Showing posts with label parent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parent. Show all posts

Friday, August 31, 2012

Football and Family

   God loves us so much. He truly wants us to be happy in this life. That is why He gave us families. Families are ordained of God. (Meaning marriage between a man and woman is a divine principle, not just a nice suggestion). My family means so much to me. Being a missionary, you can't see your family for 2 years. And throughout my mission I have realized times when I took my family for granted. It's the old saying "You don't know what you have until you lose it." I had great parents who taught me the ways of our Lord. I am the oldest of 5 children in my family. I have so many great memories with my family.
   The reason why I annoy people with how much I love sports is because I associate my passion for sports with my family. I grew up watching games on TV with my dad, going to Padres games with my family, and just spending quality time together watching a game or going to one. My dad was also my baseball coach in for 6 years. That really meant a lot to me as well. He took the time from work and his church obligations to teach me and my peers the game of baseball.That meant the world to me. He took the time to take road trips and take me to a BYU football game. I have so many great memories that tie in sports with my family. My family is everything.
   God intended for all of us to grow in a loving, united family, an atmosphere conducive to the Spirit and to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not only the chief cornerstone of this church (Ephesians 2:20), but should also be the foundation of each household. God wants all of us to be in a home where a father and mother live together in harmony and love, raising their children together. There are so many broken homes nowadays. This may result from fornication, adultery, alcoholism, or other things. I do understand that there are some instances beyond the family's control, such as death and accidents, that make it impossible to have a father and mother in the home. But for most cases, it can be avoided and should be. The choices we make today effect our families, whether they be current or future families. What are you learning or doing today to better yourself as a father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, or sister? Everyone needs to work together to make a family successful. It does not all lie on the parents...
   Though my family is imperfect, I always feel loved and cared about in my home. Everyone (for the most part) gets along and at the end of the day, we all love each other. The home is the best place to learn about our Savior and God's plan for us. Much of the world uses their homes for yelling, fighting, abusing, and neglecting. We all will be accountable for how we treat our families, as a child and parent, at God's judgement. I know my parents love me, and they taught me so much about my Savior and about His church. I am grateful for them and their example to me. If I didn't have a home support, I do not know where I would be. Probably not wearing a shirt and tie in 92 degrees in North Florida....

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

A Mother's Love

   In light of this weekend being Mother's Day, I would like to dedicate this blog to mothers, especially mine. A mother's love is so unconditional. Proverbs 1:8 tells us we are to not forsake the "law of thy mother." (see Proverbs 1:8). Unfortunately,  I did this all too often as a teenager (that makes me sound old). I always ended up regretting it. But you know what? She loves me anyway. No matter how many times I fall or mess up, she is right there to comfort me and love me. My mom, Angela, is the best mom in the world. To this day I do not know how she is not in an insane asylum with how me and my 4 younger siblings act sometimes.
    In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni talks about charity:
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (Moroni 7:45).
   These is the easiest way I can explain how my mother is. She "suffereth long" because she has 5 kids and we all drive her crazy sometimes. She has unparalleled patience with us. My mother is one of the kindest people I know. She is not envious or puffed up. She is very humble. She never seeks "her own." I always see her doing something for someone else: laundry, making dinner, cleaning, driving kids to school, relief society projects, all these things and never a second to herself. She is definitely not easily provoked. Sometimes I don't know how she doesn't beat me and my siblings. She shows us love and when it is time for discipline, it is done in a loving, constructive manner. My mom is very sensitive to the Spirit. She "thinketh no evil." The Spirit is ever present in our home. She never rejoices in iniquity. I always have seen her doing good for other people. She is a huge reason why our family has a strong Christian foundation. She rejoices in truth. My mom taught us to tell the truth. She showed us the truth by taking us to church and teaching us God's way. She "beareth all things." My mom has endured so much. But she keeps going. No rest for the weary. If she gets 2 hours of sleep, she gets through it. There are mouths to feed, people to take to school/practice, meals to cook. She has superhuman abilities to get through the day, with zero complaints. She "believeth all things." She raised us in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She believes in Christ. She believes in our Heavenly Father and His plan. And she has taught that to us. She "hopeth all things." She has such a bright hope for all of us, her children. She sees the good in everyone. My mom "endureth all things." After all that me and my siblings have put her through, she still loves us. Unconditionally. Sometimes I wonder how in the world she is still walking and not sleeping. My mother is a great example of endurance and love. She is a wonderful exemplar of the Savior's love.
   So if my mom loves me so much after all I have put her through, wow... I can't even comprehend the love my Heavenly Father has for me. If you were lucky enough to grow up with a mother like mine, pray to your Heavenly Father tonight and thank Him profusely for such a great blessing. If perhaps you did not, there is one who will always love you unconditionally and will always have arms wide open for you. Your Heavenly Father. He loves you. His love is perfect. And it's perfect for you. It's perfect for me.