how I know

I was just rocking my sick baby to sleep and singing him the following song I learned in Primary as a child, the words never really hit me so hard until now.  The song goes like this:

He Sent His Son

words by Mable Jones Gabbott

How could the Father tell the world

of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son a newborn babe,

with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world,

The pathway they should go?

He sent His Son to walk with men

on Earth,

That we may know.

How could the Father tell the world

of sacrifice, of death?

He sent His Son to die for us,

and rise with living breath!

What does the Father ask of us?

What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope.

Live like His Son.

Help others on their way.

What does He ask?

Live like His Son.

Lately, I’ve been really worried about my kids growing up.  Yes, I want them to grow up, but it’s scary the thought of letting them go out into the world that is full of so many bad influences, so many bad people who may try to prey on them, friends and teachers that may teach them things they shouldn’t learn.  I am offended watching just TV commercials and seeing billboards!  (Which is evidence, by the way, that I have SO become my mother.  I used to roll my eyes at her, so so so sorry Mom!)  I think this is spurred by the fact that Sophie will be starting kindergarten this year and the thought of leaving her in someone else’s care for the majority of her day terrifies and saddens me!  I know I can’t shelter them forever and they need to figure things out for themselves, but I don’t feel like they’re ready yet.  But I don’t think I’ll ever feel that they’re ready.  I now understand why people choose to home school their children.

Ok, let me tie this together.

Singing this song tonight made me think about how our Father in heaven must have been so scared and sad to send us away to Earth so we could grow and to see if we could be good, make good choices (follow the commandments) and then return to Him.  And he doesn’t even get to have us come home at night and on the weekends, we’re gone from home for nearly a century!  The song talks about how He tried to show us that He loves us, how He sent Christ on Earth to show us the way back.  I guess it just struck me how I need to make an impression on them now so they will know that I love them and will hopefully be a good example for them to follow.  Being a parent has taught me so much already, and I think it helps me understand my heavenly parents oh so much more.

“Motherhood is near to divinity.  It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by man.”

– President David O. Mckay

I’m so grateful for my 3 wonderful children and am so grateful for the opportunity I have to raise them and learn from them.  It’s such an AWEsome responsibility, I just hope I don’t mess it up too bad!

Here’s another quote I came across this week and appreciated. Her name is Julie B. Beck, and she’s from the Relief Society General Presidency of the LDS church.

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world."