31 Days to Better Parenting: Day 9

I receive such strength and motivation from reading these parenting talks, but usually I'm reading them right before bed. Not the best timing since the boys are already in bed and I really need the strength and motivation to be a more patient mother when they are awake. What a revelation right? :)


"And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit" by Julie B. Beck





"There has grown in me an overwhelming testimony of the value of daughters of God. So much depends on them. In my visits with the sisters, I have felt that there has never been a greater need for increased faith and personal righteousness. There has never been a greater need for strong families and homes." ...


"Personal Revelation: A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do...  with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently."


- In the Church, I feel like women are too hard on themselves. If they really would think about it, they should find it funny that they get their kids ready and off to school, run errands, clean the house, do the laundry, barely get enough time for lunch before the baby wakes up, go get the kids from school, squeeze in homework and piano before soccer and baseball practice, throw dinner together, give husband a quick shoulder massage, do the dishes, read scriptures, baths, books and bed. I get tired even writing this! Realize how wonderfully amazing you are!
For moms with only one baby. I remember learning how to be a mother and homemaker. There is a reason we usually only start with one or two babies at a time. I had to learn so many skills before we could continue growing or family! Love the process! I'm by no means a perfect mom, and most definitely don't do everything perfectly. My oldest is 4 and a half, and in those years I've learned (and some of these things I'm sure many learned long before they were married or a mom) how to keep my house mostly clean and organized, to be a wife, to be a teacher, to be a playmate, to be a friend, to sew, to scrapbook, to journal, to study the gospel, to serve others, to cut hair, to make toys out of anything, to be thrifty, to make baby gifts and birthday presents, to be a missionary, to be outgoing (thanks to Isaac, my son without any reservations), to be patient (a constant effort), to cook and bake, and do all these things while juggling the laundry. I'm by no means bragging because I've learned most of these things from family and friends, and I will be forever grateful and in their debt for those things. Thank you! Be grateful for the things you learn along the way and cherish the things you are good at.


- This next part of the talk are those things that we must do to qualify ourselves for personal revelation. I've number the things that we can do to acquire personal revelation.


"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. Qualifying for the Lord’s Spirit begins with a (1) desire for that Spirit and (2) implies a certain degree of worthiness. (3) Keeping the commandments, (4) repenting, and (5) renewing covenants made at baptism lead to the blessing of always having the Lord’s Spirit with us. (6) Making and keeping temple covenants also adds spiritual strength and power to a woman’s life. Many answers to difficult questions are found by (7) reading the scriptures because the scriptures are an aid to revelation. ³ Insight found in scripture accumulates over time, so it is important to spend some time in the scriptures every day. (8) Daily prayer is also essential to having the Lord’s Spirit with us. ⁴ Those who earnestly seek help through prayer and scripture study often have a paper and pencil nearby to (9) write questions and record impressions and ideas."


- The blessings that come from qualifying for and receiving personal revelation are the exact and perfect blessings I need in my life right now!
"Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things. When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed. For instance, mothers can feel help from the Spirit even when tired, noisy children are clamoring for attention, but they can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children. Being in the right places allows us to receive guidance. It requires a conscious effort to diminish distractions, but having the Spirit of revelation makes it possible to prevail over opposition and persist in faith through difficult days and essential routine tasks. Personal revelation gives us the understanding of what to do every day to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek those who need our help. Because personal revelation is a constantly renewable source of strength, it is possible to feel bathed in help even during turbulent times.

We are told to put our trust in that Spirit which leads us 'to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously.' ⁵ We are also told that this Spirit will enlighten our minds, fill our souls with joy, and help us know all things we should do. ⁶ Promised personal revelation comes when we ask for it, prepare for it, and go forward in faith, trusting that it will be poured out upon us."
- I need power, peace and guidance in my daily life to be a patient and loving mother. 

 "Eliza R. Snow, said this to the sisters: ...' I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.' "

"Measuring Success: Good women always have a desire to know if they are succeeding. In a world where the measures of success are often distorted, it is important to seek appreciation and affirmation from proper sources. To paraphrase a list found in Preach My Gospel, we are doing well when we develop attributes of Christ and strive to obey His gospel with exactness. We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us. ⁹ Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly."
- Of course we want recognition,  but these are the truly important ways we can receive satisfaction from our hard work.