Eyres On The Road

The Eyre's are in St. George Utah for today's episode--Richard is there competing in the World Senior Games, and he and Linda begin the show musing about their tradition of going to the Red Rock country of Southern Utah every October. They then share some of the current events with their own family and discuss "best practices" for giving advice to adult children and holding a "Sunday Session" each week to review goals and priorities.

On today’s episode, Richard and Linda go deep into the subject of grand parenting—but it is not just a show for grandparents—its for parents too and for grandchildren—its about the whole family-village and how it can all work together better. Richard talks about how to be a more proactive and involved grandparent and Linda discusses how to know when and what to say to parents, and what not to say. Both agree that grand parenting is GRAND.

Richard flies solo on today's show while Linda is on a little retreat in Charleston and Savannah and the Outer Banks with her daughters and daughters in law. Richard takes on the topic of the ramifications of believing in literal Heavenly Parents. What difference can that belief make in our everyday lives as parents and marriage partners and individuals? How can it change how we pray, how we think, how we live?

On today's show, Richard and Linda tackle some of the difficult political issues of our time, but from the paradigm or vantage point of the spiritual--and in the context of a quote from President Dallin H. Oaks "Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them." In that light, we see many of today's conflicts and issues differently.

Through Scripture and Prophets, we know a lot about how our Heavenly Father parents us, His spirit children. On today's show, Richard and Linda discuss 15 ways or methods by which God parents us, and challenges parents to strive to follow the same patterns or principles in how we parent our own children. After listening to the discussion, you can read these 15 Divine Patterns of Parenting on Meridian Magazine (article 10 in a series of 12 on The Parental God.)

The Eyres are in New York this week, and couldn't resist doing this episode on their love for the city and the important memories they have there--including family history and spiritual memories. From Richard's mission in the 60's to their publishing careers to the education and employment of their children, New York had been central. And those who predicted NYC's demise a year ago are instead seeing a renaissance.

As those who listen often to this podcast know, the Eyre's byword, or watchword, is "Joy" and they define it much more broadly than "happiness." On today's show, Richard and Linda explore the word in the context of the positive interpretation of ALL of the things that happen to us--the pain as well as the pleasure. And at the center of all of the emotions of joy is our family and our familial relationships.

The Eyres were evacuated from their home this week because of the threatening Parley's Canyon Fire, and on today's show they talk about the wrenching emotions of deciding what to take with you from a home you may never see again. What matters, what is most important, what do you love most, what brings true joy? Then Richard and Linda touch on teaching Joy to small, preschool children, and introduce listeners to Joy School.

Linda is speaking this week on an address by Elder Jeffery Holland, and on the show today she reflects on the need for patience in our family and in being able to wait for the blessings we want and accept answers that are different than what we thought we wanted. "Comparison", Linda says, "is the enemy of Joy," and she relates some personal stories about the need for patience in our families and in our prayers.

On today's episode, the Eyre's tell the story of their early-life mentor Neal A. Maxwell and how he played a role in their move from Washington DC to Utah. Richard and Linda also comment on one of their favorite Elder Maxwell speeches--on training the desires of our hearts and on the impact that can have on our families.

It is the Eyre's 52nd wedding anniversary today, and they celebrate it with us by telling some of the highs and lows, and by hoping that listeners don't see them entirely as old fogies but as real and candid fellow-strugglers who can shed some light not only on how great marriage can be but on how hard it can be and how rewarding it is to hang on and fight through the tough times. Help from a higher source provides a path when we can't find one for ourselves!

Marriaging is an active, grow-and-improve word like parenting, and on today's show, the Eyres expose 8 myths or misconceptions about the world's oldest institution and how false paradigms and unrealistic expectations of these myths can undermine a relationship. Most importantly, Linda and Richard talk about how each myth can be replaced with an "implementable" truth that will strengthen the most important relationship of our lives.

On today's show, Richard and Linda talk about how Family Relationships seem to come into closer focus during the summertime. The R's of Family Summers: Reunions, Renewal, Review, Re-think, Reveal, Revamp, Re-set, Repent. Summer is a time to re-evaluate our family relationships--not only with our immediate family of spouse and children, but with extended family members. The Eyres share their own experiences and give us some ideas.

In all their experience with parents globally and in their own experience with their own children and grandchildren, the Eyres have become convinced that the only real and lasting solutions to parenting problems and the challenges children face are spiritual. In a nutshell, the five spiritual solutions are 1. Remembering our Children's true identity, 2. Remembering and following God’s parenting example and patterns, 3. Remembering and availing ourselves of our Direct Channel of Inspiration from God, 4. Remembering and using the "scaffolding" of our Churches and Faith Communities, and 5. Remembering the Savior's Power. Taken together, these five spiritual perspectives on family can change everything from how your household works to how your mind works. On today's show, Richard and Linda share insights on each of these five Spiritual Solutions.

Is it best to think of God as a heavenly parent or as an omnipotent King? Can we have the familiarity of a Heavenly Father AND the worship of Almighty God? Today on the show, Richard and Linda discuss this question and ponder how we can apply the divine example in our own parenting and marriages. The Eyre's annual family reunion is about to get underway so the Eyres also talk about what will be happening in their own family lives.

Believing in Jesus as our Eldest Brother ties in beautifully with belief in a Parental God--in Heavenly Parents whose Eldest Son is not only our guide and our Savior, but the literal brother of our Spirits. On today's show, the Eyre's discuss this sacred relationship and express gratitude and awe for all of the roles that Christ plays in the "three act play" of eternity.

It is natural to try to emulate a parent. To those who believe in a Parental God, striving to be like Him is a reasonable and approachable goal. On today’s show, the Eyre's discuss a list of important personal changes that happen in one who believes in Heavenly Parents

On this week's show, the Eyres delve deeper into the perspective and paradigm (and example and model) of The Parental God. They read a "poem in process" that tries to tap into the kind of feelings we have all had as we strive to pray personally to a personal Father and to grasp that there is a She as well as a He and that They love each of us as their spiritual children. Poems can prompt a type of individual and personal pondering that may help us better connect to the Parental God

On this episode, Richard and Linda continue their series on the Paradigm Shift of thinking of God as our literal, spiritual Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. They do so in the context of improving our own marriages and parenting by pondering the ultimate, divine example; and they list the ways that this perspective can change our thinking and our priorities and our approach to each day of our lives. This podcast parallels the Eyre's current article series on Meridian Magazine.

Today, the Eyre's take the discussion to a higher level by introducing the subject of God as our Heavenly Parents who not only answer our prayers about our families but also provide the ultimate example of relationship oneness and wise parenting of all of us as their spirit children. Thinking deeply about this paradigm of a truly and literally Parental God can change our tolerance, our levels of love, our marriages, and our parenting.