Is it Good, Better or Best?

Tomorrow I give my very first lesson to all the Young Women at church in the Buffalo Ward. I have to admit to being both excited and nervous. Excited, because I love these girls. I've had many of them in my home and they are just a delight to have around. Nervous, because I'm not feeling well. I pray that I can teach this lesson on my feet and that they can feel the spirit as I teach.

These are some of the things I've learned during my research. I'll have to adapt them to be age appropriate of course. This is the adult version.

My lesson is based on the talk by:

Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best,” Liahona, Nov 2007, 104–8

"We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."

I was quite moved as I listened to this talk at general conference. How many of us overload our days with good things, when there are better or even the best things offered for our growth as children of God?

In this general conference address he spoke about how he Jesus taught this principle in the home of Martha...

"While she was “cumbered about much serving” (Luke 10:40), her sister, Mary, “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (v. 39). When Martha complained that her sister had left her to serve alone, Jesus commended Martha for what she was doing (v. 41) but taught her that “one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (v. 42). It was praiseworthy for Martha to be “careful and troubled about many things” (v. 41), but learning the gospel from the Master Teacher was more “needful.” The scriptures contain other teachings that some things are more blessed than others (see Acts 20:35; Alma 32:14–15)."

What a tremendous blessing it must have been for Mary who chose the better part. It must have been a moment she cherished all of her adult life.

Most of us have far more that is expected of us to do than we can possibly accomplish in one day. So we have to choose which thing is best for us.

I know that recently I had to say "no" to our son having another leading roll in a school play. He has a gift and he loves to share that gift with others. We are always more than happy to attend his plays and concerts. He has a voice that melts a mothers heart.

This last play he had become so run down, his grades had slipped and he'd been ill last play. The show must go on, right?

With all the extra things required of him last semester, he was just plain exhausted. I hated being the heavy. The director held out hopeful that he would still try out because they needed him. I knew what was best for him in this situation and told him, "No". As parents sometimes we have to make the best decisions for our kids when they don't. Our youngest is now gaining the weight back he'd lost, the rings around his eyes are lightening up. He is thankful now for the free time he finally has to get focussed on his academics and improving his health. He also has time to attend family functions and today we are going to a family birthday party together. He's also going to be home for dinner at night so that we can share in his day as a family.

We are at a point in our lives where we cherish those moments we still have as a family. We, like other families, have realized that we have to work harder than any other time in our lives just to keep our heads above water financially.

It's a sign of the times in which we live in. Recession isn't just a nasty word anymore, its a reality. Go grocery shopping this week and compare your receipt to that of last years check you wrote at this time of the year and you'll be shocked at the inflation. Our illustrious politicians just laid a huge gas tax and general tax increase on the heads of all it's Minnesotans in the Twin Cities. So now we have to work even harder. Now we have to be even more creative as to how to spend our meager family time together. Sometimes all we have time for at night is scripture study and a prayer--because Terry's second job ends right as we are getting ready for bed. We still make the time and its very fulfilling. It holds us all together.

Brother Oaks goes onto say that, " I have never known of a man who looked back on his working life and said, “I just didn’t spend enough time with my job.” We all need to keep this in mind as we work hard to keep food on the table. We know that we've always put our family first. We know the difference between need and want. We've found balance between the two. Our kids will always come first. This is such a short time we have to spend with them. Two have already left home and soon so will our youngest kids.

"President Gordon B. Hinckley has pleaded that we “work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it.”

He went on to say: “I ask you men, particularly, to pause and take stock of yourselves as husbands and fathers and heads of households. Pray for guidance, for help, for direction, and then follow the whisperings of the Spirit to guide you in the most serious of all responsibilities, for the consequences of your leadership in your home will be eternal and everlasting.”

The home is where we learn the basic precepts of leading a righteous life. Nothing can take it's place--it is our God given responsibility to ensure that our children are given the opportunity to learn and be reared in such a home.

What I've learned from this talk--some things that we do with family time are better, and others are best. We have to pass on some good things in order to choose others that are better or even best. Those times with our families can and will-- develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and lead to strengthening our families as well.

This I testify of, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!