So funny story. I was having a conversation, with a family member, in my head. Actually it was more like a lecture. I was lecturing this family member about some of their choices of late, and my conclusion was something to the effect of, "Well, when you've suffered the consequences and you want advice you know where I am."
That's when my Shoulder Angel spoke up and said, "That's not what Heavenly Father would say." And I wondered, "what would He say? Would he give me advice and warn me about my choices? Would he let me live and learn?"
My Shoulder Angel and the Holy Ghost must work together because He has perfect timing too. He brought to my remembrance the warning Heavenly Father gave me just the other day of a transgression I was committing that I didn't even know about. It started with the scripture of the day which read: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain (Deut. 5:11). The word vain really struck me as the word I needed to focus on. I never really swear though so I wasn't sure where this was going to take me. I felt like I should start with the Bible Dictionary and paused at vanity, I thought, "hmm, not sure..." and went on but vain wasn't there. So I went to the Topical Guide where I found scriptures for vain, but no real clear picture, until I saw the reference for vanity under Bible Dictionary again. So back I went to the Bible Dictionary, looked up vanity and saw what I should've seen in the first place - clarity.
Here's the definition the Bible Dictionary gives for vanity and in essence vain - falsehood or deceit; empty, transitory, or fleeting. I narrowed in immediately on the second part of the defintion. "How does this apply?" I thought. I knew in my heart this was what I was meant to learn, I could almost hear the creaking wheels turning in my head (It's been like living in a fog with this new headache med I'm on temporarily). Then the Holy Ghost gave me the revelation I needed. Are you ready? I had to sit down :) When we are baptized we take upon ourselves the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, and every week when we covenant again to take upon ourselves that sacred name we make a promise to remember Him. When we fail to do that, we make that promise become EMPTY (an empty promise, made a promise in vain). When we pray and read the scriptures one week, but not another, we make that promise TRANSITORY, or short-lived. When we hold current temple recommends but never make the time to go to the temple and do that sacred work for others we make that promise to become like Christ FLEETING.
I'm not pointing fingers here, the transgressions I listed are all mine. Those are the sins Heavenly Father was warning me about. I think He was saying, "My daughter, choose wisely. Satan desireth to have thee. Repent and return unto me."
So does Heavenly Father warn his children? Yes, because He loves us. Does He let us live and learn? Yes, because sometimes it is the best way for us. The best way for me to parent my children is for me to seek to become like my Savior and my Father in Heaven, follow their pattern, follow their guidance, seek to perfect myself, follow their warnings, learn from my experiences and be grateful for every step of the way.
