- I recently came across the idea of “spiritually creating” your day before you physically do it. I love this concept. The scriptures teach us that all things were created spiritually before they were physically created, so to me spiritually creating my day means turning it over to God. Making sure that I’m in a place that I can listen and be directed by him if my plans don’t align with his. Although, I’m not above asking for his help in accomplishing some of my plans either. I put this quote by C.S. Lewis in my calendar, so I can see it daily as a reminder. “The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them back; in listening to the other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in and out of the wind”. – Mere Christianity
- I love symbolism. Especially when it’s not overt. When it’s something that we discover for ourselves or even make up for ourselves as a way to remind us of a deeper meaning. Sometimes our routines can get mundane boring even. Food prep, consumption, and clean up is an especially hard one for me. Make breakfast, clean it up, an hour later, make lunch, clean it up (Ok i don’t always clean it up). After school snacks, Dinner repeat. So many hours in the kitchen. Preparing physical healthy food for my family helps them not only be strong and have energy to do all that they need to, but can remind me of the importance of providing spiritual food as well. The constant cleaning up can remind me of the need to constantly evaluate, turn to the Savior, and clean up our own lives – and to do it with a good attitude. Procrastinating this process makes it less fun, but it still always feels good when it’s complete. Waking up really early with a baby (damn you daylight savings) can remind me to always be ready to serve (okay maybe that ones a stretch).. I’m still working on a deeper meaning for changing diapers.
- I’ve been noticing lately with my kids and with others that I love that every attribute has a positive and negative aspect. Which has made me think about the concept of turning weaknesses into strengths. I have one child who feels things really deeply. When he was four he got up to share his testimony in church and said with all conviction, “I know Jesus is real.” This same child has gotten hurt very easily by insensitive comments of others among many other things. Another child is incredibly determined -he may or may not have also been described as relentless. Great if he is reaching for a goal. Not fantastic if he is trying to convince his Mom he needs more candy/screen time/anything. The trick is to see how the attribute can be positive.
- Growing up my parents talked a lot about “the law of the middle”. I’ve been pondering what that means lately and how to apply it to my own family because I think it’s an essential concept. Especially in my current and ongoing battle against sugar and screens (every parent battles this right?) It doesn’t mean doing things half-way or not being fully committed to the Gospel, to a cause, to each other, to health. I think it means what’s in your heart is more important than what you do. It looks like teaching your children to love the scriptures so they want to be in them as often as possible, not to spend a specific amount of time in them every day. It looks like teaching your children that sugar is not good for you, not that you should never touch it again. It looks like finding joy in the Sabbath day and drawing closer as a family and to Christ through it – not a specific list of dos and don’ts. It looks like adding in grace. I was reading Letters to a Young Muslim the other day and came across this quote. “intensity distorts reality”. I loved it. I think that nails an aspect of it. My Mom mentioned that there’s a talk about it – I couldn’t find it. Sent it please Mom/Dad. It’s one of those things that I feel like I almost understand, but I’m not quite there.
- I love getting to know my kids better as they get older. Yesterday Josh rode his bike by me as I ran and we talked about everything from Pokemon (an abbreviation for pocket monsters – who knew?! I feel like that tidbit is going to win me a trivial pursuit game someday) to what the world would be like if countries didn’t exist. Each one of them is so incredibly different – to the point I don’t know if they would be friends if they weren’t thrown together in a family. But also so incredibly cool and unique and sometimes I just feel a bubble of joy that I get to hang out with them and get a glimpse of their hearts.