Like the Children of God We Are!

"Those that learn best, have the capacity to learn from others." Yes! Every person you meet , whatever their condition in this life-- is someone we can learn from.

They are all my brothers and sisters and I love them. If the Lord sees the most humble persons divine potential, so must I. I'm so glad He has seen my potential, even when I didn't see it myself. He sees more clearly my divine heritage and I'm so grateful!

"The greatest learners expect resistance and learn to overcome it"--says President Eyring. So many famous people have lived through one discouragement after another, only to step right up and be determined to work through it and get it right the next time!

Oh, we complain sometimes. Life is a test, isn't it? I've learned not to complain so much these days. To look for hope instead of discouragement is my goal. The greater the test, the greater the compliment from Heavenly Father. Heck, we should all be so grateful he thinks so highly of us all! He knows we can overcome so much more than we realize.

What trials lay ahead for me? I'll never know. I've learned to see that we will all face difficulty in the days and years ahead. But we know that Heavenly Father will give us no test without a way to overcome it!

We need to stay determined in our righteous desires of our hearts. We need to expect the place of those things that bring humility and the power to learn. It transforms our lives. We need to act like the Children of God that we are! What would He do in our circumstance. Do what you have been prompted to do and do it today! Don't doubt the Holy Ghost after you have asked for help from Him above. He loves you! You are not forgotten!

"Seek correction, work hard, get through the daily adversity life throws in your path." You can do hard things. We all can!

I testify that you are a child of God. Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that we have a Prophet of God on the earth today. We have the power to rise up to the privileges that God wants to grant each and every one of us. Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

* Thoughts based on a talk I listened to by President Eyring today. Amazing and inspiring!

Teach , Guide, Calm and Comfort

Teach, Guide, Calm and Comfort.....This is what the Holy Ghost does for me. Sometimes I forget to listen and that is when I get off track in my life.

Frankly I'm a bit haunted by the fact that I've forgotten this recently in my dealings with one of our sons. I was reactionary instead of a good listener.

It's not fashionable in our day and age to submit patiently the purpose of our life and relationships to the Lord. But the sweet spirit of the Holy ghost prompts us well if we are patient and are unfettered by so much emotion and distraction in our daily lives.

I began to understand what it meant to be more patient this week as I paused to pray and seek answers and to be still.

I had to adjust my thinking and learned to wait on the Lord for the answers I was seeking. I needed to "be still and know" like Brigham Young once told us. Oh boy was that enlightening! It was amazing to hear exactly what I had been needing to hear on a woman's conference tape today.

Hopefully I can stay on track now. It's not easy being a mom or a wife some days. It is worth it though. Life is a blessing again. I'm ready to listen again.

He Will Prepare a Way

"No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations. 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ' "

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 22–23

I love nearly anything I read that President Uchtdorf has written. The words all seem to flow so beautifully and yet that isn't why I love his words. The reason, I feel the truthfulness of what he writes as the Holy Ghost testify's to me of it's truthfulness. It's a blessing to have that feeling and that knowledge in my life.

I've found that if I pray before I read the scriptures, answers to my daily problems seem to unfold before my eyes. I can open up the Bible to any page for example, and find that answer to which I'm seeking. It's amazing, even miraculous when you think about it! My children have all had this happen to them in their own lives during their studies as well. I'm grateful for that knowledge. Prayer works!

I love Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How He loves us! When I think of the ending of the book of my life, I pray I will be equal to the tasks at hand. That I will live up to the greatness that is within in me. I pray I can prepare my children for that which is to come. I feel like I've done my best--and it feels wonderful. I also know that I've repented along the way for my shortcomings. We all have them. Thanks to the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and start anew. I'm so thankful!

As my children are searching for jobs right now, we're praying for gainful employment for them. I know that sometimes things come in Gods time, not in ours. It has been frustrating for our oldest son as he tries to find that job after serving a two year mission for the church. We are all trying to be more patient now. God will find a way to bless him in due time. So, for now he has been keeping busy helping me around the house and in the yard and helping others with heavy work they cannot do themselves.

A good example is that Jason and his younger brother Hunter (who is also looking for work) are going to cut wood for an elderly couple this afternoon. It will help them this winter as the cost of so many things has risen. It feels good to see them giving service where it's needed.

I have found that good old fashioned work cures many ills that befall us. I wish I could remember President Hinkley's perfect words, but I can't. So I'll paraphrase. Please forgive me for doing so...When you are sad, work. When you are heartbroken, work. When you are lonely, work....and so on.

When I've been the saddest, I've given service and all that I was sad about seemed to fall away and look so small. The person I was helping came to the forefront of my mind from that moment--making my problems melt away. I think that is what "work" is meant to do. That is what President Hinkley was speaking about. Find something outside of ourselves to give of ourselves to. It's a blessing when times seems to hard. Become selfless instead of selfish. It's a wonderful sensation. It might be something new to a few of you out there. Try it out, it won't hurt. Focus on what God would want you to do. He will prepare a way for you.

The Lord's Promise

*" --As we invite the Savior into our lives, the Holy Ghost will bear witness to us of
the love which the Father and His Son, our Savior, have for each of us. But
feeling Their love is dependent not only on our desire but upon our actions
as well. And the actions we need to take are known to us: genuine prayer
that is specific and humble, followed by quiet listening for the Lord's
answers; regular scripture study and time to ponder what we read; and,
finally, a willingness to be introspective about ourselves and to trust in
the Lord's promise that He will 'make weak things become strong
unto [us]' (Ether 12:27)."

I feel that each family is uniquely prepared to support their missionary or child as an individual. In our family, trails and tribulations and service are happenstance. Our kids were prepared for the very worst and the best on their missions. through those tough character building situations and opportunities to give of themselves..

Through many priesthood blessings I've received for healing, each priesthood holder in turn told me that our trials were meant to make us stronger as a family and to teach our sons the gift of compassion. Compassion ebbed and flowed freely for our family because of this knowledge. It gave us strength when bigger trials came. Conflicts were resolved and hearts were mended.

We are all so grateful now for the hard work, the tears and the stumbling blocks we've overcome together. We can remind each other about these things during situations that are tough for our missionaries. We have already lived through so much that might help the one who is serving. We can lift each other in prayer and in thought and through our daily deeds of service--and relay those situations to them. We can tell them what we have learned and in turn they can share how our words have lifted them.

I guess what I'm saying is to continue to strive to learn and teach and grow in the gospel while our kids are on missions or away from home. Give service to our brothers and sisters inside and out of the gospel while they are away--just as they are doing. As we continue to share with our kids and lift them as we are lifted, we are still weathering the storms of life together as eternal families. I feel so blessed and humbled to have sons who are so willing to serve.

My heart is full and I now know that I can do anything the Lord asks of me especially after giving my children to Him for safe keeping. At the beginning of this missionary moms journey, I was weak and had so many fears. After much prayer and pondering what I have learned from the scriptures and living the gospel, I have found my way.

I have never been happier or felt stronger in my testimony of Jesus Christ and in His church. Life continues to be a blessing and I know with all I am that the Lord does keep His promises.
***


*(Kathleen H. Hughes, "Remembering the Lord's Love," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 112)