A recent overwhelming family difficulty came to mind,
when I heard Sister Craig say:
“The Lord is more intent on our growth, than our comfort.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5YgQck3G4
(Fri AM Session of BYU Women’s Conference)
My 2 plus week trip felt ruined by day 3. Unbelievable.
I couldn’t understand what had just happened,
or why, or how -- considering the good relationship we’d always had.
I felt rejected, and was far from home, & from Dave.
I requested a priesthood blessing in which I was admonished to:
HAVE HUMILITY
CONTINUE TO LOVE THEM
APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE CREATED DISCOMFORT,
EVEN THOUGH IT WASN’T YOUR FAULTBE PATIENT & KIND-- YOUR FAMILY WILL LEARN FROM YOUR EXAMPLE
YOU ARE CALLED TO BE A GUIDE & A FRIEND...TO THEM
The Lord prepares the way, and so I was also blessed with an added measure of the Savior’s love, and promised- the restoration of relationships-in time.
This month’s theme took on a whole new meaning:
“DEDICATE OURSELVES TO STRENGTHENING MARRIAGES, FAMILIES, & HOMES.”
Sometimes it takes all we’ve got. I am inspired by Pahoran in The Book of Mormon. After being falsely accused, he responded with patience & love:
“And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not. I am not angry,
but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart.” Alma 61:9
I reached out to her, to let her know about a piece of that greatness,
which really felt like a stretch, but I was trying to see more clearly
the immense pressure she was under-and how that had spilled over into her behavior toward me. More opportunities have come, since then,
to look past family members’ unexplainable behaviors, and try to show love, anyway.
I know I need to look to the Savior, & seek His perspective on these situations,
in order to maintain hope in the blessings I am seeking.
Said Elder Stevenson, in “Hearts Knit Together”:
An ancient prophet commanded “that there should be no contention one with another,
but that [we] should look forward … ,
having [our] hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another…
..I find abiding peace in knowing that “the Lord is my shepherd”21 and that each of us
is known by Him and under His kind watchcare. When we confront life’s wind and rainstorms, sickness and injuries, the Lord—our Shepherd, our Caregiver—will nourish us
with love and kindness. He will heal our hearts and restore our souls.”
I add my witness of this! He is healing my heart...and for what I lack, I trust in priesthood promises, as I try to do my part, and wait on the Lord.
As we are nourished by Him,
we can in turn strengthen marriage, home & family
in the ways my parents taught us:
daily family prayer & scripture study and weekly Family Home Evening & church attendance. In addition, Dad showered mom with adoring praise, regularly creating an environment of love, for us to grow up in….and he planned fun celebrations of our little successes along the way!
In The Family Proclamation, we are taught that
“ Successful marriages and families are …maintained on [these] principles:
FaithPrayerRepentanceForgivenessRespectLoveCompassionWorkWholesome recreational activities
Lastly, President Eyring in “I Love to See the Temple” stated:
I bear solemn testimony that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father.
He chose His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior and Redeemer.
The only way to return to live with Them and with our family
is through the ordinances of the holy temple.
May we look to our Savior, as we seek to assist our family & friends in bringing the spirit & blessings of the temple into our home & relationships. Love & hugs! Audrey D.
PS A song! “More Than Enough” A Mother’s Day song by Shauwa Edwards, for all the moms who wonder if they are, or were enough….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7EfJRrJueY