Chrystal is my last baby.  By the time she weans I would have nursed nonstop for over twenty years.  It has been an integral part of our family life and my children's experience with mothering.  Her story is told in Chrystal Kayli

 It is easy to get caught up in daily tasks, in constant frustrations, in mounting pressure to do whatever demands the most attention.  When our children seem to intrude on our preoccupation of accomplishing then we are often become short tempered.  It takes mental and emotional concentration to stop, take a breath and remember to be tender.

The beautiful psalm describing the character of Christ is also a description of a mother full of remembered tenderness.  She forgives intrusions on her to-do list and on increasing the size of that list by all the many oops of childhood.  She comforts when ills and pain invade a child's life.  She teaches lessons of love, principle and patience to fortify her little ones against the destroyer.  She knows who she is, a queen within her home, and she rules with gentle strength.  She brings peace and joy to her home through singing, conversation and physical sustenance.

Nursing a baby forces us to stop for a few minutes, sometimes even for entire days at a time, and give ourselves over to gentle thoughts and actions.  We cuddle and rock and allow our hearts to whisper, "This is important."  We learn that everything else is fleeting and moments captured in softness speak louder and last longer than all the finished tasks.

Once nursing is over we are ready to pick up the race.  Be careful!  When nursing ceases forever, the need for a tender mother remains.  Therefore, remember tenderness and delight in your family!

 Becoming mother doesn't happen through nursing.  It comes through loving and comforting a child.  We become Mothers In Israel not through the process of giving birth but through developing a love for Heavenly Father's children.  As we serve Him, we grow ever more in the magnitude of that sacred calling.

 Through caring for the little children we learn the need for constant forgiveness.  Forgiveness that comes swiftly and sincerely.  We learn the need for the showing forth of tender comfort so that the culprit will be encompassed with our love.  There are times when frustrations are very justified but our love for our little ones teaches us to let the frustrations go so that the lessons of life can be more gently imparted.

Christ forgives us as often as we repent and turn from our sins.  Christ comforts us as often as we allow his Spirit to sweep over us and into our hearts.  Christ loves us and the Spirit testifies of that love at every turn of life.  When we follow his example in the raising of our children we can more quickly turn aside from the irritated response and instead offer the soothing voice of instructive love.

 When the right time comes for the weaning of the baby there is an instant growth.  In a short while the baby cannot even remember to nurse.  He has nursed for months and in only a matter of days he has permanently put aside that activity.  The little one begins to grow in independence.  He can be comforted in a variety of ways.  He is ready for an outpouring of knowledge of a different type than he has had to that time.

It can be a difficult time for the mother because that little baby is gone.  In his place is the young child who is ready to explore and challenge his world.  There are still moments of quiet snuggle but there is also the vision that such times will also end.

Now the mother must become more firm in the teaching of knowledge, doctrine and rules.  Now is the time when the child is no longer the center of attention but is more thoroughly blended into the family society.  Now there is a small longing in the heart of the mother to keep that sweet relationship alive throughout eternity.  The little one may never remember what has ended but the mother can recall the closeness.  This binds her to a commitment to teach of the Savior.  Only through Him will they both be able to keep that purity of comfort and love.