Quote by Rev. David King on Children

"How can a child do better if their environment stays the same?"
Rev. David King, pastor of Community Baptist Church

Children & Voice of the Lord

"In the soft and gentle arms of a mother's love, children can come to know the voice of the Lord."
Dwan J. Young

Mother An Example

"When a mother provides an example of joy, the children's world is one of happiness."
Barbara B. Smith

Testimony Builder - Thoughts By Me.

Today, I will be taking our boys to church, as my husband is sick with the flu. I think it can be a challenge to be by yourself and take your kids to church, but I also think that it is very important to follow through.

Let me step back a few years. When my oldest was under one, I would take him to church by myself, as at the time my husband was not active in church. During the course of the 3 hour block, I became discouraged because I wasn't getting the spiritual uplift that I wanted and needed. I was spending much of the time in the hallway, because my baby was being too noisy to be able to sit through some of the meetings. At that very moment that I became discouraged and thought to myself what is the point of me being here, the Primary President came around the corner and said to me, "I remember those days, it will get better." At that moment in time, it occurred to me that I am not the only one that has had to go in the hallway, that there will be better days, and it is important for me to be there even in the hallway for a short time period in my babies life. Why? Because it shows him that going to church is an important part of our lives, and eventually when he is older, the habit will be instilled in him, and again, when he grows older he'll start to realize the weekly spiritual nourishment that he can get at church. What a great insight that was for me. It was not coincidence that the Primary President came around the corner at that exact moment, and that what she said to me gave me a better testimony of why it is so important that I come to church with my little one even if it is in the hallway for a brief time in life.

Now, my oldest is in Primary and is loving it. I can see the spiritual growth he has gained by my persistence and faith in bringing him to church each Sunday. It is wonderful to hear him so excited to learn about our Savior. To learn about eternal families, as sometime in the future our family will be sealed for time and all eternity, what a great testimony builder this will be for him, and for our little family as a whole. It is exciting to see him be excited to say the family prayer at night, or during dinner time. It is heart warming to hear him speak with his little voice that permeates a spiritual warmth throughout my heart.

And, I am back to the hallway days off and on with our youngest. He will be able to go to the nursery in about 6 months, which will in turn help for me be able to focus on my weekly spiritual uplift. But again, for now, it is important to teach him that going to church weekly is important to us individually and as a family.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach our little ones the importance of living the gospel in their daily lives. I am grateful for the small teachings I receive through my children, for their little insights that give me strength to push forward. This life is truly an amazing journey, difficult at times sure, perhaps difficult is an understatement at times, but nevertheless, it is a blessing. I truly am grateful for the opportunities for spiritual insight and spiritual growth.

He Loves Us

I am not perfect. I have weaknesses. I try and make my weaknesses become strong. I have made mistakes, some the same more than once. And it has been at those times that I have felt [even though, I know that my Heavenly Father has forgiven me], that perhaps my quota has been up on saying "I'm sorry." I know that the atonement doesn't work that way. I know that I am harder on myself than others are, and sometimes it is harder to forgive yourself than it is for our Father in Heaven to forgive us of our shortcomings.

I also think about the comparison of as a parent we know what is best for our children, and sometimes our children don't understand why they need to go to bed at a certain hour. They may resist, they may do everything they can under the sun to delay because for them, they are just not ready to go to sleep. As a parent, we love our children and we know they need sleep to be at their best emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Sometimes, our children don't know understand why we do what we do, but it is for the good. God or Heavenly Father does the same for us, His children ~ sometimes we may not understand the trials we face, but we do because He knows us better and He loves us and He knows what we need to become our best.

This quote came to me from LDS Nuggets.com today ~ to me, it relates to the above thoughts.

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming."

--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Great Commandment", October 2007 General Conference

1 John 4:7–8

God is Love, Hymn #87

Parents Must Set a Worthy Example

In many of the thoughts that are shared on a group I started for women of all denominations (On Wings of Faith), this one was posted by a member:

Parents Must Set a Worthy Example

"The Apostle Paul's statement to his beloved Timothy could well apply: `Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity' (1 Timothy 4:12)."Parents, live your lives in such a way that your children will find you an example worthy of emulation."

Thomas S. Monson, "Constant Truths for Changing Times," Liahona, May 2005, 21

There is a a quote by someone else, along the lines of the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Our example is so important in the lives of others, especially our children. The home is the best place to learn about life. I often think about the many children who don't have the loving home that they should. I think about those children, and how it must affect their whole outlook on not only their life, but the world around them. And then I am grateful for the parents who do create the atmosphere in their home that embrace the opportunity to be that great example and to establish a foundation of love, of success, of positive spiritual & emotional guidance. What a difference it makes in our lives, the world around us, and our child's future.