Forward Pressing Forward

 

I've been meaning to blog about our new theme for the school year for quite some time, but I was waiting until I had enough time to gather my thoughts and do justice to this concept that was inspired by -- wait for it -- our road trip out west this summer.  On the looooong drive back home, there was plenty of time for conversation and discussion, and as we began pondering what exactly to go with for our upcoming new school year's theme, Scott suggested the idea of pressing forward, and as soon as he said it, I had goosebumps everywhere.  And almost immediately, I had the image of the kids pulling the handcart at Martin's Cove come to mind, and knew it was the perfect metaphor to represent that phrase for our family.

As we moved on with life once our road trip was over, we played around with different variations of the phrase, until we settled on a line from an oft-sung hymn, and decided that "forward, pressing forward" was the exact right mantra for the sentiment we wanted to focus on this year.  I then went to Photoshop (Elements) and after a few different YouTubed tutorials, figured out how to create the poster I had envisioned almost as soon as we decided upon our theme. 

A few weeks ago, as I was pondering this theme, I turned to the dictionary to define what exactly the words "press forward" mean.  As I was searching, there were a couple of definitions that really stood out to me because they were so different from the other definitions on the list.  Or at least different from the meanings that I typically would associate with the words --

PRESS:  to reshape (or make compact) by applying steady force; compress: "pressed the clay in a mold."

FORWARD: (archaic) ready, eager, or willing

As I stopped to let these meanings sink in, and to really internalize that image of being molded into something else -- something better -- an old Protestant hymn (quoted by Sister Neill Mariott in one of her recent Conference messages) came to mind:

"Have thine own way, Lord! 
Have thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mould me and make me after Thy will;
While I am waiting, yielded and still."  {Hymn by George C. Stebbins}

I was struck by the thought that perhaps at the heart of what it means to truly PRESS FORWARD, is the willingness, the readiness, and the eagerness to be reshaped and molded into the person God intends us to be.  Knowing full well, that in order to become that person, the process will most likely entail steady pressure, plenty of resistance, and almost certain difficulties strewn along our path.

Pressing forward is not easy.  Putting one foot in front of the other, and steadily treading onward, can -- at times -- take monumental effort and discipline.  BUT.  I have a strong testimony that we are not alone.  When we are on the right path, we will always have heaven's help.  Just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.  My hope for this coming year, is that the kids will begin to feel this, too.  That they will understand that life can be hard and that things are not always fair.  But if they keep pressing forward, putting their trust in the Lord while doing their part as well, there will be hope and happiness and light at the end.

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.  -- 2 Nephi 31:20

{And in case anyone is wondering, our new "cheer" after family prayers is: "Ready? Forward pressing forward! Forward pressing forward!! Forward pressing forward!!!  WOO WOO!" all while making choo choo train type arm-chugging motions, and Isaac LOOOOOOOVES it.  Hahahaha.  Which is enough to make all the kids willingly go along with doing it, too.  Because they certainly wouldn't be game for such a "babyish" chant if it didn't make OUR baby super excited.  :)  }