My family and I recently hiked up to Doughnut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's about a mile hike (according to my husband's memory :} ) My two year old daughter Lucy hiked the whole way there; which if your two year old is like mine, we stop to look at rocks and find ones to throw into the river, we look at plants and bugs, and more rocks and write in the dirt, and more rocks, throw rocks into the river and do it all over again. Halfway there my exasperated sigh must've been a little loud because my hubbie gently and teasingly responded with, "it's about the journey, not the destination." True, true, true! Why do I hurry things along? Hurry up and get there, hurry up and finish, hurry and grow up.... I can't wonder out loud any more where the time goes if I'm wishing it away. So while the rest of my family walked ahead of us, Lucy and I continued our little journey picking up rocks for her to throw in the river. I enjoyed the time exploring the world around us, encouraging Lucy's curiosity. Watching my daughter enjoy the journey was better than the destination. It bonded us together a little bit more, helping me to remember that time flies even when we're not having fun, and I really need to enjoy the mothering moments that come along.
I had one of those mothering moments tonight - you know them. The fleeting moment when life is as it "should" be and you feel successful in parenting. I had most of my children surrounding me and playing together nicely. It was bliss and I enjoyed it; granted it was only about a minute long but it was great! I thought, "it's about the journey...and the destination" when it's applied to our lives in an eternal perspective. I read President Monson's 2008 Conference talk, "Finding Joy in the Journey". He counsels that one of life's important lessons is that we learn what is most important to us, and that often includes our loved ones. Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 33 asks, “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.” I could apply this scripture to my relationship with my kids - they being the gift I'm not receiving. Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of casting them aside when I tell them, "in a minute" for "55 minutes" like my 7 year old told me today. So when I put doing chores as a higher priority over spending time with my children, I'm not being so grateful for the 5 beautiful blessings I've been given. I'm also not rejoicing in the great plan of happiness that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given to me.
This reminds me of the New Testament story about Martha and Mary and the choices they made when the Savior dined with them one evening. Mary sat at the Savior's knee and listened to his words and Martha was busy serving the Savior. I can't imagine not trying to be the hostess with the mostest, but the one needful thing was to sit and listen and learn. If I apply this to my family, then the really good things, the best things, come to the foreground. Family prayer and scripture study not only become the best choice, but also show that I am grateful for my gifts. Family Home Evening becomes more important because I need to take care of my gifts. And in order for me to qualify for the Holy Ghost's companionship that I need to do those things I need to pray earnestly, everyday, multiple times and study the scriptures and the doctrine of the gospel.
Making this change will take some time and effort because I love my home to be a clean and organized haven. It helps me feel calm and peaceful, better able to feel/hear the Holy Ghost. It's part of my nature to desire to make things beautiful, and is my little bit of heaven on Earth. I need to learn to find the balance between the two. I wonder if I look at taking time for my children as the one needful thing in my life, that would help me do this new challenge?
What about you? What's keeping you from being like Mary and the one needful thing in your life? What can you do to change and find joy in your journey?
Signed,
Sarah
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