The father showed me his CTL ring. I had never heard of such a thing before, but apparently someone sells them, indicating that they stand for "choose the left." The parents told about how when one of their younger children noticed and liked the ring, they told them that it stands for "choose to love." How appropriate! I loved it and I want one.
This morning I was choosing songs for Relief Society. The topic was obedience, and it reminded me of the guilt I was feeling about attending the Pride parade and other festivities instead of going to church. I suggested to Scott earlier in the week that we miss the parade to go to church, and attend pride in the afternoon, but he decided he was going to the parade with or without us, and I decided that whatever we did, it should be together. (We missed church last week because of being up way too late after our party and having company from CA staying at our house.)
Anyway, as I was looking through the hymn book, I turned to hymn #237, "Do What is Right":
1. Do what is right; the day-dawn is breaking,My guilty feeling lifted as I felt the words of the song talking to me. Don't worry about the consequence of going in the morning when the day-dawn is breaking (and missing church); instead, fight for freedom, be faithful and fearless, and accept the fact that God is leading us, protecting us, and blessing us in our quest.
Hailing a future of freedom and light.
Angels above us are silent notes taking
Of ev’ry action; then do what is right!
[Chorus]
Do what is right; let the consequence follow.
Battle for freedom in spirit and might;
And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow.
God will protect you; then do what is right!
2. Do what is right; the shackles are falling.
Chains of the bondsmen no longer are bright;
Lightened by hope, soon they’ll cease to be galling.
Truth goeth onward; then do what is right!
3. Do what is right; be faithful and fearless.
Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight.
Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless.
Blessings await you in doing what’s right!
Text: Anon., The Psalms of Life, Boston, 1857
Music: George Kaillmark, 1781–1835
During the parade, I saw the parents from our party and their family marching with PFLAG in the Parade. They were also doing what they felt was right, and it was a joyous sight to see.
After sitting through heavy rain for an hour or more during the parade, and then wandering through endless booths, our feet hurt, we were wet and cold and hungry and tired, and yet our oldest son said, "This was the best Sunday ever!"
Oh dear, what am I teaching my children? :)
I hope they are learning to love.
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3 comments:
I've always loved that hymn, so I googled "Psalms of Life", to see if I could find more info. No luck on anything related to the hymn, but found this:
Voices Of The Night : A Psalm Of Life -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act, — act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Awesome lyrics! Thanks for sharing!
My husband and I are co-parents with the couple you speak of (my husband's ex-wife)and we think they are amazing! It has been so wonderful to watch the happenings of the past year or so with all of us! We are the proud parents of a gay child! And nothing will ever change that!
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