Divine Nature #2

As I begin my journey through Personal Progress experiences, again, I decided to really focus the remainder of this year on Divine Nature. I've been having a really rough time balancing all my duties to my family, as well as my duties to my job. I need the reminder of who I am and I thought this was the perfect place to begin. (If you hadn't guessed I'm back in the young women's presidency, this time as first counselor.)

So what does the church publish about being a mother? The Family: A Proclamation to the World is a great piece of reading, that helps establish exactly what it takes to make a successful family and marriage. As a mother it states that we are responsible to raise our children "in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live."

Wow! That's a lot to take in and it's not even everything. I've got the easy stuff down pat: the providing for their physical needs-easy. Even raising them in love easy. It's the rest that I can't do alone. I can be the example of righteousness, of loving and serving others, and even of how to be a law-abiding citizen. I can directly the commandments of God and of the laws. I can pray that they will head my teachings, but ultimately it comes down to them. Will they make the right choices? This is the part I have a hard time with. I have to learn that if I've done all I can do to teach them the "right" ways, and they still make poor choices, I'm not responsible for their choices. How do I not feel guilty, how to I accept that I did everything I could?

Thus the reason for my choosing this value to work on first--I can't do everything. I will feel guilty, there is no getting around that-probably every parent would. But here's where the Lord comes into play--He will help. I have to ask Him for the comfort, for the guidance even before they may their decisions. I must ask Him for the "right" way to teach my children. To make sure they are getting what they need. I AM NOT ALONE!!!! And as long as I keep praying for His help, I'll get it. Thank-you Father for the many blessings I have, especially for my monkeys-they do make me so happy.3322333'2hgfffwss