"Parents, now is the time to teach our children to be examples of the believers by attending sacrament meeting. When Sunday morning arrives, help them to be well rested, properly dressed, and spiritually prepared to partake of the emblems of the sacrament and receive the enlightening edifying, ennobling power of the Holy Ghost."
This point was driven home to me a month or so ago as I was getting ready for church one Sunday morning. As I may have mentioned before, Scott is the Young Men's president in our ward and has meetings before church just about every Sunday. This leaves me alone almost every week to get us all out the door on time. On that particular Sunday morning we were running late. I had been yelling -- nay, screaming -- at the kids all morning long as I was trying to get them and myself ready with all the bags and snacks and church things we would need for the day. When the critical departure time of 10:30 had come and gone, a startling realization suddenly dawned on me. Late is late. Yelling at the kids wasn't going to turn back time -- there was no way we were going to make it on time now and the only thing that continuing to yell at the kids would do would be to drive the spirit away and increase the stress and contention in our home. As soon as I realized this I immediately felt peace and calm and an additional insight came to me as I recognized that most of the chaos could have been avoided if I had just taken the time to prepare the night before. As I finished getting ready I made a renewed commitment to being more prepared for the Sabbath day in the future.
I'd like to say that things have been smooth sailing each week since this incident, but unfortunately that is not the case. We are still a work in progress {clearly}. Sundays are hard. Especially with little kids. Every week is a struggle to maintain the peace and love in our home as we try to get ready for church and then once we are home again. As time goes by I realize again and again that preparation is so key. Even the smallest little bit goes such a long way. We could have used some of that this morning, that is for sure. Let's just say that the state of preparation in our house this morning left much to be desired. As I was frantically trying to finish some last minute tweaks to my talk while kids everywhere were bombarding me with questions and demands and problems I felt like the least qualified person in the world to give a talk on "Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy." And then when I finally snapped and yelled at Grace to leave me alone and stop asking me if she could go and catch a turtle in the backyard {while wearing her church dress, mind you} in the rainy and muddy backyard so that she could finally have a pet -- well, I felt like I had reached the end of my rope.
As she finally left me alone and the rest cowered away from me in trepidation I pretty much broke down and cried. After a quick prayer to plead for help and forgiveness I finally managed to finish everything up, get the kids in the car, and make it to church on time -- mostly thanks to Scott (who had no meetings today -- a tender mercy) and my sister Laura who flew in late last night. In another tender mercy, my talk went off without a hitch and the kids managed to (mostly) sit still and be reverent. I even overheard Grace saying later in the afternoon that "Mom gave a really great talk today."
I am most definitely not perfect. I think there is enough evidence pointing to that. But thankfully for all of us, the Savior stands ever ready, waiting and with arms open for us to come boldly to the throne of grace and to partake of His goodness and mercy as we earnestly seek to come and follow Him. As the day draws to a close, I am grateful that my prayer of desperation was heard and answered this morning.
{And I'm grateful that Jane made it through sacrament meeting before needing to go home and be treated for her mini asthma attack.}
Poor little lamb -- all tuckered out from coughing.
10 comments:
sounds like our sundays..you are not alone. Great post and what a sad little picture! I bet no one feels qualified to speak on the topics they are given, and I'm sure your talk was great!
late is late...so true:)
thank you, emily! that makes me feel better. i'm glad i'm not alone. :)
I've learned that every night of the week getting ready the night before, clothes laid out, bag laid out, lunch box packed (or snack bag), is the only way I've been able to keep it together ANY morning. Otherwise, it was just as you described, I was upset, and then I was sending Evie off to school with me being mad at her and I HATED that. It brought back so many bad memories of being a kid and getting yelled at the whole way to school and then schooched off to school and supposed to learn and be ok.. You are doing amazing, practice is progress, its all any of us can do!
We have very similar Sunday mornings, even with Steve home these days. Good insights --I'm sure your talk was great.
As always, you are an inspiration!
Ah such memories. The evil part of me wants to go sit in a rocking chair and cackle. (Your mother and I promised to do that.) But the rest of me knows those Sundays all to well. Sounds like you learned that yelling doesn't solve anything way before I did. Wish I had known. You not only gave a good talk, you gave a lesson. Thanks
Your talk and thoughts here are similar to some of my Sunday thoughts. We had a young woman mini mtg in the bishops office before church and had a lesson/discussion led by the bishop on the Atonement. What I like about being back in YW is that I learn and hear the fundamentals again. It was a great lesson on the Atonement and reminded me that we are all 'work in progress' -- are sins are already paid for. What we are to give in return is "Follow Him", keep His commandants and love one another. Essentially continue to do what's right/ your best, even when you slip up. Our Saviour will always be there for us and he loves us so much. I know this to be true. :-)
what a good reminder -- our sins are already paid for. i love that thought. and i agree, hearing the fundamentals of the gospel are really the most testimony strengthening experiences for me. i have really discovered that as i have been teaching the 12 and 13 year old sunday school class over the last couple of years.
and cindy -- i wouldn't blame you if you did cackle. :) because i have to admit that during so many of these frustrating times with my little children i am fervently wishing that they have kids who are JUST like them when they are grown. hahaha.
You described my actions perfectly on Sunday mornings! There are some Sundays when I try to remember that "late is late" and screaming is not going to change that fact. It takes a lot of effort to remember, though! Thanks for sharing!
it is SOOO hard to remember. unfortunately, i am a screamer. i hate it, though. it is the "enemy of my soul." i really hope i can someday conquer it!
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