In the past two years we have experienced two unexpected deaths in our extended family, leading to a great deal of introspection regarding my own mortality. It prompted me to go before the Lord with the question, "What are the most important things I need to teach my children before I return to Thee?" Creepy question? Maybe. Profound answer that caused me to turn a corner in my life? Yes.
Tangent (I'm good at that...ask my husband!). I want to testify to the principle of ASKING. I know that the Lord answers our sincere and specific questions. I learned this at a significant corner in my life journey, but that's a post for another day. I understand that many feel insecure about their ability to receive answers. That's OK. God is bigger than our fears. Taking our specific questions to the Lord is the surest way to work on receiving revelation. Will it be perfect? No. And that's OK. Receiving answers from the Lord is like riding a bike. You can only learn how to do it by doing it, and it takes lots and lots of practice sticking with it to feel confident. Keep riding, even if you get scraped knees.
So, I asked. What should my legacy be? What do I want my kids to remember about me? What does the Lord want me to say again and again so my kids (and those around me) have no doubt I mean it? After much pondering and prayer, the answer came.
I love you. You are an important part of our forever family.
God loves you. He has a beautiful plan for your life.
The greatest peace and joy you will ever find will be in the center of God's will for you.
Since that time I have tried to learn more for myself about those truths. I have particularly focused on what it means to be in the "center of God's will." Asking the Lord about that has been very instructive. So, when Sister Nelson shared her experience associated with this picture, I loved it!
Reality check...being on the straight and narrow path and being in the "center of God's will" doesn't mean we look or feel perfect! In fact, a central skill in finding the center of God's will is disconnecting from the call and comparisons and expectations of the world. Sister Nelson taught,
My dear brothers and sisters, it’s time to stop comparing ourselves with others. It’s time to put away those erroneous views of ourselves and others. The truth is that we are not as hopelessly flawed as we may think, and others are not as perfect as they may appear—all except, of course, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The only thing that really matters is that you and I are doing exactly what we committed—even covenanted—premortally with our Heavenly Father we would do while we are here on earth.
Her comments reminded me that striving to discover and live in the center of God's will and do what we committed to do is not a grand, one-time task. It's a daily effort. It is accomplished in the daily small and simple things.
When I pray daily and express my desire to be in the center of His will and then consecrate the day to Him, I have found that I see more teaching moments with my children. I see His hand in problems and set-backs in my day and don't get as frustrated. I see more opportunities to minister to others in my life. And, I'm happier.
That's not to say it's easy. I still get impatient. I still get distracted. I still get sucked into my fears and insecurities. I still lose sight of God's will and get drawn away by the siren song of what I think others are thinking of me. The great thing is that Jesus is the way, and each time I course correct I get to come back to Him. He is always there to tell me...
I love you. You are an important part of our forever family.
God loves you. He has a beautiful plan for your life.
The greatest peace and joy you will ever find will be in the center of God's will for you.
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