Welfare is more than just making sure your pantry and freezer are full. It is a complete program designed to help us to be prepared and become self reliant.
A fair while ago I covered each aspect of the welfare program and feel it is time to do so again as a sort of update on how we are going in meeting the needs of ourselves and our families as well as ensuring our ongoing commitment to becoming self reliant.
Education and literacy:
Get an education; it is vital to meeting the financial needs of ourselves as individuals and later as families. After the birth of Mr.Darcy I knew I would not go back to work as a Chef unless I could find a daytime job. Then a few years ago I felt the need to help in providing for our family. Quite frankly I understood the importance of me being able to return to some form of work to support my family should Grant’s illness make it so that he cannot work. So I sought guidance as to what I should do. I wanted to be home for our children so I needed something I could do from home. With the love and support of Grant I undertook training and further education to become an Editor and Proof-reader. These are skills I can use to make an adequate income and I can do this work from home. Education and literacy also help with our social and emotional strength.
Social and Emotional strength:
Our social strength comes from how we interact with our fellow inhabitants on this blue green sphere. If we are mostly illiterate and under educated we condemn ourselves to a very limited life experience, our choices are limited, and the choices available to our children become narrower through our limited ability to raise them. Not to say that an illiterate person can not raise a star scholar or future great orator, but the obstacles could be a deterrent for many. I was raised in a household that allowed certain words as everyday speech that many consider to be swear words, so saying since joining the church I have had quite an uphill battle to change those words. Technically I could have chosen to stay in an environment that has such words as common words fit for every occasion rather than join the church. But the result of that would have meant instead of my Mr Darcy I may have had a little thug, I would not have met Grant nor had Miss Elizabeth. I would not enjoy the life I have nor the many wonderful experiences and people that I have in my life.
Our emotional strength is our ability to cope, to grow and to serve others. How we perceive the world lies largely in how we perceive ourselves. If we view ourselves as being unworthy of love or success or any number of virtuous attributes we cannot help others to grow, we cannot serve others fully and we cannot place all our faith in our Father in Heaven. We need to be someone our friends and family can turn to for comfort and support and we in turn need to have somewhere someone we can turn to in our times of sorrow or hardship. Our emotional strength helps us be all that we can be so we can say “Here am I, send me”.
Finances:
Developing financial stability and a financial reserve should be a high priority but not to the exclusion of all else, we should not put our family or ourselves at any risk to do so. Becoming debt free will lift our spirits beyond measure. The knowledge of having a financial reserve gives a huge peace of mind. We had a financial reserve that lasted us fairly well, having to rely on it meant we now have a greater appreciation of it as well as understanding just how much we actually need to have in reserve. Budget setting and keeping is a big part of becoming financially stable and building a reserve. By starting and sticking to a budget you not only set your family in good stead you are teaching your children the value and good sense in being money wise.
Deseret Industries:
Apart from donating our time, talents and unwanted goods to those in need there is another aspect of service and serving that we should consider. Being self reliant and living provident lives means we should try and do as much for ourselves as we can, including learning such skills as cooking, sewing, preserving, gardening, basic home maintenance, basic car maintenance, basic care and repair of our household and outdoor goods. We should also learn how to mend or make over our clothing, simple basic hair cutting and care skills, anything that in times of need will allow us to save money in anyway we can.
Food Storage:
This past week I have talked with quite a few people about food storage, one in particular was my main source of understanding the principals of food storage when I joined the church. Of late she has found herself with barely any food storage left and for the first time in her adult life at a loss as to how to start again. Another sister was excited by what she had learnt and how she had taken the need for food storage to heart and had begun by organising her food cupboards and making realistic lists of what she needs to purchase. Yet another sister is in the position of not being able to acquire more than 2 weeks of food storage due to her financial situation, she shared her frustration at not being able to purchase all that she desired and her peace of mind that what she did have would see her family through.
Each of us should seek to do the will the Lord as much as our circumstances allow. If 2 weeks is all that can be purchased, 2 weeks will do until you can purchase more, if you are at a loss as to where to go or how to start again, begin as the excited sister did, make a list and tidy up the pantry to see what you have and what you need, look at your shopping list and use it as a guide as to what you need. Ask around to see who knows where the best places are to purchase your storage. Don’t let it get you down, it is not insurmountable or beyond your reach.
Emergency Preparedness:
Be realistic about what you need in an emergency, have it handy ready to grab if you have to leave the house quickly. Also consider having duplicate copies of all vital paperwork kept elsewhere for safe keeping, say an interstate family member or friend. Consider having an emergency pack of sorts in the car, a couple of towels, water, first aid kit, long life food or even muesli bars. What about at work? Of course you may get a funny look lugging in a 72 hour pack to work but how about keeping a change of underwear, bottle of water, long life food and a few other items in a small box under your desk or in your locker? Know what emergency services are available where you live and how to contact them. Know where your mains supply is so you can shut it off; know how to get out of your house on your hands and knees in the dark. Some FHE ideas there! The other day I happened to accidentally use the smoke detector as a food timer, it took a while for Mr. Darcy to come see what the noise was but I did hear him touch the door checking for heat before he opened it, so I know he has listened and learnt.
Employment:
In gaining an education we increase our employment opportunities, we need to do all we can to be employed to our highest potential. Once we are employed we need to keep our skills current and even increase our skills so as not to limit our choices. There is a song I loved as a child ‘Do what you do do well’ whatever we do we should do it to the best of our abilities. Someone in the Church said ‘Good better best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best’, this is a principal that can be applied to our employment as well as all other aspects of Welfare.
Physical and spiritual health:
Our bodies are on loan to us so we really should be taking care of them, physical health is vital to maintaining the energy required for our job, our education, our social and emotional health, storing the right foods are important to keeping us physically fit and healthy. Restful sleep habits, exercise and good nutrition are the keys to Physical Health. Our spiritual health is both backed up by and backs up our physical health. Our spiritual selves need to be fed and nurtured, exercised and looked after if we are to continue to progress towards exaltation. We can feed our spirit by prayerful study of the scriptures, regular heart felt prayers, attending Church and our callings, attending the Temple. We can nurture our spirit by protecting it from the influences of the world and surrounding it with righteousness. We can exercise our spirit by sharing our testimonies, seeking to grow and live our lives by our faith, giving service and receiving service with a glad heart. Without our spirit we are nothing, so we need to take care of it, like our bodies it is the only one we have.
Until next week remember it is good to be a education seeking, socially and emotionally involved, emergency planning, employment opportunity making, physically and spiritually in tune Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
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