Doing what's right no matter what!

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about Motherhood and how hard it is sometimes to know what the right decisions are for your children. It made me think of when my kids were little, not real little but little compared to now. They would often come home and ask if they could go over to a friend's house to play the next day. I would always ask them about their friend, what they liked about them and what they were planning to do when they got together. Then I told them I would first need to go over and meet their Mother and get a feel for the spirit of the home, to see if I felt like it was a safe place for them. The same would go for a party that they have been invited to or so on. The kids would not always like the idea that I was going to call the Moms and go over there to visit, they didn't like that I was going to ask what movie they were going to show at the birthday party, or who all was going to be chaperoning.
But having come from the background of ABUSE, I knew that it was my job as their Mother to protect them at all times, that meant even making sure that situations were safe even before they got put into them. My friend said "Wasn't that a lot of work?" You beat it was, that is exactly what Motherhood is all about. Not to be paranoid, but we do live in a day and time that very dangerous and we need to do all that we can to protect our children.
I was so grateful for the prompting's of the Spirit, I am not sure how some Mother's raise their families without it? 
I pray each day that I can listen to the spirit, gut feelings, conscience or promptings ( however it is, that one acknowledge that feeling) but I know that everyone is born with that spirit or as it is called in the scriptures (Light of Christ ) within them. That has always made me realize that our Heavenly Father does really love us to give that spirit or light of Christ to each of us. As a Mother, that is exactly what I tried to remind my children, they had to learn to not only to recognize it... but listen to it and obey it. This is like having our own compass, built in within us. There are many things that Mother's need to teach their children before they go out into the world and for me this was top on my list.
I have always tried to share with my kids when I have felt those promptings and what the result was, when I did and did not listen to them. Many times the decisions I had to make were not always popular and it was hard to stick to my guns and do what I knew to be right when others disagreed but ...welcome to Motherhood, that is what it is all about, making the tough choices. We do it because we know it is right, we do it because it protects our kids, we do it because we love them and we do it because we love the Lord and know that He would never leave us astray.
So my conversation to this sweet young Mother ended with me sharing all these things that have been near and dear to my heart. I also shared with her, even though  Motherhood is really the hardest job in the world, that it is also the most rewarding. 
It is important to look into the eyes of our children and grandchildren,and realize they are are worth any tough decisions we have to make, protecting and teaching them is our responsibility and honor, for each one of them is  truly worth it! 

"A child has the right to feel that in his home he has a place of refuge, a place of protection from the dangers and evils of the outside world." ~ David O. McKay

"As parenting declines, the need for policing increases. There will always be a shortage of police if there is a shortage of effective parents! Likewise, there will not be enough prisons if there are not enough good homes."
--Neal A. Maxwell, "Take Especial Care of Your Family," Ensign, May 1994,

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."  ~Berke Breathed

Hands

Every time I look at Amy's hands ( now that she is a grown woman), it reminds me of my Mom's hand. Amy thinks that is funny, because she says my hands reminder her of my Mom's hands too! There is something endearing about hands. I am sure it is because of how powerful  a touch can be.

When I was a little girl, in church we used to sing a song called I HAVE TWO LITTLE HANDS it goes like this...

I have two little hands, folded snugly and tight.
They are tiny and weak, yet they know what is right.
During all the long hours till daylight is through,
There is plenty indeed for my two hands to do.

Kind Father, I thank thee for two little hands
And ask thee to bless them till each understands
That children can only be happy all day
When two little hands have learned how to obey.

Words: Bertha A. Kleinman, 1877–1971

Music: William Frederick Hanson, 1887–1969

It is hard to realize that my baby Lee, is now is an Uncle and has grown into a incredible young man. He had big hands as a baby, I knew that someday they would be bigger than mine ...and they are. Still it's hard to believe that my oldest child Amy, could already be a Mother and now holding the hands of her two little girls. Yes, it is important to remember how many lives we can touch and help, by using our hands and our hearts. That's what life is all about, serving and helping one another!

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"When you save a girl, you save generations."  ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

"We cannot build our own future without helping others to build theirs."

A Mother's mission!

I heard this quote the other day..."Every Mother has the same mission...to protect her family!" I thought to myself, how TRUE! It seems like to me, that there are many things around us in the world now that are threatening the family. It is a full time job to be able to do all that it takes to watch over, teach and protect your family. I feel as a Mom, that some of the hardest trials I have had to go through, are the ones in which my children are involved. It is hard to see a child hurt or suffer, as their Mother, I would do anything to help ease their pain. As they get bigger and become teenagers, young adults and then adults...that is much harder to do.    When they were young, you could pick them up and heal their bruises, kiss away their hurts or protect them from others to some degree, but not so as they grow older.
They have to go out into the world some time, and the world can be a cold, hard place at times. You hope that they have what it takes to go out into the world to socialize, work and live. Each time they trip up, or life knocks them down, I believe it is natural to wonder what you did wrong as a parent. Did we forget to teach them this or that? Oh I am sure that is partly true and false. No parent is perfect, it is hard to raise a family and at the same time, be figuring out your own life and working on your marriage too. You just have to do the best you can, give them all the love, faith and security you can, and from there on...you watch and pray. Yes, you will always be there for an encouraging word, a hug and anything else they need but, they are growing up and sometimes growing up is hard. Motherhood...it's definitely tougher than it looks!

"The bravest battle that ever was fought; Shall I tell you where and when? On the maps of the world you will find it not; it was fought by the Mothers of men" 

You [mothers] are the real builders of the nation wherever you live, for you have created homes of strength and peace and security. These become the very sinew of any nation.” Gordon B. Hinckley,

“During my professional career as a doctor of medicine, I was occasionally asked why I chose to do that difficult work. I responded with my opinion that the highest and noblest work in this life is that of a mother. Since that option was not available to me, I thought that caring for the sick might come close. I tried to care for my patients as compassionately and competently as Mother cared for me.

Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.”  ~ Russell M. Nelson, May 1999