MOTHERS DAY 2016

Here is another week come and gone.  We are down to only five weeks left now.  I think I mentioned last week that I am getting maybe a bit nervous to leave here.  Our daily schedules have been pretty much planned out for us with not much to interfere.  Next month I will be going back to reality.  Back to the day to day runnings of a house, children (though they are married and on their own) and grandchildren.  Yes, I am ready for all of that again and will embrace it as I have before but it still makes me a bit nervous that I will be responsible for what I do with my time and how my decisions fit into my quest for eternal salvation.
One of my dear friends from the temple, Sister Feinga, made a comment last week that I have given much thought to.  Some of the sweet sister missionaries were leaving the temple and after we gave them hugs and told them to have a nice day, Sister Feinga said "Can we always be like the missionaries, just one thing on our mind."  I have thought about that in a few different aspects of life.  Of course, because of what we are doing right now, the temple comes to mind. May we ever attend the temple with just one thing on our mind. Leave all the "stuff" outside while in the temple- with an eye single to the glory of God and what he wants us to do with our life. Remember always that the temple is God's university where He will instruct us on all things pertaining to our salvation.  It is our job to ask for that instruction and incorporate it into our lives.

Because today is Mother's Day, I can also relate the comment from Sister Feinga to that.  Can we always be the best mom we can be.  We have been given stewardship over these children while they and we are here on earth.  We are to teach them in ways of righteousness and raise them to be upstanding adults so that they can contribute positively here on earth and be ready to return to our Heavenly Father and to our eternal families when that day comes for each of us.

Today in church, a new bishop was announced.  In speaking to the congregation, he said that he couldn't possible do what he has been asked to do with out relying on the Lord.  I think that is true in so many areas of life.  I don't think I could have come on this mission without the reassurance that Heavenly Father would help me every step of the way.  And He has.  I couldn't have done Motherhood without relying on my Heavenly Father to help me teach them and love my children unconditionally.

The former Bishop's wife, Julie Ah You, bore her testimony and made the comment that one of her children had asked, "What if there is no heaven like we have been taught?"  She testified that she knew that there was a heaven and we could all be with Heavenly Father again if we were obedient, but IF there isn't, we have not been hurt by living the gospel as Christ has given it to us.  And we have hurt no one by living the principles and ordinances of the gospel as outlined by our Heavenly Father. We are living good lives and doing good things and believing and hoping for better things in the hereafter.  That is our goal.

One last comment for today.  Our Relief Society Lesson was about spreading the gospel around the world--Missionary work.  I am so glad I decided it was ok to leave my family and friends for a year and serve this mission.  I quote from the lesson "To satisfy the new demands being made upon us in this great missionary work of the last days, perhaps some of us (particularly the older generation whose families are raised) need to take stock to determine whether "walls" that we have built in our own minds need to come down.  For example, how about the "comfort wall" that seems to prevent many prevent many couples and singles from going on a mission?  How about the "financial wall" of debt that interferes with some members' ability to go, or the "grandchildren" wall," or the "health wall" or the "lack of self confidence wall" or the "transgression wall," or the walls of fear, doubt, or complacency?  does anyone really doubt for a minute that with the help of the Lord he or she could bring those walls crashing down?"  A couple of those "walls" were very real to me before we decided to put our papers in.  So glad they came down.

Until next week.............