure that to God, we are like those shiny cookie tins were to me. Actually, we are worth a lot more to Him. Just as I was appalled by my cookies selling for 1¢, I am sure that when we judge ourselves or others to be of less value, He likewise is distraught.

Champion Good! Value people! Value yourself! You are worth a fortune!

Chopstick Muscles

We have so many muscles! Tons and tons! There are tiny ones and big ones, strong ones and weak ones. Some we can control and some we cannot. Today I will post about chopstick muscles.

This is my current companion, Sister Lim. She is from Korea. She likes to cook Korean food for us. I like it, even though it can be pretty spicy! However, to eat it properly, I had to improve on my chopstick skills.

So, first I got my own set of chopsticks.

Then I had my first practice. Rice and seaweed. Sister Lim taught me how to hold the chopsticks correctly and set me loose on the food. I did a pretty good job. While I was working away, Sister Lim told me about her childhood. In Korea, she had to pass a test in school where she moved sesame seeds from one bowl into another. If she did not pass the test, she was not allowed to eat around adults or guests!

That did it. We got out some seeds. I tried and tried and tried and finally got one seed into a cup! Yes! I felt very accomplished.

However, the next day when I tried to eat with chopsticks again, I could barely hold the chopsticks. I told Sister Lim "My chopstick muscles are sore!" She laughed. Of course, she does not even notice her chopstick muscles! Hers never get sore!

For most of us "spiritual muscles" (like faith or patience) are a lot like chopstick muscles. We have to use them to realize that we even have them! Using them at first is hard and we might get a little sore. But it gets easier. The principle is the same. Practice makes perfect. I am not as good as Sister Lim with chopsticks yet, but I am getting better! You may need some practice with your spiritual muscles, but you can can pass the test if you keep trying.

Work those spiritual muscles! Love you all!