Shoes of Time

As I finished watching the first two sessions of October 2009 LDS Conference and felt a new resolve to "be in touch" and "run the Lord's Errand" daily, I thought of my family as they have given service in their lives. I wrote the following. Although it is about serving an LDS mission, that's really what life is all about----service...


Lord, you called me on this mission
Then, I started to prepare
The earthly things I needed
To give my service there.
The “to dos” seemed overwhelming
As I planned what I would need
Clothing, books and all supplies
That would help me to succeed.
From the time that I was small
My parents helped me to
Prepare my inner spirit
To give my all to You.
My spirit had been clothed
With a testimony strong.
The spirit blessed me often
To choose the right from wrong.
The clothing purchased carefully
Would announce me to the world
That they might know in spirit
I would share a treasured pearl.
For my outer self must reflect
What my spirit had become
So my message could be heard
I was there to find someone.
My clothing started new
My shoes were tight at first
Yet, walking on the Lord’s path
Worn soles and seams did burst.
Although I had been careful
And my clothing lasted well
My shoes wore out quite often
As I walked the service trail.
May my feet be led in wisdom
Down the pathway I am led
May my footsteps wear out the shoes of time
That Father’s children may be fed.
-Shanna C. Hugie

Christmas Choir

I "sing" in the ward choir. I get much more out of it than I offer (I had a dream when I was young that I would sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but my voice better supports involvement in the ward choir). The Sunday before Christmas I had a life-changing experience and wrote the following:


The Christmas program started
And each one took their part.
The choir was woven through....
Testimonies began to spark.
A piano solo brought heaven
By a young girl's practiced hands.
The Holy Ghost would be felt
With the singing that was planned.
The ones who made it happen
Two Directors and two more
Who played the music beautifully
The spirit dwelled within their score.
Then one arose to sing
The song she had within
It was as though the angels
Were in the room again.
Another shared his spirit
By singing velvet tones
To help us all remember
Christ’s map to getting home.
There were two souls more unlikely
To be on the program there.
It was the parents of a singer
Their faces shown with pride and care.
For you see, they were his blessing--
His father mouthed the words in time
And his mother's face reflected
The love of Christ divine.
Only those up on the stand
Shared that glimpse of mortal love.
The parents of the singer
Were an image of heaven above...
The congregation felt
Thankful for the choir who shared
But the choir was more blessed
Looking at those angel faces there.
Shanna C. Hugie

Heavenly Father's "Presence" (Presents)

I received a request today to write about Heavenly Father's gifts. I thought a lot about all the "blessings" that I have and realized that I haven't even scratched the surface in the grateful department. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I offer the following:

For as long as I remember
I’ve loved to get a gift
Before they’re ever opened
I feel a little lift.
Some are wrapped with elegance
And some can look real plain
But the thing they have in common
Is they all say “To”, and then my name.
But then I got to thinking
About the “other gifts” I got
They aren’t on sale in stores
And never can be bought
For I received a gift of charity
And one to help me try
And then there was the gift of dreams
That helped me reach the sky.
Oh, and the one that made me cry
Because it seemed to be
A trial in a gift box
That brought me to my knees.
Yes, many daily gifts
Like a prompting just to call
And then the gift that will inspire
Lifting others where they fall.
Father never lets me down
And I know that every day
There will be another gift
And I will hear Him say
“Here, take this little offering
It will help to make you see
How to ‘give unto the least’
As you learn like Christ to be”
-Shanna C. Hugie

Destiny's Hands

I wrote this for the fiance of my nephew to go with a bridal shower gift...

When you were a little girl
Your hands reached toward the sun
A whole world to explore
As you chose the path you’d run.
Life brought you great adventure
As you held your memories
New days were like the pages
In a book of make believe.
You picked bouquets of dreams
As you planned what you’d become.
You grasped eternal meaning
As your childhood was done.
You met another, and you knew
Just as soon as he held your hand
That he was your intended.
He was everything you’d planned.
In your grasp you hold the future
Of all eternity…..
Your hands will now create
Dreams for your posterity.
You’ll hold onto each other
As you both learn how to stand
Together you’ll give service
With the union of your hands.
Shanna C. Hugie