Circling the Wagons

Dear READER,


To start off - Family Home Evenings at the Jensen house are never a small thing. There is tons of food, family, and talk. This gathering is held once a month and we usually all gather down in Provo. Someone in the family is asked to prepare a lesson that would fit our family and the needs we have. Pretty much "go by the spirit and pick something good". (They are always good) Yesterday was once again one of those special occasions. We gathered together after a long day of service and were not only physically fed but spiritually fed also.

David is one of my cousins. He belongs to the Michael and Karen clan and holds a bit of a special place in my heart. He is the one who taught me how to drive; not only automatic, but stick as well. He's the one who growing up who would come over and take us out in the back yard and play for hours with us. He's been there when I just needed to get away from school. He watched over my car on more than one occasion. And if I ever was in trouble I know I could call him and he'd be to my aid ASAP.

Yesterday David had the lesson and what he talked about was the circling of the wagons. When the pioneers would stop for the night they would circle their wagons about so that nothing could get in or out. For example hungry bears couldn't get in and wild children couldn't get out. It was a great protection to those young saints. Not only that, it helped in Unifying them as they would all come together and sing songs and dance and tell stories.
Our Jensen family though we be not pioneers we do circle our "wagons". I don't exactly know how to put into words how this is done so instead I'm going to give some of the examples that were given during our Family Home Evening and I hope you'll get the point.


1. Brandon and Kathi Dawn

When Brandon was really young just a new born, he got really sick. He spent days on end in the hospital. David and Rachel (Brandon’s parents) were always at the hospital. Thing were a bit ruff, to say the least. Well Aunt Kathi came and stayed with David and Rachel for a bit. She would sit in the hospital with Brandon for hours. She would go home and watch Rebekah as well. She became that right hand to David and Rachel. There were many more in this experience that helped in circling the wagons around David and Rachel but Kathi played a key role in being there in the time of most need.


2. Meagan and David's House

While Meagen was a freshman up at Brigham Young University (BYU) she struggled with that first year. Sunday turned out to be Meagan’s favorite day because she would head over to David and Rachel’s house for Sunday dinners and just to talk. What a great way for David and Rachel to circle those wagons around Meagen in a time when she needed.


3. Lindsey and the Family

Lindsey shared a tender moment as she told us about how when she married Andrew and became part of the Jensen family that the family just pulled her into the circle. There was no "oh she one of the married in ones" no she was family.
I've seen something with circling the wagons that I find interesting with this. We see that we can bring people into the wagons which means we can probably leave gaps for people to get out. One thing that the pioneers and we need to continually be doing is making sure that there are not any gaps in our circle - not letting anyone fall through the cracks and feel that they aren't part of that circling/gathering. It's a hard thing to do but when we all are watching out for those around us, we will see the cracks and be able to fix them.


4. David and Aunt Sandralee

While my Mum (Aunt Sandralee) was pregnant with Keturah she was really sick. I mean we couldn't touch the bed or she would get sick. David was still in High School at this time but almost every afternoon up the hill David would come with a coke and a soccer ball. He would give the coke to Mum and then would take the boys out in the back and play for hours on end. David has a special gift for seeing those in need and wanting to help. My Mum can't tell this story without crying because this meant the world to her.


5. Andrew and David

When David was called to Iraq, he wanted a blessing. At the time His father and grandfather were not around and he didn't want to just ask anyone. David called Andrew. Andrew dropped all he was doing and came right over to be there for his Cousin, for David. How special it is that we have cousins that we can call on in times of need.


6. The Family Fast

One of the biggest examples I would say would be our Jensen Family Fast. When we have members in our family that need special blessing or that are struggling, we have a day that we as a family fast for those people. Even if it's just one person we fast. We bring in our wagons close together and circle them about those who need.
For myself I can say that when doing this fast, I know that the people/member of our family that we fast for our blessed and strengthened, but I think I come out being strengthened to.



Those are just six examples of the circling of the wagons - and it's not even close to all the times it happens. I am noticing that it seems to happen every day in our family.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa, Mum and Dad, My Aunts and Uncles, and my Cousins, for being the GREATEST examples of love (this circling the wagons). I have learned and continue to learn so much from you about how to serve and help those around me. Sometimes we may say "wow, a lot of things happen to this family and we sure do go through a lot of trials"..... we do have a lot going on but we are also the most blessed family ever because we have each other and we can handle whatever comes our way and love it.


Yours Truly,


Jenessa