The longer that I am a mother the more I begin to understand my Heavenly Father.  When my children are injured or saddened because they have not followed the rules we have set for their safety I feel such pain.  I know that if only they had done this or not done that they would not have to suffer.  The comprehension that the Lord gives us commandments because he loves us is deepened within us.

The entire purpose of the commandments is to bring us back into his presence.  That is Christ's mission.

 Just as I want my children to heed those things which Neil and I have established for their safety and growth, our Heavenly Father desires that we heed his commandments.  The more exact we can be in following His word, the more joy we will have in this life and the more prepared we will be in that hour that we stand before our Lord.  The quicker and more sincerely we can repent when we err, the sooner we are bathed by His cleansing love.  The more fully we become like little children in striving to obey and grow in light and truth, the more we find ourselves trusting in His care and promise to bring us safely home.

Lesson learned from a story told in   Nathan's Story.

 We have fasted countless times.  We have fasted for health, for inspiration and for some rather serious problems.  We were part of a two ward fast for our son Marshall where a miracle occurred and I was able to hold him that first time.

We have experienced miracles in our lives together, innumerable miracles where hearts have been touched, lives saved and testimony intensified.

Then there was that day when Marina, an elderly lady we had taken in, quietly fasted for our tiny Nathan.  He was twelve months old and an illness caused him incredible pain.  There was nothing the local doctors could do.  It had been going on for several weeks and our agony was only surpassed by our baby's.  Through Marina's faith, her fasting and her heart drawn out in grief-inspired hope she called to our home a miraculous healing for our baby.   I felt so much gratitude for her faith which clearly brought deliverance to my sweet son.  All the other things we had done to help him had failed.  Yes, there had been blessings and our own hearts were drawn out in prayerful cries for his relief.  All things we had done to that point combined with Marina's fast.  The struggles, prayers, blessings, educated care and the fast combined to bring about the miracle.  Nathan underwent agony to assist in bringing Marina into the Lord's fold.  In faith and awe, we can see how closely we are all tied to the Spirit and dependent upon each other for those things that bring true joy.  This experience was the final event to bring Marina into our church.  It brought to us a gratitude and knowledge that the Lord waited on our prayers until hers was added.

Lesson learned from You Mean I'll be a Mother-In-Law Someday?!?

Although this scripture speaks of not procrastinating repentance certainly there are other things which we should not put off.  I was deeply saddened that I had not asked Neil's mother to Nathan's birth.  Shyness even with the mother-in-law that I deeply loved prevented me.  I had heard stories about those who put off things concerning loved ones only to have that mortal time run out.  Certainly they were always touching stories.  Then suddenly I found myself living right in the middle of such a story.  I am grateful for the whispering Spirit and my patriarchal blessing which tells me that she has been present at the subsequent births from the other side of the veil.  Yet my heart deeply wishes I had lived that moment differently.

 We are in an endless lesson of joy as we live within a family.  We are constantly choosing to remember the laughter over the frowns.  We are constantly looking for the delight rather than the frustrations.  We are constantly reminding ourselves to lovingly relax rather than mindlessly race.

The lesson of joy teaches us that smiles and tenderness and light abound in a family even though there are struggles and frustrations and conflicts.  Always it is our choice which set of emotions we favor.  So choose that set which unites the family forever.