Songs from Les Miserables, and Gospel Principles

My favourite book, other than the scriptures, is Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo. This book inspires me to do better, to help others, and become more Christ-like. So, as it around 1400 pages long and too large to read through and through every day, I listen to the musical fairly often. Some songs remind me of gospel principles, and here they are:
1. Stars, sung by Javert, about Jean Valjean.
This one illustrates forgiveness by showing the exact opposite. It is about how when somebody sins one time, they are lost. There is no forgiveness.
This makes me so, so thankful for the Atonement, that I can be forgiven for the sins that I commit.
(This is a recording of Russell Crowe singing it in the new movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwp_WOS4nKM)
2. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, sung my Marius, about the Friends of the ABC, who are all dead.
This song reminds me of how I used to think that death was the end of all things. I now know that death is not the end of life, but simply the end of mortal life.
 (This is a recording of Nick Jonas singing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01c1nSML9Mc)
3. On My Own, sung by Eponine, about Marius.
This reminds me of how we are never alone. Sometimes, it is easy to feel that way, but we are truly not alone.
(This is a recording of Samantha Barks singing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQnJ4mIfT0c)
4. Bring Him Home, sung by Jean Valjean, about Marius.
This song really is an example of faith, as Jean Valjean always is after his redemption. This is Jean Valjean praying that God will save Marius, and bring him home to live happily. Life comes through faith.
(This is a recording of Hugh Jackman singing it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikpw6c2-Ti8)


Also, just because this is a new song and I love it so very much, here is Suddenly, sung by Hugh Jackman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvi-ylOHRP8

Put Your Dreams Away

A little while ago, I was listening to Put Your Dreams Away, sung by Frank Sinatra.
The lyrics are, 
"Put your dreams away for another day
And I will take their place in your heart.
Wishing on a star never got you far
And so it's time to make a new start.

When your dreams at night
Fade before you,
Then I'll have the right
To adore you.

Let your kiss confess this is happiness, darling,
And put all your dreams away."
(The punctuation might not be accurate, as I was just judging by what seemed to make sense.)
I enjoy this song, mostly because I enjoy almost everything sung by Frank Sinatra, but I don't believe this expresses the true meaning of love. Love should build up dreams, instead of replacing them. When you love somebody, you want to help make them happy, and to help accomplish their goals.

Here is a link to Frank Sinatra singing this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBPLs9ns-q4   
It is absolutely beautiful.

Happy Birthday!

Last Friday was Graceful Ponderings' first birthday. It's been really interesting to go and look back at my first posts, and then look at my latest posts, because I can see a definite change in my writing.
In celebration, I though I'd make a list of a few things which you should probably know about this blog:
1. I use an "ou" instead of just an "o" in words such as favour, colour, and honour. I think it is more elegant, and I like it better.
2. I will probably start out too many posts with things about songs I was listening to, because I listen to music a lot, and what I surround myself with is what I think about.
3. I really, really enjoy reading comments from all of you.

Real Courage

Last week, I had an assignment in school to think about what courage is, choose somebody who exemplifies courage to write a research paper on, do a service project that exemplifies courage, make a plan to develop courage, and give an oral presentation on my chosen person. So, I thought a lot about courage, and I want to share some thoughts on courage.

Soldiers, who fight for the love of what they believe, are courageous.

Teachers, who truly care about their students and are willing to do what they can to help, are courageous.

Mothers and fathers, who help and care for their children, are courageous.

Those who refuse to participate in gossiping are courageous.

Those who stand up for what they know are courageous.


There is also cowardice. Cowardice is backing down when things get hard. Cowardice is giving up, without reason.

Courage refuses to give up. Courage gets up every morning resolved to try to do better, even if it messed up yesterday. Courage follows this advice from Winston Churchill:
"...never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in
nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and
good sense."

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!
To celebrate, here are some songs that I think are wonderful for today:

1. He Sent His Son
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNjHs3-EyzU

2. Families Can Be Together Forever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J-_f4oRuWI

3. My Funny Valentine
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKvrSHVsRDo


I hope you enjoy these songs, and this day. :)

Frederic Bastiat

For my class this week, I had to read The Law by Frederic Bastiat. I first read this for a discussion at a seminar in 2009, I believe. Ever since then, I have loved Bastiat, because he has clear, logical reasoning that makes absolute sense. In 2009 I didn't really understand it very well, being very young, but I love Bastiat's works even more now that I have read them over a few times and have grown in my mental capacity.

In The Law, a few of Bastiat's points are:
1. The right to life, liberty, and property are born in man.
2. An attempt to take the fruits of property without the consent of the labourer who produced this property is plunder.
3. A person can live either by plunder or work.
4. The law is established only to protect the rights to liberty, life, and property, which is simply protecting from injustice. Any other use is a perversion of the law.
5. There are two types of plunder; legal and illegal. Illegal plunder is when a person or a group of people plunder without the consent of the law. Legal plunder is when a legislature makes some sort of plunder "okay" by using the law to protect it.
6. Both types of plunder are wrong.
7. Where the law is perverted, conflict will follow.

In case you would like to read The Law, here is a link to a website where you can read it for free:
http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html

I would highly recommend reading any of Bastiat's essays. I think they are truly classics, which can be read over and over, teaching more every time.

Improving Ourselves

Yesterday while driving home from Seminary (or rather, being driven), I was praying, because I really wanted to know what I could do to help some people of my acquaintance who are having a bad time and have fallen into some not desirable habits. When I looked up after finishing, I saw a couple of big lights on a hill in front of us. I immediately thought of Matthew 5:14-16, which is,
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Sometimes, all we have to do is improve ourselves without worrying about what others are busy doing. It can be really hard sometimes not to try to improve other people, especially when we care for them. But we must look first to ourselves, or, as Mohandas Gandhi supposedly said, we must "be the change [we] wish to see in the world."

I found this image on Pinterest, and because I liked it, I borrowed it. I don't know who made it.