Happy Father's day to all the dads out there.
And to all men in the tribe that help raise the future generation—this day was for you, too. So, to uncles, friends, cousins, grandfathers, brothers, husbands without children... Please know that this is the day your part in society is celebrated.
And happy father's day to our dearest Heavenly Father, the Deity and Omnipotent Being that created us! Making us ALL spiritual brothers and sisters.
"All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny."
(The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Paragraph 2, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, 1995).
I was thinking about why it is so important to be obedient to our Heavenly Father and His many commandments.
And of all my musings, I think that this week, I needed to focus on something really important.
Obedience brings blessings!
President Russell M. Nelson teaches us that obedience to the laws of God blesses us today AND paves the way to our eternal reward (Facebook Video).
Although it's sometimes hard to see the blessings during chaotic chapters in our lives—I promise you that they are there. God still loves us even when we are being tested.
Earlier this morning something so funny and so embarrassing happened. I have the blessed opportunity every Sunday to participate in the sacrament program by playing the piano accompaniment in leading the congregational hymns. I love it! I'll never be as good as my brother, but I love playing the piano and I love it even more when people sing.
Problem is, I NEED the sheet music in order to play. I never memorise the songs I play, I always, always, always read the music. Without it, I am blind.
So what happens when my tablet device, (34% battery before we left!) is down to 3% during the first song?
Unfortunately the tablet died sometime during the third verse and I died in shame. I'm writing this to you from my grave.
However, the beautiful chorister continued to lead the congregation in song anyway and so the remainder of the hymn was sung in acapella.
As I was dying in shame, I was berating myself sooo much for not being prepared enough. I was so embarrassed, I had never let the ward down like that before. And at the same time, I was also so grateful that everyone kept singing. I love my ward.
I realise that, just like Heavenly Father's commandments, without the sheet music, I was so lost. And the people in church knew the song and they had the music on their devices too. So even if I was lost, thankfully, not everyone was.
That said. I will never ever let that happen again.
We are never alone. We are all born into families! And I am so grateful for my family, because I am sure without them and the strength and song they feed into me, I would be a lost little lamb.
I am so grateful for my father, my husband, my father in law, my uncles cousins and even my older brother. Earlier today, I was napping with baby at my parents house. Baby woke up before I was ready to! He was crying so loudly and I couldn't settle him. My brother walks into the room and just quietly takes him from me, letting me rest. Baby stopped crying as soon as he was picked up. See what I mean? It takes a village to raise a child and I am so grateful for my village. Saved by my village, again!
Let me emphasise, that my village is here because of Heavenly Father. He intends us to make it back to Him as families. He loves us and knows what is best for us. That's why the proclamation to the world is so important. That is why being obedient is so important. We are nothing in the face of God's power and Almighty, we are dust. We think we know so much, we think we have it all prepared, but as soon as you take away the sheet music, as soon as the laws of the gospel of Jesus Christ disappear, we're left stumbling and guessing! We're left at the mercy of those who have the music to continue the song.
Forget that for a moment. I said earlier that the important thing here are the blessings. So what ARE the blessings you have received TODAY because of obedience to God's commandments?
Mine? In addition to feeling peace and forgiveness despite my big stuff up at church today... I would have to say that the law of chastity and keeping my marriage covenants has blessed me immensely without complete fulfilment in my marriage and two beautiful children.
"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."
(The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Paragraph 7, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, 1995).
Sooo many gems in that powerful proclamation—I invite you to study it out in your mind, and pray to know if it is true. I promise God answers our prayers!
Written with love,
Eliza.