joy

hooray for elder ballard's talk at this last general conference.

"...recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction...

Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said:
“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . .
I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11)."

thank you to my good friend, emily f, who reminded me of the part that the joy comes in moments, not ALL the time. somedays i feel like tearing my hair out because max and ava are constantly fighting. but, i pray every day that i will take things slowly. and do what anna quindlen wished she did: treasure the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

foundation

and now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

~helaman 5:12

mothers

the preservation of the 2,060 young warriors of helaman in the book of alma is a favorite story of mine. it is a wonderful story of faith. but i don't think i've truly noticed this verse before...

and now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army; yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. and we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe--that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.

~alma 57:26

what unbelievable faith! that they would faithfully head towards their possible death without flinching in their faith is astounding to me. the part that most struck me was what they were taught: that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power. i hope i am instilling this faith and knowledge in my children. by what i teach them and especially by my example.

how to be

when i read this a few days ago i had my kids on my mind. and the ways i need to be a better parent. and so i read it like advice to parents of how they should raise their children. this is alma couseling his son helaman in how to be with the people of the church and how to be as an individual in the gospel:

..teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.

preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.

o, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

yeah, and cry unto thy God for all thy support; yea let all they doings be unto the Lord, and withersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of they heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

~alma 37:32-37