I'm QueenB and this is my place.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Motherhood...a calling...a blessing...a destiny...
Please, watch this video then read what I have to say.
I know that I've heard of the Neilsons before through the morning news and Oprah when we were living in Utah. But it was nice to see her story told more "straight from her mouth" without a lot of editing out what she had to say.
I know that being a mother is different for each of us and it is hard in different ways at different times. At this time in my life my struggles are very different than they will be when my girls are older and can do more for themselves.
Having arthritis like I do makes tasks hard for me like changing a diaper, doing up snaps on baby clothes, wiping dirty faces and even rocking my crying babies when my joints are stiff and swollen. But I agree with what Stephanie conveys that without my pain and stiffness I was a different woman in some ways, now I am better. I am more the woman I want to be and am more aware of the blessings and tender moments when I KNOW that motherhood is a part of my divine calling and destiny. I know that I can do all things in the Lord. My body is weak but my heart and spirit are strong.
Seeing this video helps remind us all that there are different struggles for each of us. And while I could not deal with the struggles that some others go through, I know that the Lord has given each the struggles that we are able to abide. I am grateful for my arthritis and the trials of my last pregnancy because they have brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and I have learned more to rely on the spirit when teaching and caring for my family. I know that through our trials we are refined. When we go forward with faith we are taking steps toward our divine eternal destiny.
I echo and add to Stephanie's words that:
It's been sort of therapy for me to write my feelings and what I'm going through and the pain....[journal and blog writing have become a task I look forward to rather than dreading].
....[at times] a wave of emotion [takes] me over for a few minutes. I [miss] me again; I mourned for that woman again. I felt that familiar sadness. [that my body is not what I want it to be and is worn and unable to accomplish what I could once do] But then it was followed by a beautiful spiritual confirmation that this is my new life...It is oh, so good...[the weakness and problems of my body are] not everything. I'm just grateful that I'm here on this earth and I have the opportunity to be a mother and do the things that I love and enjoy [even though they take more patience and time than before.] ... I view my role now as more divine. It's something more....a mother who enriches and teaches about the gospel of Jesus Christ and it's a privilege. And I see it more as a privilege than anything. To me, beauty and motherhood are one, they're the same thing.....Spiritually now I have a better sense of who I am, what my divine purpose is....why I'm still here...
And then like she describe them, there are those moments when I feel like I am being given a treasure of great worth. When my spirit sings because of the wonderful blessings I am a part of....Like yesterday when my sweet 3 year old came to me as I nursed the baby. Tugging on my sleeve she looked up into my face and said, "Mommy can we be friends?" I smiled gently and said, "I have a better idea, why don't we be best friends." She looked up into my face with her sparkling blue sunshine eyes and said," Best friends forever and ever and ever, Mommy?" My heart swelled and I said, " Yes, my sweet girl forever and ever and ever because I love you that much." Those are the times that I live for, the times when the spirit speaks and I know why I am still here and why I need the experiences and trials I've been given.
I know that my Savior lives, I know that he loves me. I have a strong faith that gets me through the times when my life is darkest. It is in the darkness that we learn to appreciate and seek out the light. I am so blessed. I know that through the power of the priesthood I have been healed at times and have been given life. We all have depression, pain and sorrow but they are in our lives to help us to learn and know what is sweetest; which are the joy, love, peace and strength we get from on high. Author Charles Frazier wrote, "[P]ain [...] goes eventually. And when it's gone, there's no lasting memory. Not the worst of it, anyway. It fades. Our minds aren't made to hold on to the particulars of pain the way we do bliss. It's a gift God gives us, a sign of His care for us." I know that I have a Heavenly Father who has placed me where I need to be and who guides me as I seek his light. I know that the scriptures are true and each time I study them I learn and notice more things that testify of and lead me to our Father in Heaven. Because of the trials I have had especially in the last year, I have become stronger. I know that through the trials and times of difficulty I have been reminded to rely on my Heavenly Father and to savor the special moments and time with my babies because it could all be gone in seconds.
I challenge each of you to look at your life and count your blessings. I have been working hard at this since I got sick last fall. And as I look for blessings each day I am humbled and inspired by the numerous blessings I have. I notice more and more the moments that take all the pain and all the suffering away and I am whole because my spirit sings and I am full of gratitude. In those times I am inspired and receive answers I seek in my heart and in my mind through the Spirit. My testimony is strengthened and I move forward more aware of and open to the promptings of the spirit. Those promptings are another great blessing and gift because through them I am able to know what I should to in regards to caring for others and myself and in what I should do to raise up a righteous generation unto the Lord.
I bear you my testimony of the truth of these things and of the blessings that come when we are aware of the blessings we have. May your spirits sing and rejoice with me as we seek eternal life and find happiness and joy along the way. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I know that I've heard of the Neilsons before through the morning news and Oprah when we were living in Utah. But it was nice to see her story told more "straight from her mouth" without a lot of editing out what she had to say.I know that being a mother is different for each of us and it is hard in different ways at different times. At this time in my life my struggles are very different than they will be when my girls are older and can do more for themselves.
