This has been on my heart for a few weeks now. Hopefully writing them here will help me to learn what I need and help those out there that need to here this.
Mary Did You Know is one of my all time favorite Christmas Songs. This song has come to mean even more to me after the year we have had around here. As I have tried to be the mother my children needed during their struggles, the scripture found in Luke 2:19. "And Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." I imagine her laying there in the hay with Jesus cradled in her arms. I remember what it was like being a new mother. While I didn't lay in the hay, I do remember cradling my baby and wondering what life was going to be for them. What would they want to do with their life?Thinking about the song, we don't know what Mary was told or understood. I can't help but think that even if she was told, she couldn't have comprehended all that HER son would go through in his life. I'm sure she had moments throughout where she caught glimmers of understanding. We call those AHA moments, right? When we look back and things that we went through made sense all of a sudden, why all steps were needed.
I'm between AHA moments right now. Watching as my children struggle through the challenges they are faced with and feeling powerless is the worst feeling. There is absolutely nothing I can do to take their pain away. I hope that I have adequately taught them to turn to the Savior. That He can make them stronger through their trials. At this moment, I am doubting that I did enough. Did I teach them well enough? Did I do all that I could when I had the power to do it? All that I have left is my prayers for them, and while there is nothing more powerful that the prayer of a mother, it feels oh so lacking.
If your kids are younger, please teach them. I know that it seems there is so much to do, but let the dishes sit and spend time reading from the scriptures or sharing stories of understanding from your own life. The dishes will wait, they will not be teachable forever.
