Sunday Sentiments

So remember how I wanted to start doing Sunday Sentiments...where I shared what I learned each Sunday?  Yeah, I am obviously behind, so I've decided to do it as I feel inspired to.  Today was definitely one of those days.

In Sacrament meeting today the talks were about being an example of the believers.  One of the sisters (Jenny) gave a talk that really touched me...and made me consider a few things about being a parent.

First.  Is the example I set for my children, the one I want them to see?
"Our children will do what we do" she said, "both good and bad."   Even at Noah's young age I have seen this statement to be true.  The things we teach our children by example are often times greater than the things we tell them.  How can our children expect to live by the things we say if we don't live them ourselves?  Sometimes our greatest faults/weaknesses are fully realized when a child points them out to us.  That is a blessing I think...for not only does it allow us to correct those things in ourselves, but helps us to correct them in our children as well.

Second. What is the most important thing I can teach my children? 
I am not sure if there is just one answer to this question.  Jenny relayed a story about one of her daughters.  To paraphrase - Jenny's daughter Corrie was invited to join a club at school...to which some of the girls chose to leave one particular girl out of.  Corrie tried to tell the girls that leaving someone out wasn't nice, and would make the girl feel bad...but the girls wouldn't listen.  Instead of joining the club, Corrie made the decision to play with the girl who had been left out, and eventually convinced some of her other friends to join them.   


Couldn't we all afford to be more like little Corrie?  What price do we pay when we teach our children that there are more important things than being kind to others?  I truly believe that when a person is genuinely kind and cares about others - they are happy.  What good do worldly success offer us if we don't care about how we treat those around us.  

'Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.' 

-Joseph B. Worthlin

There are people I can think of, in my past and in the present...whom I believe emulate this great virtue.  Kindness.  I hope that I can emulate it better in all aspects of my life- and most importantly teach my children the virtue of kindness.  

Lastly, today we watched the end of the video On The Lord's Errand, about the Prophet Thomas S. Monson.  I wanted to share with you President Monson's testimony from this video.  I hope it inspires you as much as it does me...no matter your beliefs. 

"I have a testimony of this great work that we are engaged.  I don't know when I first obtained it, I think it came step by step, from goodly parents.  I've always had a testimony.  The sweetest experience I know in life is to feel a prompting, and act upon it, and later find out it was the fulfillment of someones prayer, or someones need.  And I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for him.  I'm so grateful for His example, and that's whom we serve.  This is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I honor that name, I honor this church. The work is true, and I testify of that truth from the depths of my soul - and would say may God bless us, everyone.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. " 

Don't forget General Conference this next weekend!  

Sunday Sentiments

I decided recently (when I heard about a friend of a friend who does this on her blog) that each Sunday I am going to start recording some of the the things I learn in church that day, as well as thing I have been thinking about during the week.  Some of the things may be funny, but mostly they will be spiritual in nature.  My goal is that one day, I (or my family) can look back and gain something from what I write.

Today the talks in church were based upon focusing on what matters most.  Sometimes we spend our time doing things that aren't necessarily bad, but also may not be the best either.   I have struggled with this recently.  I try to make good use of my time, but where do my real priorities lie?  Am I using my time as wisely as I should be/could be?  I loved this quote by President Utchdorf: 

Pause for a moment and check where your own heart and thoughts are. Are you focused on the things that matter most? How you spend your quiet time may provide a valuable clue. Where do your thoughts go when the pressure of deadlines is gone? Are your thoughts and heart focused on those short-lived fleeting things that matter only in the moment or on things that matter most?

....

Sometimes the things that distract us are not bad in and of themselves; often they even make us feel good.

It is possible to take even good things to excess. One example can be seen in a father or grandfather who spends hours upon hours searching for his ancestors or creating a blog while neglecting or avoiding quality or meaningful time with his own children and grandchildren. Another example could be a gardener who spends his days pulling weeds from the soil while ignoring the spiritual weeds that threaten to choke his soul.


I suppose that I need to reevaluate the things that matter most to me, and focus more on those things.  Spend my time serving others, instead of being distracted by the things of here and now.  That is hard, let's be honest.  It takes extreme commitment and effort.  We all need time for ourselves.  We need time to focus on ourselves and enjoy ourselves...but I think maybe, just maybe, when my priorities are in line I will not only be enjoying myself, but I will be happier.  Instead of creating unnecessary stress, I can eliminate it.  Instead of waisting my time, I can make the most of it.  The problem is, where do you start?   That is something I am still figuring out....and it may take me all my life to do it.