This weekend was spent with family. We all gathered together to celebrate my oldest grandson’s baptism. Stephen, who is now eight years old, called and personally invited me to speak on his special day. He said he wanted his Grandpa and Papa to give the opening and closing prayers and he wanted his Nana and Grandma to give the talks. Mine was to be on the importance of baptism and his Nana’s was on receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. As I thought about baptism and what we covenant to do as a follower or disciple of Jesus Christ, it made me realize how much God desires us to be like our Savior and to love one another. After all, we are all God’s children… His family.
It also made me ponder upon my children and how they all love each other and their families. They all made a great effort to be together for this event. And what a blessed day it was! My children are very different, and yet there is an eternal love and bond they have for one another. It hasn’t mattered to them what paths they have all taken, they are family. And there is nothing that gives me greater joy than watching them all laughing and enjoying each other’s company. It gave me this feeling that I was experiencing a little mini version of what our Father in Heaven must feel as He looks down on all of us. It must thrill Him when we try to make the effort to understand and love each other despite the differences we may have.
John 12:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
I felt, because of how diverse my own children are, I could feel how our Father in Heaven loves all of us and our diversities. I feel it is my responsibility as a parent to help my children see the blessing in following God’s word. I also feel it’s important to allow people, especially family, to believe what they want to believe. God is a God of agency, not force. The desire of my heart is for my children to learn to love and accept others unconditionally no matter what the differences may be. That kind of love changes hearts, and I believe it’s the only way to truly love as the Savior loves. Families are eternal, but in this life, you never know how much time you’ll get to spend with them, so keep them close. I also believe God knows everything that will happen to us, and if we ask Him, He will guide us through all the potholes we will encounter along our path. I also believe, no, I KNOW the sound of my children laughing together is the best sound created!
I believe right now our world is more divided than ever. So I pray for change, for our hearts to change, to love one another. I hope we individually start bridging those relationships wherever and whenever we can.
After all…we are ALL family!!