Grace in our Family

From the time I was three to maybe when I was eight, my Mom would sing lullabies to me and my little sister at night once we were in our beds. She has a beautiful voice and would sing songs like Baby Boats a Silver Moon, Here Comes the Sandman, Lullaby and Goodnight, and the songs Stay Awake and Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins. There was a close association in our minds as children between our Mother and Mary Poppins. Never once did I think she was too busy for us. I always knew my Mother loved me, and always knew I could talk to her about things. She was heaven sent and made our lives as wonderful as she could.

No matter what I ever did, my Mom would never speak a harsh word. She would simply love us. That is not always an easy thing to do. I remember one time when I was about ten years old, I got home from school I started making a really loud sound like a goat/siren in ten second intervals just to see if I could get her to crack. I probably did it for an hour at the top of my lungs as I went about my business around the house.  For those that wonder:  Do children test their parents and try to push their buttons?  The clear answer is:  Yes.

After that hour had passed she decided to leave to run an errand. Before she left she looked at me with pleading eyes, wishing to leave on a good note, giving me a chance to stop and be a good boy. I decided to keep baying like a strange robot sheep on a loudspeaker, and she finally threw up her arms in frustration. As she quickly left, I could see tears in her eyes. I sensed she was disappointed in herself in addition to being frustrated with me. It seemed like she was disappointed for letting her frustration get the best of her.

I realized then how perfect my Mother had been to me throughout the years. She had tried with all her moral fiber to be like Jesus Christ, and follow the things she had been taught about parenting by her parents, schooling, and experience in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are all human though, and everyone cracks. Her crack was the quiver of a needle on a seismometer with an otherwise perfect history of serenity, despite the tremors which would erupt around her often. I felt terrible for trying to pull down such a righteous character. She had truly made us the center of her world every day. She would cook amazing meals for us every night, make lunches for us, and even clean our rooms on occasion. In that moment I knew she was amazing, and there was no greater thing she or anyone could ever do than what Jesus Christ has taught us to do. The book of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 44 reads, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…”

My Mother had been trying with all her might to do that with her children, and she had been very successful. She is still very successful at it, despite challenges. In the Book of Mormon, we are taught how we can receive the will and strength to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, so we can have patience and love for our families and those around us. The book of Ether, chapter 12, verse 27 reads, “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” I know we can use the Atonement of Jesus Christ to help us accomplish good in our families, and to allow love and concern and a feeling of closeness to abound within them, just like my Mother has consistently done for our family.

Evan