Lately a popular topic of conversation with people is the number of children we will soon have. When my handsome husband and I are out alone, strangers often comment, "Oh, is this your first baby?" (I know, we look young)
The past few years I have felt inspired to teach my children and have strongly felt their individual purposes. Being pregnant again and not always feeling like myself has caused me to ponder even more why we bring these special spirits into this sometimes crazy world.
This morning I was reading a talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer from the 2006 Women's Conference titled 'Children of God.' He quoted the poem ..."the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." He goes on to say, "Now the birthrate is declining in every country in the world. In order for a nation's population to remain stable, the birthrate must be just over two children per woman of childbearing years... worldwide, the birthrate among members married in the temple is notably higher than in the world, but this rate too has been declining... we face a particular set of issues because the pool from which missionaries are drawn is in steady decline."
I never imagined I would be the mother to so many boys... but I know that there is a purpose for them to fulfill. I hope to be more aware of my own purpose in preparing them.
Who am I BEING when I am with them?
How do I speak to them?
What true/false beliefs am I teaching them through the things I choose to do with my time?
It can be a little overwhelming to think about the huge influence a mother is on her children and what they will take with them into their own future families :-)
Elder Packer concluded, "The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home, sealed together so that the family can continue throughout eternity."
Thanks for the LIFT Elder Packer :-)
~ Creating an Atmosphere of Simplicity, Learning and Joy out of Organized Chaos ~
