12 I say unto you that as I have been suffered to spend my days in your service, even up to this time, and have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you;
13 Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you—
14 And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.
15 Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day.
(Mosiah 2:12-15)
i was reading this in my scripture study today and trying to apply this to me in my life. and i thought of how i usually get down on myself as a mother for little things like speaking sharply to my son who is blowing a whistle in the house after i told him three times to please go outside. guilt about getting frustrated with the two year old who kicks and hits and screams every. single. time. she gets buckled into her carseat. but if i were to take a big step back. an eternal step back and look at the big picture of my life. as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, as a friend. then i can shrink those small blunders and notice how much bigger are the good things that i am doing in my life.
king benjamin pointed out all the bad things he wasn't doing and never did as a king. to perhaps help his kingdom see what a good king he was? perhaps to help him understand what a good king he was?
do i sometimes need to do this as a mother? remind myself that for all the little mistakes i make, i am still having daily scripture study with my children, i am still praying with them each day, i am still teaching them gospel principles and striving to help them build upon their own testimonies. the good i am doing will always outweigh the mistakes as long as i am applying the atonement in my life. each week, i partake of the sacrament and promise once again to be a better wife and mother. how wonderful to have that sacred ordinance to remind me of my eternal goals and my eternal purpose while on this earth.
