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.