Having arthritis like I do makes tasks hard for me like changing a diaper, doing up snaps on baby clothes, wiping dirty faces and even rocking my crying babies when my joints are stiff and swollen. But I agree with what Stephanie conveys that without my pain and stiffness I was a different woman in some ways, now I am better. I am more the woman I want to be and am more aware of the blessings and tender moments when I KNOW that motherhood is a part of my divine calling and destiny. I know that I can do all things in the Lord. My body is weak but my heart and spirit are strong.
Seeing this video helps remind us all that there are different struggles for each of us. And while I could not deal with the struggles that some others go through, I know that the Lord has given each the struggles that we are able to abide. I am grateful for my arthritis and the trials of my last pregnancy because they have brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and I have learned more to rely on the spirit when teaching and caring for my family. I know that through our trials we are refined. When we go forward with faith we are taking steps toward our divine eternal destiny.
I echo and add to Stephanie's words that:
It's been sort of therapy for me to write my feelings and what I'm going through and the pain....[journal and blog writing have become a task I look forward to rather than dreading].
....[at times] a wave of emotion [takes] me over for a few minutes. I [miss] me again; I mourned for that woman again. I felt that familiar sadness. [that my body is not what I want it to be and is worn and unable to accomplish what I could once do] But then it was followed by a beautiful spiritual confirmation that this is my new life...It is oh, so good...[the weakness and problems of my body are] not everything. I'm just grateful that I'm here on this earth and I have the opportunity to be a mother and do the things that I love and enjoy [even though they take more patience and time than before.] ... I view my role now as more divine. It's something more....a mother who enriches and teaches about the gospel of Jesus Christ and it's a privilege. And I see it more as a privilege than anything. To me, beauty and motherhood are one, they're the same thing.....Spiritually now I have a better sense of who I am, what my divine purpose is....why I'm still here...
And then like she describe them, there are those moments when I feel like I am being given a treasure of great worth. When my spirit sings because of the wonderful blessings I am a part of....Like yesterday when my sweet 3 year old came to me as I nursed the baby. Tugging on my sleeve she looked up into my face and said, "Mommy can we be friends?" I smiled gently and said, "I have a better idea, why don't we be best friends." She looked up into my face with her sparkling blue sunshine eyes and said," Best friends forever and ever and ever, Mommy?" My heart swelled and I said, " Yes, my sweet girl forever and ever and ever because I love you that much." Those are the times that I live for, the times when the spirit speaks and I know why I am still here and why I need the experiences and trials I've been given.
I know that my Savior lives, I know that he loves me. I have a strong faith that gets me through the times when my life is darkest. It is in the darkness that we learn to appreciate and seek out the light. I am so blessed. I know that through the power of the priesthood I have been healed at times and have been given life. We all have depression, pain and sorrow but they are in our lives to help us to learn and know what is sweetest; which are the joy, love, peace and strength we get from on high. Author Charles Frazier wrote, "[P]ain [...] goes eventually. And when it's gone, there's no lasting memory. Not the worst of it, anyway. It fades. Our minds aren't made to hold on to the particulars of pain the way we do bliss. It's a gift God gives us, a sign of His care for us." I know that I have a Heavenly Father who has placed me where I need to be and who guides me as I seek his light. I know that the scriptures are true and each time I study them I learn and notice more things that testify of and lead me to our Father in Heaven. Because of the trials I have had especially in the last year, I have become stronger. I know that through the trials and times of difficulty I have been reminded to rely on my Heavenly Father and to savor the special moments and time with my babies because it could all be gone in seconds. I love my family. Thank you all for the love that you share with me. The examples of womanhood and the strength that you share when I don't seem to have enough. You are angels who have borne me up. Thank you. And I especially want to thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with life. That I am able to enjoy an eternal marriage with my best friend who I would not be able to do all of this without. Thank you my angel I love you eternally. And though you are not reading this now my children, I hope to share it with you in the future. Thank you for being a source of light in the darkness. For loving me, for helping me, for teaching me and for walking with me back to the arms of our Heavenly parents hand in hand, heart to heart. I love you with everything I have I love you forever no matter what just as I was taught to love by my parents, I hope I can teach you what this love is - it is awe inspiring.
I challenge each of you to look at your life and count your blessings. I have been working hard at this since I got sick last fall. And as I look for blessings each day I am humbled and inspired by the numerous blessings I have. I notice more and more the moments that take all the pain and all the suffering away and I am whole because my spirit sings and I am full of gratitude. In those times I am inspired and receive answers I seek in my heart and in my mind through the Spirit. My testimony is strengthened and I move forward more aware of and open to the promptings of the spirit. Those promptings are another great blessing and gift because through them I am able to know what I should to in regards to caring for others and myself and in what I should do to raise up a righteous generation unto the Lord.
I bear you my testimony of the truth of these things and of the blessings that come when we are aware of the blessings we have. May your spirits sing and rejoice with me as we seek eternal life and find happiness and joy along the way. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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