feed my lambs

I realized that perhaps my blog doesn't accurately reflect how grateful I am to be a mother. So I wanted to share some recent thoughts I had...

We had a Stake Enrichment Meeting a few weeks ago (for my non-member friends, it's where the women of our Church from several different congregations get together to be taught principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ). The subject was personal ministry and finding our own personal ministry.

"To minister is defined as attending to the needs and wants of others. The Bible Dictionary adds, 'The work of the ministry is to do the work of the Lord on the earth--to represent the Lord among the people.' Love and relationships--simply and profoundly--are what personal ministry is all about."
- Bonnie D. Parkin (former Relief Society General President)

"I have sometimes wondered if the phrase 'love of God' means our love of God or His love of us. I'm no scholar of prepositional phrases in the scriptures, but my own experience has convinced me that it is impossible in all practicality to separate the two. When I feel His love for me, I instantaneously am flooded with my love for Him and vice versa. We cannot have one without the other. No wonder it is always simply and profoundly stated 'the love of God'. The love of God is the heart of Christianity, the centerpiece of the plan of salvation, and opening our hearts to receive and give it is our daily opportunity."
- Virginia H. Pearce (former 1st counselor in Young Women General Presidency)

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, that I could be doing more, that I should be doing more. It's easy to get caught up in doing the things that are not as important. The most important work I will ever do is within the walls of my home. We know that, of course, but it's often hard to find a balance. (And really, who can concentrate on the eternal perspective when changing a poopy diaper?) It's a fine line we walk, but the path to eternal happiness is straight and narrow. There is no grey. Not really.

Most of the Lord's ministering opportunities were spontaneous, not planned in advance. I like what Sister Parkin said about this:

"Much of the Savior's ministering seemed almost incidental, happening while He was on His way to somewhere else--while He was doing something else... Our acts of service don't need to be planned. By acting on opportunities to serve, we can 'feel at one with the Savior at that moment.'"

Most of my favorite moments in life are those quiet moments with my family, when we are paying attention to each other, working together, eating together, playing together. And although it takes some effort and planning, for instance, to have Family Home Evening each week or to ignore the dirty dishes in the sink while I play Candyland with my kids, there are additional teaching and service opportunities with my children born as a result that are unplanned and even more fulfilling. When I am tuned in to the Spirit, I am tuned in to life. To my children. To my husband. And I feel alive with joy and love for the blessings I've been given. So when I kneel down to ask Heavenly Father whom He would have me serve today, I think I already know part of that answer... who knew dirty diapers could be so fulfilling?